spaces, features and finishes that matter most to them. Conversely, buying an older, resale home means buyers will likely inherit existing design choices and layouts that may not match their preferences, requiring costly renovations to bring them up to their standards.
When it comes to purchasing a house, prospective buyers often face a major decision: should they invest in brand-new construction, or should they purchase an older, existing resale? Each option offers distinct advantages and disadvantages, and the ultimate decision largely depends on personal preferences, lifestyle, and financial considerations.
In Arlington’s real estate market, new construction homes have become an increasingly popular choice over recent years due to several key factors: fewer repairs and maintenance within the first ten years, energy efficient updates, modern features and technology, changes in building codes and stormwater management, the flexibility of customizing a home, safety and health considerations, lower insurance costs, appreciation and long-term value, and builder warranty programs.
A new construction home is, by definition, a blank canvas. Everything—from the plumbing to the roof—is brand new, so you can expect fewer repairs in the immediate years after moving in.
Classic Cottages offers a comprehensive builder warranty giving new homeowners assurance and peace of mind.
Resale homes may come with hidden issues such as aging pipes or electrical systems that may no longer meet today’s building standards or roof leaks that require immediate (and often very costly) attention. The cost of repairing these issues can add up quickly and may not be obvious until after a home purchase when it’s too late.
New construction homes are built with the latest advancements in design and technology. They are typically equipped with more energy-efficient features such as improved insulation, energy-saving windows, and high-performance HVAC systems, which can significantly reduce utility bills. Additionally, many new homes are pre-wired with smart home features like smart thermostats, lighting systems, and security cameras, offering increased convenience and control. New homes are built with non-toxic materials, advanced fireproofing, and often include modern safety features like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire-resistant building materials, stormwater management systems, and more robust structural designs that are better equipped to handle natural disasters.
Older homes may have outdated electrical systems and appliances, leading to higher maintenance costs and less efficiency or may contain hazardous materials such as lead paint or asbestos, which require expensive and time-consuming removal to ensure the safety of the occupants.
Classic Cottages has a design center that provides a variety of options to ensure that buyers get the home they have dreamed of and allows them to put their money in the
For homeowners looking to maximize the value of their existing property, a “Build On Your Lot” (BOYL) approach offers the ultimate solution. By partnering with Classic Cottages, you can transform your current homesite into a custom-designed new home tailored to meet the needs of how we live today.
Electing to build with a team like Classic Cottages who manages all building facets under one roof allows home buyers to build a dream home within a streamlined, efficient building process, often saving them time and money in the long run. Having all building components in house simplifies the process and work for homebuyers, turning what could have been a stressful build into an enjoyable one.
Luckily, for homebuyers wishing to pursue the new construction path with Classic Cottages, they can enjoy peace of mind with clear, upfront pricing and timelines as everyone works together to craft a beautiful, quality home to last for many generations to come.
Its BUILD program provides a specialized construction contract and, in many cases, a construction loan. Many local lenders now offer programs tailored to buyers pursuing this innovative home-building option, making the process more accessible and streamlined.
Classic Cottages’ talented staff handle everything from concept to completion. The trusted team understands investing in a home is a big deal as it is considered one of the biggest milestones and financial decisions in a person’s lifetime. And more than that, it’s personal. They consider it to be the greatest honor when families welcome them into their busy, daily lives and allow them to work together to make a house a home
ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE
Each and every detail of Inspīr Embassy Row has been thoughtfully designed to offer residents an unparalleled lifestyle. From immersive experiences and intellectual programming, to nutritious culinary offerings and an entire floor dedicated to wellness, Inspīr creates the perfect landscape for residents to thrive on every level. Not to mention, we’re located just blocks from the nation’s best theatres, restaurants, monuments, and museums.
Your Best Life Begins Here.
Schedule a meeting at our leasing gallery today.
CON TENTS
■ FEATURES
HOME & GARDEN
42
Sticker Shock
Why is it so expensive to build a home in Arlington? The economics are rather complicated.
50 Small Wonders
Size is not the only measure of a home’s livability. These stylish spaces prove that with good design you may not need more square footage.
84 Gaining Ground
Want to be a good neighbor to the local ecosystem? Here’s what to plant in your yard and what to rip out.
COMMUNITY
92 Leaps of Faith
With their congregations shrinking, churches are being eyed as candidates for redevelopment. Is this the newest front in Arlington’s squabbles over density?
REAL ESTATE
100 Top Real Estate Producers
Spring selling season is just around the corner. Here are the top-producing real estate agents and teams in our area.
Illustration by Addison Green
When your overconfident partner insists on lifting both boxes marked “Very Heavy” only to discover that their back does not –in fact–“got this.”
We’re right down the street.
Find a primary care doctor today
CON TENTS
■ DEPARTMENTS
12 Around Town
Head out for Celtic tunes, Earth Day observances and a glam stage
of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
18 Big Picture
The skate punks have gone mainstream. They’re stoked about this playground.
20 Familiar Faces
Poking through the attic of a National Geographic photographer.
24 My Life
She wanted to keep loving chess, so she quit the club.
164 Places to Eat
Our dining guide includes bite-size writeups on more than 250 area restaurants and bars.
190 Shop Local
158
126 Great Spaces
Three cheers for this all-season, allpurpose family porch.
128 Prime Numbers
Which neighborhoods are the priciest? Where are homes selling the fastest? Our expanded real estate guide compares home sales data in more than 350 neighborhoods.
158 Restaurant Review
The omakase experience at this highend Japanese newcomer is worthy of a celebration.
162 Home Plate
Find comfort in stellar smashburgers, massive muffaletta and baklava in milkshake form.
Put some spring in your step with these pretty wares for home and garden.
192 Driving Range
Got plans for spring break? This tiny West Virginia mountain town is a perfect launch pad for outdoor adventures.
198 Get Away
Discover scenic views on your next road trip, a local hotel that revels in D.C. lore, and a five-star storybook inn.
200 Back Story
At a time when music lovers were glued to their transistor radios, this local AM station was all the rage. SPECIAL
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND YOU
We’d love to help you create the outdoor space you’ve always dreamed of. We understand the impact of the building process on your busy lives, so we’ll make it easy for you — we take care of everything, with guaranteed timelines and pricing. Call us today so we can find out what’s important to you. Together, we can design a custom space that fits you perfectly.
SCHEDULE YOUR EXPERT CONSULTATION WITH GROFF
letter from the publisher
Mansion on the Hill
A LOCAL HOMEBUILDER once told me that my neighborhood, Tara-Leeway Heights, would never have teardowns. The reason, he shared, was because the prices of existing homes (which would need to be purchased and torn down) were too high relative to the price a builder could charge for a new home. The difference wouldn’t cover the building costs, plus a sufficient profit margin to make the project worthwhile. That conversation took place about 10 to 12 years ago. Since then, seven new homes have been built on our street, which spans four blocks. (Twice as many homes have undergone major renovations and expansions.) I remember the first house on our street that was priced at just over $2 million. It seemed crazy to me, but it sold quickly. It struck me that, although lot values continue to increase, the demand for new homes and the prices buyers are willing to pay must be growing at a faster rate. Fast forward to today and we’ve grown accustomed to homes that are priced close to $3 million, sometimes more. So, it seems reasonable to ask a basic question: Why are new homes so expensive here? I hear people talking about it—in person and on social media—all the time. Many also wonder why new homes seem to be getting bigger and bigger. In our cover story, “Sticker Shock,” Tamara Lytle explores the complex economics of new home building and why the prices are so high. The reasons are many, but the short answer is that building costs are also disproportionately high, and they have increased dramatically in recent years. Also, new homes are expensive because buyers can afford them.
Amid skyrocketing housing costs, Arlington County has been grappling with ways to make the community more affordable and inclusive. (We’ve already written about Expanded Housing Options, aka the missing middle. If you missed our story, visit ArlingtonMagazine.com/missing-middle.)
Churches—more specifically, the land they occupy—constitute one of the newer fronts in the battle over affordability and density. Houses of worship are facing declining congregations, and they are often located in or adjacent to residential neighborhoods. Many of us are eager to have more affordable housing options and to be welcoming and inclusive, but do we want a four- to six-story apartment building in our neighborhood where a quaint church used to sit? In “Leaps of Faith,” writer Kim O’Connell unpacks the current debate over the future of Clarendon Presbyterian Church and the precedent the outcome could set.
I hope your 2025 is off to a good start. Let’s continue to focus on making our community a wonderful place to live, do business and raise a family. As always, you can reach me with comments, suggestions and story ideas at greg.hamilton@arlingtonmagazine.com. Letters to the editor should be directed to jenny.sullivan@ arlingtonmagazine.com. Thank you for reading Arlington Magazine. We are grateful for your support.
Greg Hamilton Publisher & Owner
■ contributors
Jamie McCrary
HOME BASE: Glover Park in D.C.
ORIGINALLY FROM: Upstate South Carolina
IN THIS ISSUE: Highlights the best things to see and do this spring in our Around Town column
DESIGN STYLE AT HOME: “Eclectic boho, centered on neutral and subtle colors.”
WRITING LIFE: Former Senior Editor at District Fray Magazine and DCist contributor
CURRENTLY WORKING ON: “Lining up speakers for agents and authors nights at the D.C. Writers’ Salon. Also a series of blog posts for my higher education client.”
FUN FACT: “In my early 20s, I was a professional violist. I left that job in 2021 to launch my freelance writing and editing business. I still gig around town at times, but not as much since Covid.”
OUT OF OFFICE: “When I’m not working, I’m probably rock climbing, doing yoga or hanging in the park with my hound dog, Hugo.”
FIND HER AT: jamiemccrary.contently.com
Addison Green
HOME BASE: “I left teaching in 2022 and have been traveling and making art as a freelance illustrator and writer. When I’m not traveling I house-sit all over the DMV and beyond.”
ORIGINALLY FROM: “I was born in Denver and spent most of my life split between Colorado, Maryland and Missouri.”
IN THIS ISSUE: Illustrates our cover story on the high cost of homebuilding
CREATURE COMFORTS: “Nowadays, home is about a good view where I can settle into a place, coffee from the French press I keep in my car, and chipotle tabasco sauce. I’m basically a professional houseguest, so I’m constantly having to settle into new places. I find small comforts make that much easier. That, and Wi-Fi.”
CURRENTLY WORKING ON: “A series on people who were instrumental in developing some of our national parks.”
FUN FACTS: “I’ve completed the swim from Alcatraz Island across San Francisco Bay three times, and I have driven through all 50 states.”
FIND HER AT: @green_addie on Instagram
PUBLISHER & OWNER
Greg Hamilton
EDITOR
Jenny Sullivan
ART DIRECTOR
Laura Goode
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Danny Ryan
DIGITAL EDITORS
Stephanie Kanowitz, Helen Partridge
WEB PRODUCER
Erin Roby
DINING CRITIC
David Hagedorn
COPY EDITORS
Sandy Fleishman, Barbara Ruben
CO-FOUNDER
Steve Hull
WRITERS
Susan Anspach, Wendy A. Jordan, Christine Koubek Flynn, Wendy Kantor, Orrin Konheim, Tamara Lytle, Jamie McCrary, Kim O’Connell, Grazia Salvemini, Amy Brecount White
PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS
Shannon Ayres, Ron Blunt, Stephanie Bragg, Skip Brown, BTW Images, Reema Desai, David Edwards, Addison Green, Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Lisa Helfert, Jared Kuzia, Tony J. Lewis, Deb Lindsey, Veronica Morrison, Nova Soul Imagery, Donna Owens, Robert Radifera, Hilary Schwab, Stylish Productions, Joseph D. Tran, Michael Ventura, Jenn Verrier, Nancy White, Samantha Joan White, Brie Williams, Stephanie Williams, Darko Zagar
For advertising information: Call 703-534-0519 or visit arlingtonmagazine.com.
Letters to the Editor:
We want to hear from you. Please email jenny.sullivan@arlingtonmagazine.com.
How to contact us:
Editorial: editorial@arlingtonmagazine.com
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Website: website@arlingtonmagazine.com
Arlington Magazine/ArlingtonMagazine.com
P.O. Box 5510, Arlington, VA 22205
Phone: 703-534-0519
AROUND TOWN
by Jamie McCrary
PERFORMING ARTS
THROUGH MARCH 9
Steel Magnolias
Creative Cauldron
This comedy-drama about six small-town Southern women is a lasting testament to the power of sisterhood. Creative Cauldron gives the characters a refresh with a racially diverse cast. Tickets begin at $35; $25 for students. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church, creativecauldron.org
THROUGH MARCH 16
Job Signature Theatre
A young woman experiencing screaming breakdowns seeks an evaluation from a crisis therapist so she can return to work. This psychological thriller explores the meaning of work and the insidiousness of the internet with a disturbing twist. Tickets begin at $40. See website for show times. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org
THROUGH MAY 4
In the Heights
Signature Theatre
The Tony Award-winning musical by LinManuel Miranda (Hamilton) and Quiara Alegría Hudes (Daphne’s Dive) chronicles life in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood through Latin music and hiphop. Tickets begin at $40. See website for show times. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org
MARCH 1, 6 P.M.
Snow White
Capital One Hall
Presented by the award-winning Virginia National Ballet, this dance performance brings the fairy tale to life, with songs from the beloved Disney movie. Tickets begin at $45. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
JAZZ IT UP
MARCH 1, 7-8 P.M.
New Orleans
Songbook
The Alden
Just in time for Fat Tuesday, this special Jazz at Lincoln Center concert celebrates the iconic composers and spirited songs of the Crescent City. Musicians Luther S. Allison, Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs will perform standards by legends such as Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Ellis Marsalis and James Black. $30; $25 for students and seniors; $20 for McLean Community Center district residents. 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, mcleancenter.org
MARCH 6-29
The Margriad (Or, the Tragedy of Queen Margaret)
Avant Bard
Experience the indomitable spirit of Shakespeare’s Queen Margaret of Anjou in this compelling adaptation. The story weaves together four of the Bard’s history
Luther Allison
Milton Suggs
Quiana Lynell
1.
2.
3.
plays—Henry VI Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Richard III—to tell the story of her powerful rise and tragic fall. $40; $20 for students, seniors and military service members; free for Arlington students. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington, avantbard.org
MARCH 13-30
hang
1st Stage
In this provocative Royal Court production, one woman’s unspeakable decision determines a criminal’s fate—and the future of justice in her community. $55; $15 for students, educators and military service members. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, 1ststage.org
MARCH 20, 7 P.M.
Women’s Adventure Film Tour 2025
Arlington Drafthouse
This curated lineup of five films brings together incredible stories of women’s courage, adventure, perseverance and self-discovery. $15. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, arlingtondrafthouse.com
MARCH 21-22
36th Annual Evening of Comedy
The Barns at Wolf Trap
Enjoy an evening of unrelenting fun with top stand-up comedians, including writer/ producer Carol Leifer (Seinfeld), Rich Hall (Saturday Night Live and Fridays) and Rondell Sheridan (That’s So Raven). Tickets begin at $33. Performances are 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org
APRIL 12-13
BalletNova’s Don Quixote
Capital One Hall
This classic production follows knight Don Quixote’s quest to revive chivalry and protect the innocent. Enter a vibrant world of adventure with stunning choreography, costumes and music. Tickets begin at $25. Performances are 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
APRIL 15–JUNE 22
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Signature Theatre
Signature puts its own spin on the
APRIL 26, 8 A.M.
Arlington Bunny Hop 5K
Clarendon United Methodist Church
Don your favorite bunny costume for an Easter-themed run through Ashton Heights and Lyon Park to support Arlington neighbors in need. This year’s beneficiary is Bridges to Independence, a local nonprofit working to end homelessness and systemic poverty. A block party following the race will include live music, a bounce house, face painting and other fun. See website for details and to register. 606 N. Irving St., Arlington, arlingtonbunnyhop.org
hilariously heartbreaking glam rock musical that’s become an anthem of queer pride. With killer heels and a fabulous wig, Hedwig tours the country, trailing the ex-lover who stole her songs while sharing her personal tale of growing up in Communist East Germany, the botched sex change operation that allowed her to come stateside, and life beyond the binary. Tickets start at $40. See website for show times. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org
APRIL 18-27
Legally Blonde: The Musical
The Arlington Players
Based on the 2001 movie, this actionpacked musical chronicles Elle Woods’ attempts to win her boyfriend back at Harvard Law—and the stereotypes she faces along the way. $30; $25 for seniors and military service members; $20 for children and students. See website for show times. Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington, thearlingtonplayers.org
APRIL 24-27
Alice (In Wonderland)
Capital One Hall
Fall down the rabbit hole with a
Washington Ballet performance of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, featuring vibrant costumes, puppetry and unforgettable choreography. Tickets begin at $44. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon and 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
THROUGH MARCH 9
25th Anniversary of the Alliance: A Group Show
Arlington Artists Alliance
Dedicated to championing local artists? Catch this special exhibition of Arlington Artists Alliance members’ work in celebration of the group’s 25th anniversary. Free. 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, arlingtonartistsalliance.org
MARCH 1-APRIL 6
Light & Dark: Contrast, A Photography Exhibit
Falls Church Arts
A study in contrast, this exhibit features photographs exploring the juxtaposition of light and darkness. Visit the show in person
or online. Meet the artists during a reception from 7-9 p.m. March 1. Free. 700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church, fallschurcharts.org
MARCH 22, 10 A.M.-2 P.M.
Spring Window Painting Festival
Falls Church Arts
Embrace the start of spring by decorating merchant windows throughout the City of Falls Church. Gather at 10 a.m. to collect paint and window assignments. Participants can register and submit window designs online after March 1. Free. 100 block of W. Broad St., Falls Church, fallschurcharts.org
APRIL 4-6
Spring Artful Weekend
Arlington Artists Alliance
Give your home a refresh with a new piece of art. Peruse works for sale by more than 30 members of the Arlington Artists Alliance during this weekend event at Hendry House in Fort C.F. Smith Park. Free. 2411 N. 24th St., Arlington, arlingtonartistsalliance.org
APRIL 5-6, 11 A.M.-6 P.M.
Art Blooms at Mosaic Festival
Mosaic District
This vibrant street festival features more than 110 artisan vendors, fresh produce and treats, family-friendly activities (including a petting zoo) and live music. Cocktail lovers can nab a drink at participating bars to enjoy while strolling. Free. 2910 District Ave., Fairfax, mosaicdistrict.com/events/event/ art-blooms-at-mosaic
AUTHORS & BOOKS
MARCH 23, 4-5:30 P.M.
Page & Stage:
1st Stage’s Book Club
1st Stage
Delve into Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden, a work that investigates the fragility of justice and human rights. This discussion and gathering
is offered in conjunction with the theater’s production of hang. Free. 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, 1ststage.org/page-and-stage
APRIL 10, 6:30-8 P.M.
Arlington Reads: Curtis Sittenfeld
Arlington Central Library
Library Director Diane Kresh welcomes the best-selling novelist to discuss all things romance. Sittenfeld is the author of six novels, including Eligible, a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Free. 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, library.arlingtonva.us
MUSIC
THROUGH MARCH 9
Winter Celtic Concerts
The Old Brogue Irish Pub
Staged in partnership with Barnaby Productions, this winter concert series of Celtic folk music features fireside performances by Ayreheart (Feb. 23), Iona
(March 2) and Ka/Po: Karen Ashbrook and Paul Oorts (March 9). Performances are Sundays at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. $21. 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, oldbrogue.com
MARCH 1, 6-8 P.M.
Celtic Underground Concert
Cherry Hill Farmhouse
This intimate yet lively concert features Irish, Americana and folk musicians performing live in the farmhouse parlor. $20 for Falls Church residents; $25 for non-residents. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, fallschurchva.gov/1772/ Celtic-Underground-Concert
MARCH 3, 8 P.M.
Lovesong: A Tribute to The Cure State Theatre
Go ’80s emo and rock out to hits such as “Why Can’t I Be You,” “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Just Like Heaven” at this tribute show. $15-$20. 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, thestatetheatre.com
MARCH 8, 5 P.M.
Enthrall
The Arlington Chorale Poetry meets music in an evocative program featuring Gustav Holst’s Sanskrit poem-based The Cloud Messenger; We Are the Lucky Ones. Holst’s new commission is set to poems by Julia Singer and Freya Manfred, and works by Afghanistan poet laureate Bahir Nasiri. $25; free for children under 17. Westover Baptist Church, 1125 Patrick Henry Drive, Arlington, arlingtonchorale.org
MARCH 8, 8 P.M.
Pan American Symphony Orchestra: Todo Tango
The Barns at Wolf Trap Immerse yourself in the passionate world of Argentine tango with the Latin Grammynominated Pan American Symphony Orchestra. The performance pairs live dancers with orchestral accompaniment, featuring works from old tango masters and the nuevo tango of Astor Piazzolla. Tickets begin at $56. 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org
MARCH 11, 7 P.M.
Dirty Dancing in Concert
Capital One Hall
Relive the beloved 1987 romcom in this film-to-concert production. The show
features a movie screening accompanied by a live band and singers. Catch the encore party to sing and dance to your heart’s content. Tickets begin at $39.50. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
MARCH 15, 8 P.M.
Neil Forever: The Music of Neil Diamond
Capital One Hall
With renditions of hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “Coming to America” and “Kentucky Women,” this lauded 14-piece ensemble delivers a captivating performance for Diamond fans, young and old. Tickets begin at $37.50. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
MARCH 21-22, 8 P.M.
Gregory Alan Isakov with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Capital One Hall
The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter performs favorite picks from his six fulllength studio albums—including his most recent acclaimed Appaloosa Bones (2023)—with the FSO. Tickets begin at $50. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
APRIL 5, 7:30 P.M.
Keith Butler Jr. with Seysew
Little City Concerts
D.C.-based drummer and composer Keith Butler Jr. bridges the worlds of classical and jazz in the Little City Concerts’ first commissioned, evening-length piece. The performance features his quartet Seysew (pronounced “say so”) comprising trumpet, piano, bass and drums. Half of ticket sales will be donated to Teaching for Change, the event’s nonprofit partner. $25; free for students and youth. Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E. Broad St., Falls Church, littlecityconcerts.org
APRIL 5, 7:30 P.M.
Juilliard Virtuosi Perform Bach, Liebermann and Brahms
National Chamber Ensemble
Violinist and NCE artistic director
Leonid Sushansky takes the stage with pianist Thomas Pandolfi to bring to life the timeless works of Bach, Liebermann and Brahms. Don’t miss this captivating performance by two acclaimed Juilliard alumni. $40; $20 for
students. Marymount University - Ballston Center, 1000 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, nationalchamberensemble.org
APRIL 26, 7:30 P.M.
The Later Romantics
Washington Sinfonietta
Enjoy an evening of evocative music by Wagner, Bruch, Dvořák and Mozart with featured soloists Ava Pakiam on violin, and Alon Goldstein on piano. $20; $15 for students and seniors; free for children under 18. Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E. Broad St., Falls Church, washingtonsinfonietta.org
APRIL 26, 8 P.M.
Kala Ramnath, Abhijit Banerjee and Christylez Bacon
The Barns at Wolf Trap
This cross-cultural performance with violin, tabla and human beatbox fuses Hindustani classical music and hip-hop. Tickets begin at $38. 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org
SEASONAL
MARCH 13, 7-8:30 P.M.
The Outstanding Women of the Ball-Sellers House
Arlington Historical Society
Celebrate Women’s History Month with inspiring stories about the various residents of Arlington’s oldest house, including suffragist Irene Young, U.S. Navy Yeoman Julia Powell and Marian Sellers, the home’s final owner. Free. Reinsch Library Auditorium at Marymount University, 2807 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, arlhist.org
APRIL 5, 10 A.M.
Ice Cream Social
Cherry Hill Farmhouse
Learn how ice cream was made in the 17th century at this open house featuring yard games, tours and, of course, frozen treats. Free. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, fallschurchva.gov/2183/ Ice-Cream-Social-at-the-Farmhouse
APRIL 5, 10 A.M.-NOON SpringFest
McLean Community Center
Celebrate spring with seasonal arts and crafts, entertainment and photo ops with the Easter bunny. Free. 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, mcleancenter.org
APRIL 5, 1 P.M.
Ball-Sellers House Season Opening
Arlington Historical Society
Arlington County’s oldest home (c. 1750) reopens for the season, celebrating its 50th anniversary with colonial reenactments and music performances. Free. 5620 Third St. S., Arlington, arlhist.org/ball-sellers-house
APRIL 6, 1-5 P.M.
Falls Church Home and Garden Tour
Discover the natural and historic beauty of The Little City with self-guided tours inside multiple renovated homes and private gardens. Proceeds benefit the Falls Church Education Foundation and Falls Church City Public Schools. Tickets are $30 in advance; $35 day-of. fcedf.org
APRIL 13
Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating
Falls Church Arts
Learn the ancient art of pysanka,
an intricately painted Easter egg in traditional Ukrainian style. Artist Iryna Smitchkova will explain the meaning of different patterns and help students craft their own unique works of art. $25. Sessions offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 700-B. Broad St., Falls Church, fallschurcharts.org
APRIL 19, 9:15 A.M.
Falls Church Egg Hunt
Cherry Hill Park
The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs throughout the park, where children 11 and under can hunt for candy and prizes, make crafts, play games and pose for photos. BYOB (basket, that is). The egg hunt begins at 10 a.m. Free. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, fallschurchva.gov/ egghunt
APRIL 26-27, 10 A.M.-5 P.M.
11th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts
Nestled in the heart of Clarendon, this annual arts festival showcases handmade sculpture, pottery, jewelry, photography,
mixed-media pieces and other works for sale. Admission is free. 1051 N. Highland St., Arlington, artfestival.com/festivals/ arlington-festival-arts
APRIL 27, 11 A.M.-5 P.M.
Earth Day Every Day Festival
Langston Boulevard Alliance
This eco-minded annual street fair at the Lee Heights Shops features food, live music, kids activities and an art market showcasing locally-made goods, all with an environmental focus. Stop by a pop-up booth featuring noted regional poets who will create a free, personalized poem just for you in real time. The fun also includes an Arlington Art Truck activation and a raffle with prizes. Free. 4500 Cherry Hill Road, Arlington, earthdayonlangston.com
Got a calendar event we should know about? Submit it to editorial@arlingtonmagazine.com
big picture ■ by Orrin Konheim | photo by Skip Brown
Are You On Board?
What was counterculture is now mainstream.
IT’S A BLUE-SKY afternoon at Powhatan Springs Park on Wilson Boulevard, not far from Seven Corners. Skateboarders of all ilks are practicing their ollies and kickflips, navigating the undulating bowls, rails and quarter pipes with varying levels of ease, while a few youngsters find their bearings on scooters.
In this tight-knit community of enthusiasts, seasoned skaters offer tips to “grommets” (novices) and the intergenerational camaraderie is free flowing. “Whether you’re 10 or 65, all the skaters help each other,” says veteran boarder Paul Meyers, who gives occasional lessons here—in some cases to folks old enough for AARP membership.
He’s especially stoked about the $1.8 million renovation completed in 2019 that expanded the park’s repertoire of old-school and street elements. The refresh was badly needed (the original facility, opened in 1999, was crumbling) and intended to “reignite the passions of the skate community,” says Robert Capper, a program manager with Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation. It has.
In addition to athletic fields and a rain garden, the concrete jewel of the park is a three-part, 1,700-square-foot skateboarding area that incorporates elements of bowl, street and surf style.
Bowl skating originated on the West Coast in the mid-1970s when a pervasive drought presented the area’s burgeoning skate culture with a new kind of terrain. Californians were restricted from filling their pools, so boarders
used rounded pool floors with challenging depth gradations to create their own brand of recreation.
Street skating rose to prominence in the 1990s in areas where skate parks didn’t exist. In the absence of dedicated facilities, boarders took to urban streets and plazas to perfect their tricks on curbs, benches and metal railings.
Surf-style skating emerged around the same time, with boards designed for weaving turns (similar to surfing) on wide open flats, slopes and inclines. Brendan Andreas, 11, likes that Arlington’s skate park offers variety. “This is actually my favorite park because you can skate for a long time and not get bored,” he says.
Like many who frequent the park, he picked up skateboarding during Covid and was hooked. He’s suffered a few broken bones since then, says his mom, Katie, but those setbacks haven’t dampened his love of the sport. He once skated eight hours straight.
In 2021, skateboarding made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo games. Northern Virginia has yet to produce any competitors of that caliber, though it is home to two internationally ranked skaters—Aaron Pike of Annandale (@piykerman on Instagram) and Quinn Harbin (@marffskates), who hails from Falls Church.
“It’s not an easy sport,” says another parent watching her child from the sidelines, “but if you love it, it’s worth the bumps.” Just don’t forget your brain bucket. For the uninitiated, that’s skater lingo for helmet. ■
Marley Hassann, 16, catches air at Powhatan Springs Park
Stories in the Attic
A picture is worth a thousand words, and Bruce Dale has thousands of pictures.
BRUCE DALE’S ARLINGTON attic is a capsule of the world. It’s the first place his grandkids always liked to go when they visited, poking through zebra skins, tribal spears and other treasures. There are headlights of railroad steam engines and even pieces of the original Notre Dame Cathedral.
“It’s sort of a museum,” says Dale, a photographer whose career spanning some four decades took him to all
corners of the U.S. and more than 80 countries. “I’m a collector. Everywhere I traveled, I always brought back some memories. The nicer things my wife used to keep downstairs, but everything else went in the attic.”
Well, not everything. A photo he took of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia is on board NASA’s Voyager space craft. His shot of the Rio Grande is a U.S. postage stamp.
Dale, 86, grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. His aunt and uncle, both photographers, were the ones who inspired him to pick up a camera. “They were always talking about photography,” he says. By the time he graduated from high school in 1956, he had 50 photos published in Cleveland newspapers and had
landed a job as a photographer for the Toledo Blade.
Work became his compass. College was secondary as he hopped around the country. “I spent all of my vacation time attending various universities,” he says, recalling how he picked up classes here and there—including at the University of Miami, University of Missouri and Syracuse.
He was still working at the Blade when he met his wife, Joyce. Her aunt was the newspaper’s cafeteria manager and introduced them. Joyce had a boyfriend at the time, but Dale says he ultimately won her over, sending gifts—a goldfish, flowers, candy, a singing telegram. They married in June 1961 and eventually had three sons.
They moved to the D.C. area in 1964
Bruce Dale on a trip to Hungary in 1969
when Dale landed a job as a staff photographer for National Geographic.
“I thought it would be only for a couple of years, but I wound up staying 30,” he says. “It was a very, very exciting job. A lot of photographers specialize. I kind of did a little bit of everything. I did some underwater photography, some high-altitude pictures, a lot of science and anthropological pictures.”
He made 10 trips to China and learned to speak Mandarin. He photographed American mountain communities in the Ozarks, Rockies, Sierras and Appalachia. He studied the feeding habits of bats and road runners.
When he wasn’t away on assignment, he fixed up the 1938 house he and Joyce bought in Tara-Leeway Heights. He installed flooring and electrical wiring, constructed his own cabinets and built entire additions, doubling the home’s size to accommodate their growing family.
He was resourceful and handy at work, too. To create one of his most celebrated photographs, Dale mounted cameras on the tail of a jumbo jet to capture the aircraft landing at night.
“I was in the cockpit, pushing the trigger with a wire that tripped the camera,” he explains, “but then the wire broke, so I had to relay to a man sit-
ting in the tail when to take the picture. All the runway lights kind of swirl up. It turned out to be a spectacular shot.”
As with most of his favorite photos, the process was an experiment, the result somewhat unplanned: “It was serendipitous. It was a discovery.”
For years, Dale displayed only one of his own images at home—a snowy
The view from explorer John Wesley Powell’s cabin in Maine
■ familiar faces
landscape shot taken from the window of a cabin in Maine where explorer John Wesley Powell died in 1902. He was working on a biography of Powell’s life, retracing the geologist’s 1869 expedition down the Colorado River, when he stumbled upon a museum claiming to have Powell’s deathbed in its collection. “I thought, ‘I wonder how they got that.’”
The museum’s curator referred Dale to the donor of the artifact, who then put him in touch with the new owners of the cabin where Powell spent his final days. Dale arrived in a snowstorm, got stuck and had to walk the last quarter mile to the house.
His first thought was to photograph the cabin from the outside, but the view of the wintry landscape from inside proved more interesting. “I took this picture with the camera actually pressed up against the window looking out,” he says. “It’s more of a still life. You have to look at it twice to realize it’s not a painting. It’s a little more abstract. I’ve always liked the feeling of it. People look at it and see a lot of different meanings in it.”
In 1994, he took a buyout and retired from National Geographic. In the years that followed, he taught digital photography workshops in New Mexico and shot ad campaigns for major corporations and apparel companies.
Dale was 73 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011. He had surgery to remove the mass, but the cancer came back with a bleak prognosis: Doctors said he had a 10% chance of survival. He said his goodbyes and got his affairs in order.
Then he learned about a new kind of targeted radiation therapy being pioneered in a handful of hospitals nationwide. One of them was Virginia Hospital Center (now VHC Health), an eight-minute walk from his home. He went for treatment four times a week for four months.
On the last day of his cancer treatment, Joyce went for a checkup and was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. At that point, Dale says, he’d come to terms with his own diagnosis. But his wife’s was devastating.
“Man, that hurt,” he says. “It was like getting hit with a sledgehammer.”
Joyce underwent surgery and they had a “really great year,” he remembers. They traveled to Hawaii and were preparing to fly to Germany where she could receive a new treatment, but she became too sick to travel. She died in December 2015.
In her obituary, she was remembered as “a musician, gardener, chef, stylist, photographer, navigator, bookkeeper, researcher, publisher, camper, and best friend.”
Since then, Dale has found love again. Veronica Morrison, his livein partner and travel companion, is a former graphic designer for National Geographic. “She lost her husband the year after Joyce,” he says. “She came over one time five years ago—and she hasn’t left.”
He hasn’t exactly retired. For one of his latest projects, “Return to Roma,” Dale is revisiting the people in photos he took 50 years ago for a book called Gypsies: Wanderers of the World. His cancer is in remission. He has no plan to stop working. “I enjoy it. I find it challenging and stimulating,” he says.
Another project in the works, a children’s picture book called Grandpa’s Attic, pairs photos from his travels with the stories behind them. One shot captures a parkaclad Dale covered in ice in the Arctic circle.
“This is Grandpa working at 50 below zero,” he says animatedly, captioning the image. “It was so cold that if you spit, it would freeze before it hit the ground. It would bounce and bounce. And if you’re lucky at night, the sky will light up like a beautiful colored curtain. It’s called the northern lights or the aurora borealis.”
A photo of an object resembling a pie plate, he explains, is actually a pan used for finding gold. Dale was on a father-son trip with his son Christopher (then age 6) in the Sierra Madre Mountains when they met an old-time gold miner and camped with him for several days, learning his technique. In return, they forked over the gold they found and promised not to reveal the treasure hunter’s secret location.
“The whole book is like that,” Dale says. “It’s a work in progress. I still have half of the attic to go through.” ■
Wendy Kantor is an award-winning journalist based in Northern Virginia. She can’t wait to read Bruce Dale’s new book to her kids.
Dale with his camera and tripod in Shenandoah National Park
A Roma man and child in the Transylvanian Alps in 1969
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by Grazia Salvemini | photo by Donna Owens
Don’t Call It a Draw
I play to win. Quitting the local chess club was a victory for me.
ON FRIDAY EVENINGS , a timeless scene unfolds beneath the majestic steeple of the Mount Olivet United Methodist Church on North Glebe Road. Young chess players scamper through the entrance to the church basement, usually trailed by a parent with a book or a laptop and the air of someone resigned to sitting on a hard cafeteria chair for several hours.
Men walk in determinedly at a fast pace, often with furrowed brows and a portable chess set slung over one shoulder. Spotting the women in the fray takes some effort.
Founded in 1954, the Arlington Chess Club (ACC) has organized more than 3,000 Friday night “ladder” games (in which ranked players are matched with opponents of like standing) over the course of its history. The $75 membership fee for adults is advertised as an auspicious opportunity to play chess for an entire year for a mere $1.50 per meetup.
But of the 70 or so contenders who arrive each week to play, few are women. Three on any given Friday would be considered above average. From September 2022 to August 2023, I was one of those women.
Play starts shortly after 8 p.m. with a time control of 90 minutes for the first 30 moves, plus additional time and increments. It’s not uncommon for some games to finish after midnight or even 2 a.m.
Restless players often stand up, walk around the room and observe other games during their opponent’s time. Some pace back and forth to stay mentally alert. For me, the feeling of entrapment could be overwhelming. The late nights didn’t help.
There were times I would envy the players who’d finished ahead of me, regardless of whether their faces were alight with victory, wan with defeat or hollowed by sheer exhaustion.
The words that Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde used to describe the passage of time in Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol (jail) would come to mind: “Each day is like a year, / A year whose days are long…,” except that in my case, each move felt unbearably long.
I learned chess in the third grade at my grammar school in San Francisco and enjoyed playing through the years with family and friends. I never played competitively until 2021. Once I did, my rating remained below average.
I will say that almost all my rated games were either wins or losses. For many ranked players, the art of the draw is a strategy in and of itself. A draw (tie game) is worth more than a loss. Some players will even go so far as to retire from competitive play once they’ve achieved a certain rating, just to preserve that rating. One might reach 1,500 (very respectable) and then never play competitively again. All to be defined by a number!
Draws were unusual for me, even though my rating would have been helped by them. To me, a chess game that ends in a tie is unsatisfying. I play to learn and have fun. I would rather boldly pursue a win and lose badly than settle for an uninspired draw. To quote former New York Jets
■ my life
coach Herm Edwards, “You play to win the game!”
My happiest memories of ACC were the times I arrived early and chatted with other members or played spontaneous pickup games before official play began. My favorite opponent was a club legend: The-Man-Who-Drew-AgainstBobby-Fischer.
But Beth Harmon (the fictional prodigy in the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit) I was not. Though the culture surrounding the game has progressed since the era depicted in the show, my own experience with the ACC underscored difficulties that women still face in male-dominated environments such as competitive chess.
Each time the ACC pairing sheet was posted, I’d hang back, not wanting to get trampled by the men who rushed forward to see who they were playing.
I still cringe at the memory of a patronizing and unwelcome pat on the
shoulder from a male club member who once asked me, “Do you ever win?”
When the club’s president recommended beginner chess books to me even though I had been playing competitively for almost two years, I politely thanked him for his advice, even though inside I simmered with rage.
The gender disparities extend all the way to the game’s highest echelons. St. Louis, Missouri, is home to America’s most prestigious chess club and site of the annual U.S. Chess Championship and the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. Last October, the national men’s champion, Fabiano Caruana, received $62,000 for his victory. By comparison, women’s champion Carissa Yip’s first place winnings were $40,000.
The men’s tournament divided $244,000 in prize money among the top 12 competitors, whereas the top 12 women split a $152,000 purse.
When the time came to renew my
ACC membership in 2023, I declined, having realized that competitive chess was not the environment for me.
Today, whenever I drive by Mount Olivet Church, I feel a sense of freedom. I’m no longer attempting to climb the ladder, and I’m not losing sleep over it.
Another victory: The-Man-WhoDrew-Against-Bobby-Fischer has become a friend. He’s still my favorite opponent, and someone I continue to play regularly, albeit not on Friday nights. We’ve probably played at least 100 games. I’ve won three.
After each of those hard-earned victories, the sky has felt brighter. I’ve walked as if on air, my love of chess overflowing. Some of us simply play to win the game. ■
Bilingual writer Grazia Salvemini’s interests include art history, 19th-century literature, and Italian soccer and tennis. Her work is published in America and Italy.
Lynn L Heinrichs, Agent
6842 Elm Street, McLean, VA 22101
bus: 703-827-0377 | cell: 703-283-3404
lynn@lynnheinrichs.com | LynnHeinrichs.com
My business is celebrating 25 years in the wonderful community of McLean. To help me commemorate this important milestone, I asked the owner of Kazan’s restaurant, Mr. Uzun, to join me because his restaurant has been in business for an impressive 45 years! Kazan’s is a McLean treasure and community icon.
My colleagues, family, friends and I have celebrated many special occasions at Kazan’s. I often see my customers dining there, and I have attended a number of community gatherings in their event space. One of my favorite events, the Police Officer of the Year award, is hosted by the McLean District Station Community Advisory Committee at Kazan’s. The McLean Rotary Club is a regular, too.
Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted with a smile and a friendly “how can we help you.” Most often, the person greeting you is Mr. Uzun’s brother, Ayhan. Mr. Uzun is known to stop by your table after the meal to check in on you. Kazan’s is like three restaurants in one. It feels like “Cheers” where everyone knows your name. It’s where you go for a great home cooked meal. It’s also a place for special occasions because of its upscale ambience and extraordinary Turkish food.
I have a few things in common with Mr. Uzun. We began our careers at an early age and we love what we do. We care deeply about our customers and our great community here in McLean. And we hope to keep doing what we do for as long as we can because it makes us happy.
Zeynel Uzun and Lynn Heinrichs at Kazan’s Restaurant in McLean
Test of Time Profiles
TriVistaUSA Design + Build
MICHAEL AND DEBORAH SAURI
What we build often becomes part of the fabric of the community, and we take community responsibility seriously.
3103 N. 10th St., Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22201 703-243-3171 | info@trivistausa.com www.trivistausa.com
Husband and wife team Michael and Deborah Sauri of TriVistaUSA Design + Build have thrived for over twenty years in the competitive Arlington design-build market, working hard and smart and having fun.
With so many successful projects behind them and years of energy and artistic imagination ahead, the Sauris are expanding into larger and more complex opportunities.
“Complex or straightforward, we do cool projects for cool people,” says Michael, “who appreciate that our bespoke solutions are rooted in deep expertise of resource-efficient building techniques.” The Sauris are pretty cool themselves. Both are artists—Michael is a musician; Deborah is a designer. This provides them with a distinct advantage. “Every project is unique—we don’t do cookie cutter,” says Deborah. “Although we see every project as an artistic opportunity, we believe form follows function. Our entire team collaborates on our designs so that we can create a customcrafted solution for each client’s unique visions.”
Their reputation has grown alongside their awardwinning business. Widely recognized for their expertise, the Sauris are sought-after speakers at regional meetings and national conferences, and they are valued business advisors for U.S. and Canadian companies. Michael is president of the Professional Remodeling Organization (PRO) Mid Atlantic.
“What we build often becomes part of the fabric of the community, and we take community responsibility seriously by supporting schools, the Arlington Free Clinic and our Little League teams,” says Michael. “We love participating in community festivals like Clarendon Day and some say you can’t beat the excitement of the Arlington County Fair Pie Eating Contest!”
Boone & Sons Jewelers
Trust is our objective: trust in the high quality of our gemstones and attention to detail, and trust with handling customers’ sentimental pieces of jewelry.
In 1966, Boone & Sons Jewelers founder French Boone opened his first store in Washington D.C. with the goal of creating a family business that offers fine jewelry at great prices and even better customer service. In the decades and generations that followed, Boone & Sons expanded to Chevy Chase and McLean, all the while maintaining the small business and family atmosphere that sets them apart. Today, each of the three locations has a family member on-site and almost every employee has been there for a decade or more.
“Trust is our objective: trust in the high quality of our gemstones and attention to detail, and trust with handling customers’ sentimental pieces of jewelry,” says vice president and G.I.A. graduate
gemologist Erik Boone, who manages the McLean store. “Whether it is an engagement ring you no longer wear or your grandmother’s jewelry that we are redesigning and repurposing, we treat every piece of jewelry as if it is our own.”
Boone and Sons is proud to handle every aspect of the jewelry business from onsite services, such as watch repair, jewelry repair and appraisals, to gifts ranging from several hundred dollars to several hundred thousand dollars.
“We want to be your personal jeweler, from A to Z,” says Erik, one of seven members of the third generation of Boones who are leading the company into the next 50 years of service in the D.C. area.
Michael Rogers, DDS
FAIRLINGTON DENTAL
I find the most satisfaction in helping patients with intricate issues, many of which I have also experienced.
4850 31st St. South, Suite A, Arlington, VA 22206 703-671-1001 | www.fairlingtondental.com
“Dental health isn’t confined to aesthetics,” says Dr. Michael Rogers. “It’s deeply connected to overall wellness, with periodontal health as the foundation.” Prioritizing periodontal health ensures that his patients not only smile confidently but also enjoy vitality throughout their body. He designs solutions that align with each patient’s history, needs and goals.
Rogers graduated with honors from Harvard and attended dental school at UCLA. Prepared for anything that could be presented to him, he has had training in oral surgery, plastic surgery, anesthesiology and emergency medicine.
In his tireless pursuit of evolving dental knowledge, Rogers keeps current with emerging technologies and techniques to ensure he can provide his patients with the best options for cosmetic dentistry, implants, sleep apnea, orthodontics, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and safe amalgam replacement.
In private practice in Northern Virginia for more than 30 years, his interest in dentistry—and his empathy—developed at an early age when a childhood illness left him with weak tooth enamel and staining from antibiotics.
“I find the most satisfaction in helping patients with intricate issues, many of which I have also experienced,” says Dr. Rogers. “I have twice been treated with orthodontics, have had TMJ treatments and cosmetic dentistry, and have worn an oral device for sleep apnea. I can relate.”
During his TMJ residency, he made an appliance for himself and, as a side benefit, it alleviated his back pain. “It unraveled the intricate tapestry of interconnected bodily health for me,” says Rogers, “giving me the understanding that a seemingly isolated dental issue could echo through the body.”
Vinson Hall Retirement Community
“We have a diverse, interesting community, a beautiful, parklike setting, and we offer a full continuum of care. And that’s only part of our story,” says Senior Director of Marketing, Stephanie Lawrence.
6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101
703-536-4344
www.vinsonhall.org
While retirement communities abound in Northern Virginia, few can boast 23 acres of wooded grounds with walking trails and occasional sightings of foxes and deer. The grounds provide a beautiful setting for this unique “life plan” community, which offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing, as well as shortterm rehab. But it’s the community’s diverse and accomplished group of residents and their unique relationship with staff, says Lawrence, that truly sets the Vinson Hall Retirement Community apart.
Vinson Hall residents include ambassadors, high-ranking military officers, bankers, lawyers and government service members—well-educated and well-traveled, with “a million stories” to tell, says CEO Chip Warner. Vinson Hall offers residents a myriad of amenities including an arts center, fitness center and auditori-
um, along with a library, billiard room, and a newly renovated indoor pool.
Residents and staff work closely together to maintain the high quality of life in the community. The Residents’ Association and a multitude of staff-resident committees— in dining, finance, health and wellness— work to enhance the resident experience. Residents and staff have fun together, too, socializing during Happy Hours or competing in cornhole tournaments.
While the high quality of care and resident life have remained the same over the past 55 years, eligibility requirements have changed. Once open only to retired naval officers, today Vinson Hall welcomes people of all backgrounds. “Up until now, we had to turn away people without military or government service,” says Lawrence. “Now, we’re excited to serve all members of the community.”
Land Art Design, Inc.
CLARE SIEGEL, OWNER
Land Art Design, Inc. is a fully staffed custom landscape design-build company providing every kind of outdoor environment and home enhancement.
1304 Vincent Place, McLean, VA 22101 703-448-9094 | www.landartdesign.com
With 40 years of experience in the landscape design-build industry, owner Clare Siegel has been creating outdoor environments for generations of clients. “It’s kind of bittersweet,” she says. “I find myself doing projects for sons and daughters of clients and I realize how long I’ve been around, which is a good thing.”
Siegel came upon the landscape industry after graduating from college with a degree in liberal arts. When a landscape company was doing work at her rental home, she struck up a conversation with the owner and found her calling. Only a year after completing her landscape degree at George Washington University, she started her own business.
Today, Land Art Design is a fully staffed custom landscape design-build company providing every kind of outdoor environment and home enhancement. They excel in creating usable and aesthetic spaces on difficult hillsides or slopes. They custom design and build porticos, help select and install new front doors, design and build decks and screened porches, pergolas, arbors and sheds. New front walks and architectural elements are used to enhance the curb appeal of many clients’ homes.
Siegel gets a great deal of joy taking a design from inception to its completion. “I love seeing clients excited with their new landscape, knowing they’ll enjoy it for years to come. Having years of experience helps bring a dimension to the work and creativity I didn’t have when I started out,” she says. “Wisdom is truly an evolution of the soul and an enjoyable one at that.”
MICHAEL VENTURA
Sleep & TMJ Therapy
“Every day we meet patients who feel hopeless, who have been in pain for years. I love helping them get their lives back.” Dr. Jeffrey Brown
2841 Hartland Road, Suite 301 Falls Church, VA 22043 703-821-1103 office@sleepandtmjtheraphy.com www.sleepandtmjtherapy.com
As a specialist in chronic pain and sleep problems, Dr. Jeffrey Brown is not your typical dentist and Sleep & TMJ Therapy is not your typical dental office. “Our number one goal is getting to the source of our patients’ discomfort, so we limit our practice to TMJ and sleep apnea. And we take patient care to a whole-new concierge level.”
“Chronic pain can drastically affect personality and quality of life,” says Dr. Brown. “Every day we meet patients who feel hopeless. They’ve been in pain for years, have seen doctor after doctor but are still searching for answers.”
Dr. Brown and his team provide non-surgical treatments for long-term pain from TMJ, caused by slipped discs in the jaw joint and cranial distortions. These conditions are treated using appliance therapy that takes the pressure off joints and allows discs to return to their correct positions. TMJ, short for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, can also cause popping, clicking, ringing in the ears, headaches, and even neck and back pain.
For sleep apnea, Dr. Brown uses customized dental appliances that promote healthier breathing by supporting the jaw and opening the airway. This reduces symptoms such as snoring, interrupted breathing, fatigue, irritability and headaches.
“I love helping my patients get their lives back,” says Dr. Brown. A graduate of the Georgetown Dental School and a fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, Dr. Brown is a sought-after international speaker for TMJ and sleep apnea therapies.
Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C.
The firm’s deep roots in the region extend beyond legal work.
2200 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 1300 Arlington, VA 22201
703-528-4700 www.thelandlawyers.com
Arlington office shareholders (from left): Robert D. Brant, Timothy J. Clewell, Thomas J. Colucci, Nicholas V. Cumings, H. Mark Goetzman, Michael R. Kieffer, Antonia E. Miller, Andrew A. Painter, M. Catharine Puskar, Kathleen Harney Smith, Lynne J. Strobel and Susan L. Truskey
Established in 1983, Walsh Colucci has proudly served Northern Virginia as a mid-size law firm specializing in land use and zoning, real estate transactions, litigation, business transactions, eminent domain and estate planning. Over the decades, they have become a trusted partner to organizations, landowners and developers, offering the expertise of attorneys and planners widely regarded as some of the region’s foremost professionals.
From the beginning, the founders built strong relationships within the real estate community by representing developers, builders, property owners and financial institutions. Walsh Colucci has played a pivotal role in shaping Northern Virginia’s growth, including rezoning efforts for iconic projects such as Arlington
Courthouse Plaza, the Fairfax Government Center, Laurel Hill (formerly Lorton Prison), Tysons Corner and numerous mixed-use developments along Metrorail corridors.
The firm’s deep roots in the region extend beyond legal work. Walsh Colucci’s attorneys and planners actively participate in civic and political organizations, leveraging these connections to deliver results for their clients. This involvement, combined with a longstanding commitment to the region, has solidified their reputation as a firm that understands the local landscape.
With offices in Arlington, Prince William, Loudoun and Winchester, Walsh Colucci fosters a collaborative environment where attorneys and planners work side-by-side to deliver efficient, high-quality service.
The Wise Investor Group® of Raymond James
The Wise Investor Group was nationally recognized by Forbes as a Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth for 2024. Believing strongly in the marriage of portfolio management and financial planning, every investment decision is made in the context of a written, well-articulated strategy that aims to relieve financial stress and plan for the future. Frequent, interactive client reviews include a portfolio manager and financial planner who work cohesively to meet client objectives.
The group’s investment philosophy is that each client’s personalized financial plan should fit like a bespoke suit. This type of
holistic financial planning can include every part of life that money touches, from leasing a vehicle to buying a vacation home.
In the last 30 years, they have guided clients through the market’s ups and downs, advising clients to pay less attention to short-term disruptions and stay tethered to their long-term plans and goals. The group also hosts a weekly podcast, The Wise Investor Show®, which is devoted to financial education. This resource—available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube—offers education and insights around financial planning, asset management, investment analysis and insurance.
From left: David Mount, Simon Hamilton, Chris Aime, Ann Summerson, Nick Sorden, Matt Anderson, Chase Hinderstein, and Greg Smith
Pond Roofing Company
PAT READYHOUGH, OWNER
“We always put the customer first. Whether they hire us or not, we aim to help homeowners make informed decisions about their homes.”
2985 Prosperity Ave. Fairfax, VA 22031
703-573-8000 www.pondroofing.com
Pond Roofing Company has been dedicated to serving the Northern Virginia area for 61 years—a testament to its unwavering commitment to quality, integrity and customer satisfaction since 1964.
The company was founded by Bob Pond, a World War II veteran whose relentless pursuit of excellence laid the groundwork for decades of success. Bob’s daughter, Betsy, took the helm in 2000 to guide the business into the 21st century. In 2010, Pat Readyhough merged his roofing business with Pond Roofing through a handshake agreement. Betsy and Pat worked together to craft a vision for the future, which ultimately led to Pat assuming ownership two years later.
As Pond Roofing celebrates its 61st anniversary in 2025, Readyhough reflects on over a decade of leadership that has seen the company grow while staying true to its
roots. Specializing in exterior home remodeling, Pond Roofing offers services including roofing repair and replacement, gutters, siding, windows and exterior doors.
“We always put the customer first,” says Readyhough. “Whether they hire us or not, our goal is to empower homeowners with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their homes.”
This customer-centric approach has fostered trust, with returning customers and referrals accounting for over 60% of the company’s annual revenue.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the home improvement industry, Readyhough’s vision extends beyond business success. He is committed to improving the lives of customers and creating meaningful opportunities for his team, many of whom have been part of the Pond Roofing family for over two decades.
OAR
1400 N. Uhle St., Suite 704 Arlington, VA 22201
703-228-7030 www.oaronline.org
For 50 years, OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church has been journeying with those impacted by the criminal legal system while advocating for racial and economic justice.
OAR is a community-based nonprofit organization that envisions a safe and thriving community where those impacted by the legal system enjoy equal civil and human rights. Through its work, OAR also confronts and endeavors to dismantle individual and systemic racism.
Services for individuals impacted by the criminal legal system and their families include two main efforts: the Alternative Sentencing and Diversion Program and the Reentry Program.
The Alternative Sentencing Program works with adults and youth who are ordered by the Arlington and Falls Church Courts to perform community service in lieu of in-
25 years with the last 10 years as the Deputy Director
and Therapy Dog
carceration, penalties, court costs and fines. The Diversion Program works with adults and was created to reduce racial disparities in sentencing.
OAR’s Reentry Program offers intensive and highly individualized services to adults of all genders who are incarcerated in the Arlington County Detention Facility, Alexandria’s William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center, and other correctional facilities or who have returned to Arlington County and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church after release. It also supports their families.
“When OAR began fifty years ago, we hoped we would not have to exist at this point,” says Executive Director Elizabeth Jones Valderrama. “Unfortunately, due to continued racial and economic injustices, justice, joy and liberation remain elusive for many. The people we journey with struggle daily, so we must remain in the fight.”
From left: Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, OAR Collective Member of 20 years with the last 10 years as the Executive Director and Katy Steinbruck, OAR Collective Member of
with Charlie, OAR’s Ambassador of Happiness
Commonwealth Academy
ANABELLE C. MORGAN, HEAD OF SCHOOL
Our students will tell you that learning at Commonwealth Academy is a joyful experience—one that has positively impacted and transformed their lives.
1321 Leslie Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301 703-548-6912 | www.commonwealthacademy.org
As a leader in differentiated instruction for students with ADHD, executive functioning challenges and mild learning differences, the staff and faculty at Commonwealth Academy bring equal parts expertise and compassion to the work they do. With an emphasis on college prep, the school empowers students to fully explore their intellectual passions and potential while fostering the growth that enables them to excel at present and in the future.
This tight-knit community allows for the types of learning environments, relationships and opportunities where students are seen and supported. “We see the value, spark and promise in every young person we have the pleasure to know,” says Anabelle C. Morgan, head of school.
The school was founded on the fundamental belief that bright students who learn differently can perform at the highest levels when presented with a strong, engaging and responsive program. For more than 25 years, they have delivered on that promise and provided students with an unparalleled college preparatory experience that is as empowering as it is educational.
“Our students will tell you that learning at Commonwealth Academy is a joyful experience,” says Morgan, “one that has positively impacted and transformed their lives. We think that has a lot to do with our belief that educating the mind is also about nurturing the heart. Our teachers are passionate experts in their fields and fiercely dedicated to the young people in their care. In turn, our students—full of promise and positive energy—step into their curiosities and creativity and value those of their peers.”
TONY J. LEWIS
Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do
BARRY SHACKELFORD, MASTER INSTRUCTOR, CO-OWNER FRANCIS PINEDA, MASTER INSTRUCTOR, CO-OWNER
Co-owned by Barry Shackelford and Francis Pineda since 2005, the Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do studio continues the mission of Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, teaching important life skills through the martial arts.
2449 N. Harrison St., Lower Level Arlington, VA 22207 office@arlingtonkicks.com www.arlingtonkicks.com
Barry Shackelford and Francis Pineda, co-owners of Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, share a lifelong passion for Tae Kwon Do. Introduced to the popular martial art at a young age, both have been teaching Tae Kwon Do for over 40 years.
Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do is based on the teachings of Jhoon Rhee, “The Father of American Tae Kwon Do,” who emigrated from Korea to the United States in 1957, ultimately becoming a martial arts icon. Along with building physical strength and coordination, students learn essential life skills in self-discipline, leadership and respect. The Arlington studio trains over 600 students of all ages—from four-year-old “Knee-High Ninjas” to adults in their 70s— and also offers cardio kick-boxing classes for aerobic fitness. An “Adaptive Martial Arts” program, designed for special-needs
children by 5th-degree Black Belt Avi Rome, now numbers close to 60 students.
Today, after 20 years in business, Shackelford and Pineda are proud to have their 24-year-old sons following in their footsteps. “Braden and Alex do an amazing job teaching full-time in our studio,” says Shackelford. Braden applies his degree in Health and Exercise Science along with extensive competition experience in his classes. Alex, completing a degree in communications, uses a dynamic, engaging approach that allows him to connect and motivate his students with special skill.
Shackelford foresees continued success for the studio. “Our sons share our passion and in time, will carry on our legacy,” he says, “though we have no plans to retire anytime soon!”
From left: Francis Pineda, Alex Bricksin, Braden Shackelford and Barry Shackelford
Westover Market & Beer Garden
People come here for food, drink and music, but they stay for the sense of community.
When torrential rains flooded Westover Market & Beer Garden in July 2019, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage and threatening its future, the community rallied together, launching a GoFundMe campaign that helped the beloved family-owned market recover. Just months later, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, co-owner and manager Devin Hicks recalls, “We knew we had to go above and beyond for our customers and community.” Westover not only ensured a safe shopping experience—and eventually—a safe environment for patrons to unwind in the beer garden, but they also set up a free grocery delivery service to assist neighborhood seniors. Now, as Westover Market celebrates 20 years, its team reflects on two decades of growth and community impact with pride and appreciation. “It’s impossible to en-
capsulate 20 years in 250 words,” Hicks says. When his parents bought the store in 2005, the plan was to establish a beer garden to add vibrancy to the historic Westover commercial district. Through perseverance and a deep commitment to the neighborhood, Westover Market & Beer Garden, which proudly offers the best local, organic, hormone-free meats, fresh produce, topquality grocery products—and an extensive beer selection known as “The Great Wall of Beer,”—became a cornerstone of the area’s revival. Today, Westover is thriving. “We’re proud of our role in helping rebuild this community’s vitality,” Hicks says. “People come here for food, drink and music, but they stay for the sense of community. We’ve had couples meet, fall in love, get engaged and even celebrate their weddings in our beer garden. A few years later, they’re bringing their children.”
MICHAEL VENTURA
Greg L. LaVecchia, DMD, PC
LEFT TO RIGHT: DR. GREG L. LAVECCHIA, DR. LOUIS J. LAVECCHIA
They use advanced technology to deliver a more comfortable experience and more precise diagnoses.
1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 103
Arlington, VA 22209
703-528-3336 www.rosslyndentist.com
For more than five decades, dentists Louis J. LaVecchia, DDS and his son Greg L. LaVecchia, DMD have served Arlington families with comprehensive dentistry. After Louis LaVecchia completed a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, he returned to Arlington in 1971 to open his private dental practice. At that time, he was also offered an appointment to the full-time faculty at Georgetown University in the Department of Operative Dentistry where he taught from 1970 to 1990. Now retired, many of the dentists in the area will say that they learned everything they know from Dr. Louis LaVecchia.
This certainly includes his son Greg who graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry, one of this country’s oldest dental programs. It has a longstanding tradition of comprehen -
sive curricula that includes both academic and clinical training.
Greg and his experienced team continue the legacy of his father’s dental excellence with a belief that exceptional dental care happens when old-fashioned service meets modern technology. They offer comprehensive dentistry, including general, cosmetic, periodontal and implant dentistry. As providers of Invisalign Clear Aligners and CEREC same-day crowns, they use advanced technology to deliver a more comfortable experience and more precise diagnoses.
“We treat every patient as though they are part of our own family,” he says, “with care, respect and kindness. And we are proud that our staff has been with us for many years.”
Sticker SHOCK
Why are new homes so expensive in Arlington? The economics are more complex than you might think.
BY TAMARA LYTLE | ILLUSTRATION BY ADDISON GREEN
Custom homebuilder Andrew Moore remembers the days when getting a new home approved for construction in Arlington involved about five pages of plans and a stroll from office to office in the same county building. Back then, the entire approval process took about six weeks. The system was much faster, cheaper and simpler than it is today, says the owner of Arlington Designer Homes Construction.
That was before the county’s revised stormwater management rules went into effect in 2014, adding another layer of regulatory hurdles. Those and other requirements have made the process more tedious, he says. Today, the permitting for a new build or large-scale renovation can require up
to 100 pages of paperwork and drag out for six months, says Moore, who’s been building luxury homes in the area for 20 years.
And, of course, time is money. Protracted construction timelines can leave homebuyers paying extra rent for temporary housing (or in some cases, two mortgages) or builders shouldering carrying costs (things like property taxes, insurance, interest on construction loans and utilities for the building site) that are ultimately passed on to the client.
Regulatory hurdles aren’t the only factors driving up building costs. Skyrocketing land prices, consumer demand for larger homes, inflation (which has goosed the price of raw materials) and interest rates are also in play.
So is old-fashioned supply and demand. Arlington’s outstanding amenities—great schools, public transit, parks, services—and proximity to high-paying jobs continues to make it a highly desirable place to live. And with only 26 square miles, the county has little open land for development. Older homes are often leveled to build something new, adding the cost of demolition to the price tag.
At the start of 2011, the median sale price for a single-family home in Arlington was $700,000, according to Bright MLS. By the end of 2024, it had doubled to $1.4 million. Falls Church saw its median price jump from $482,000 to $975,000 over the same time period. In McLean, the median price spiked from $950,000 to $2.35 million.
ACCORDING
TO BUILDERS, Arlington’s stormwater rules have become a significant source of project delays. The rules kick into effect when the “land disturbance” (e.g., disruption to natural grading and the root systems of trees) created by a construction project exceeds 2,500 square feet. Once that threshold is crossed, the project must have both a regular building permit and a land disturbance permit to proceed, and the finished home must include a number of water management features on site.
The stormwater rules were implemented in response to a federal mandate that put municipalities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed on a pollution “diet,” limiting the amount of runoff they can release back into the region’s streams and rivers.
The goal, explains Aileen Winquist, Arlington’s stormwater communications manager, is to protect wildlife
Mandatory stormwater management features such as planters, rain gardens, permeable pavers and storage tanks have contributed to higher homebuilding costs in Arlington.
and drinking water sources. “People assume it’s rainwater, it’s clean, right? But that rainwater is running from people’s yards over roads and it’s picking up oil and trash and pet waste and fertilizer, and all these are going into our local streams.”
Jason Papacosma, manager of Arlington Watershed Programs for the county’s Department of Environmental Services, says most applications for land disturbance permits take two or three rounds of back and forth before builders get it right.
The red tape isn’t the only strain on homebuilders. Moore says that in addition to holding costs and headaches from construction delays, the county has ratcheted up its permitting fees by 30% each of the past two years.
Those fees are just the tip of the iceberg. Chad Hackmann, regional partner with Alair Homes Arlington, esti-
mates that county requirements for on-site water detention features, such as permeable driveway pavers, planters, storage tanks and dry wells, can add as much as $100,000 to a home’s total price tag. (To be safe, Moore tells clients to plan for $150,000.) The civil engineering fee alone for a project exceeding the land disturbance threshold costs $15,000 or more.
Hackmann claims Arlington’s approach to residential development is more onerous and capricious than in neighboring jurisdictions. For instance, a building permit for a 4,000-squarefoot house in Arlington might cost about $25,000, compared with $15,000 in Fairfax County. And that’s not counting hidden costs that arise when construction timelines drag out.
“We probably are more strict in a lot of ways,” Papacosma concedes. “But I think it’s driven by the impact dynam-
ics that we’re seeing.” He’s referring, in part, to Arlington’s tight-knit neighborhoods, which are more densely packed than newer developments in points north and west. (In January, a snapshot of Northern Virginia homes for sale found lots averaging 1.06 acres in Fairfax County, compared with .19 acre in Arlington, per Bright MLS.)
Within the confines of Arlington’s snug landscape, water is a bigger issue. Lots are smaller. Runoff onto adjacent properties can cause erosion and problems far worse, such as flooding, for neighbors.
Combine that geography with Arlington’s rising wealth—in 2023, the median household income was $140,160, up from $99,651 in 2011—and you’ve got a problem. As demand for larger homes has given rise to new builds that fill every allowable cubic foot of the building envelope, there’s less permeable ground left over to absorb excess water. Houses are getting bigger while yards are shrinking.
Some 70% of Arlington’s private land is zoned for single-family homes, Papacosma points out. Amid all the teardown construction, the county has seen a steep increase in impervious surfaces such as expanded roofs and driveways. Of the 200 to 300 land disturbance permit requests his office receives each year, he says, most are for single-family homes.
Some cities and counties process runoff in municipal sewers and then charge homeowners a fee, but Arlington requires that new construction projects include on-site water containment. The county already has its hands—and sewers—full, Papacosma says, from past development. He and Winquist defend Arlington’s approach as an exercise in fairness, in that the water management costs are borne by those creating the land disturbance, versus spreading those costs to all taxpayers.
But for buyers of new homes, the added expense doesn’t end once con
A Red-Hot Market
Single-family home prices have risen dramatically in Arlington as inventory has diminished.
Water Woes
Arlington’s stormwater management requirements to prevent runoff are among the many factors driving up building costs. Since 2013, larger residences have contributed to a significant increase in impervious surfaces that don’t absorb water.
Source: Bright MLS
Median Sale Price for a Single-Family Home
Inventory of SingleFamily Homes*
*Annual averages were calculated using a snapshot of active inventory at the end of each month in a given year.
struction wraps up, notes architect Tripp DeFalco, owner of DeFalco Home Design in Arlington. At closings, many homeowners are surprised to learn they must pay to maintain water absorption elements like dry wells on their properties, with county inspectors making regular checks, even though those costs don’t “give you any more utility in the house.”
NOW ADD CLIMATE
change to the mix. Arlington updated its land disturbance rules in 2021 after increasingly intense storms caused flooding in several areas. A survey of county residents found that “they wanted the county to do more to manage that lot-to-lot runoff,” Winquist says.
Today, the rules require homeowners to manage both the quality and quantity of water flowing off their property.
Before Arlington started regulating stormwater runoff in 2014, Papacosma says, neighbors would call to complain their homes were flooding because of upstream development. The county couldn’t do anything to protect those residents. “That was, from a public policy and stewardship perspective, not the right place to be,” he says. “As a government entity, we have the ability to be stewards.”
Sarah Riddlemoser, principal of the local firm Moser Architects, says she does worry about the environmental impact of builders going for maximum lot coverage and sacrificing green space. But she also shares contractors’ frustrations over county regulations that are “a moving target” and therefore hard to predict. “The rules are very tight, and they keep changing,” she says.
Moore claims this problem extends not just to stormwater regulations, but to the building code in general: “Each time the code changes, you’ve got an increase in requirements, and an increase in cost.” He says Arlington’s interpretation of the rules changes frequently without much transparency or consistency.
“I love it when an Arlington County employee who’s been there for four years says, ‘Well, this is the way we’ve always done it.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, you know what? I was here five years ago, and that’s not the way we did it five years ago,’ ” Moore says. “They keep changing and trying to tweak the systems and therefore moving the goal posts.”
According to Hackmann, those seemingly innocuous tweaks are what sends members of the trade back to the drawing board without the approvals they need to break ground.
“Arlington likes to change their interpretation,” he says. “They don’t like to change the rules, because that requires county board involvement…but they will change their interpretation. What they interpreted as fine a couple years ago, now they’re interpreting as not fine…which is now going to cost your homeowner more money. That drives people nuts. It makes it hard to have predictability in costing.”
Papacosma says county officials meet regularly with contractors and welcome their feedback: “Feel free to express it, and then we can look into it.”
HIGH INFLATION DROVE
up homebuilding prices in recent years. So did fluctuating mortgage interest rates, which went from around 3% only a few years ago to 7%, says Terry Clower, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
Hackmann has a few observations about how this all played out: “When the interest rates were low…people had silly amounts of buying power and some were desperate to get these houses. Since the interest rates were so low, they were willing to overpay. Many folks also had more cash on hand since Covid restrictions kept them from traveling, eating out and doing other things they used to do.”
Then interest rates spiked, jacking up mortgages for homebuyers and borrow-
ing costs for builders seeking loans for speculative projects, thus baking more costs into the price tags for new homes.
With the fed’s rate increases, housing markets in other parts of the country experienced less demand and prices leveled off, observes Michelle Sagatov, an Arlington-based real estate agent with Washington Fine Properties. But Arlington has such a tight supply of homes that the correction didn’t happen here. Prices may not be increasing by 10% annually, but increases of 3 to 4% are still the norm, says Sagatov, whose husband is a custom homebuilder.
Now that rates are higher, some homeowners who might have pulled the trigger on a new build or moved to larger digs are reluctant to take on both a more expensive house and a higher interest rate. As they stay put in their existing homes, the market’s dearth of supply raises prices.
“I may like my house, but I love my mortgage,” quips GMU’s Clower.
Today, the inventory of single-family detached homes for sale in Arlington is one-third lower than it was about 13 years ago.
The pandemic also reshaped housing economics by driving up prices for building materials, just as it did for other goods. Manufacturing slowdowns during the worst of the contagion, combined with supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, all contributed to higher prices for homes, says architect Riddlemoser. “That’s what kicked construction prices higher, and they’ve never really come down,” she says.
DeFalco notes that the construction industry was hit extra hard by rising energy prices, which meant higher transportation costs to get materials to job sites, plus steeper costs for raw materials that are energy-intensive to produce, like cement and shingles. Shingle prices have risen 12% in each of the past four years, he says.
As people spent months working from home, many began renovating
their homes to add space, creating acute demand for supplies and labor.
WHY, IN THE FACE OF these market constraints, have new homes in Arlington gotten so big? Industry observers say buyer demand for more square footage, combined with high land costs, has made smaller homes less profitable. When the land alone is worth $1 million, putting up a $1.2 million home doesn’t pencil out.
Arlington’s proximity to D.C. and limited supply of undeveloped land drives up lot prices, explains DeFalco, who has been designing homes in the area for 31 years.
Hackmann says Arlington’s smaller lots are also more complicated and expensive to build on because of ancillary costs like finding space for a dumpster and storing dirt offsite during construction.
“Builders have had a hard time,” Riddlemoser says. “Land values, even for teardowns, have risen in price so high that they have to build bigger to make their margins. The houses that used to be $2 million are now $3 million. They have to build bigger on smaller lots to make money.”
At the same time, she says, “More and more people are like, ‘I cannot afford the kinds of new builds that are going up.’ ”
Larger new homes can be unpopular with neighbors. Mark Riley, a 30-year resident of Arlington Forest, says the house under construction next door to his is so ugly that he refers to it as the “Branch Davidian compound.”
Occupying a corner lot, the new home is three times the size of the 1,300-square-foot house Riley shares with his wife, Susie O’Brien. One of its street-facing facades has no windows on the first floor, he says.
Aesthetic complaints aside, Riley worries about giant houses displacing longtime Arlington residents who can no longer afford the neighborhoods they’ve lived in for years. He bristles at
When the land alone is worth $1 million, putting up a $1.2 million home doesn’t pencil out.
the idea that folks like him who stay put will have to live in the shadow of towering dwellings on tiny lots.
“The prices keep going up and up and up, and there’s no end in sight,” says the retired former regional director of the Child Welfare League of America. (Locals also know Riley as the former “chief turkey” of the annual Arlington Turkey Trot.) “I was pissed to have that monstrosity next door to me, especially when I realized that it was simply another opportunity for a developer/builder to flip a property next to me to make a big buck.”
He’d like to see more county protections for property owners who suddenly find themselves shoehorned between larger homes. “We need to figure out ways where the community has an opportunity to weigh in before they get screwed,” he says. “We’ve got to get a constituency whereby we can actually sit down and communicate with each other without throwing [stuff.]”
Riddlemoser offers a more tempered assessment of the dynamics at play. Not everyone wants an 8,000-squarefoot home, she says. But when builders have to pay $1 million for a lot, then fork over more cash to tear down the existing home, erect the new one and fund carrying costs until the new home is built and sold, bigger homes with bigger price tags make more financial
sense. Not to mention the investment builders have to make in mandated stormwater management features like permeable driveways and dry wells.
Builders of large homes claim they are also doing so to accommodate the features on their clients’ wish lists. Most luxury buyers in Arlington want three or four bedrooms upstairs, Hackmann says, and at least 4,000 to 5,000 square feet of living space, including a basement. They want top-line finishes such as hardwood floors, natural stone and designer tile. “And good luck trying to sell a house in Arlington with vinyl siding,” he says. Buyers have come to expect fiber-cement siding, which can cost 50% more than vinyl, and wooden windows with aluminum cladding. But value is also part of the calculation. Kitchens and bathrooms are the priciest parts of a house to build, Hackmann explains, so spreading the costs of those areas over a smaller footprint results in a higher price per square foot. That makes a 3,500-square-foot new home more difficult to sell than one spanning 6,000 square feet.
Moore concurs. He says some clients come into the conversation thinking they want a smaller house, but they back off from that position when they learn that the cost to build smaller is $400 per square foot, versus $300 per square foot for a larger home. Concerns about resale value, financing and recouping their investment come into play. A buyer who needs a mortgage will need the appraisal (which is based on future value) to be high enough to qualify for the loan.
GMU’S CLOWER BELIEVES local home prices may rise even higher as federal workers are ordered to return to the office en masse. “There are a whole lot more people who want homes in Arlington than [there are] homes available,” he says.
Although no one expects Arlington’s housing market to cool off any time
soon, builders say clarity on the county’s zoning and rules could ease prices by making building timelines less of a wildcard.“I think they could be more transparent in their processes to make it easier,” Hackmann says.
Moore would like to see the county increase the capacity of its municipal sewer system to handle more runoff so that the onus isn’t on homeowners. This model would have property owners paying a one-time fee (in the range of $30,000, he says) to connect to the county system, but they wouldn’t be responsible for maintaining drainage systems on their properties.
“It would be a much, much more efficient system,” he contends.
Winquist, the county’s stormwater spokesperson, says that model might make sense if you were developing a new community from scratch, but Arlington is already built up. “It’s a challenge to overlay sufficient water quality treatment when you already have all this existing development,” she argues.
Even if the county increases its sewer capacity, Papacosma adds, water could end up flooding neighbors’ properties before it flows into the sewer. And Arlington doesn’t have the space to expand its sewers by much. Capacity upgrades are already in the works, and increasingly heavy rainfalls spurred by climate change threaten to overwhelm the system.
At the very least, builders would like to see process improvements on the permitting front to prevent long waits for plan reviews and inspections. “The analogy I use is, I don’t mind paying the toll. I mind waiting 20 minutes to pay the toll,” Moore says. “We’re not making more land. There’s no prospect for this getting any better in the near term.”
IS
THERE A PLACE FOR smaller homes in Arlington’s housing landscape? Riddlemoser thinks so. “Well thought-out and charming is just as good,” she says, noting that many homeowners are coming to her for architectural consulta -
“There are a whole lot more people who want homes in Arlington than [there are] homes available.”
tions, hoping that a “smaller” remodel that expands a house to, say, 5,000 square feet will be more affordable than the new builds they see for sale.
DeFalco says he finds it refreshing whenever smaller houses land on his drafting table—like the 1930s Falls Church home he recently redesigned for an empty nester couple. The gut remodel, completed in partnership with TW Homes, completely refigured the floor plan without increasing the home’s size.
“The entire house is 1,700 square feet on one floor,” he says. “The clients said, ‘We have enough footprint, but we hate the way it flows, the floors are sagging and it’s not our style.’ They wanted a mid-century look. Sometimes the smaller homes present more of a design challenge. They’re more interesting.”
WHEN MICHAEL CHALEFF married Elaine Clark in 2022 and moved into her three-bedroom Cape Cod in Alcova Heights, the couple quickly realized the 1,146-square-foot bungalow wasn’t large enough for their combined household of four. But buying something bigger was beyond their budget.
Pivoting to a whole-house renovation, they hired DeFalco’s architecture firm and Hackmann’s team at Alair Homes to rethink their living spaces for improved looks and functionality (including raising the low and uneven
basement ceilings where Chaleff, who is 6-foot-2, was banging his head).
Their wish list included expanding the kitchen into a large family gathering space, creating a bathroom that Clark’s two kids could share, and converting the home’s attic into a primary bedroom suite. The initial scope of work also included adding a bathroom to Chaleff’s basement home office so the lower level could double as a guest suite.
Then they realized the remodel was only financially feasible if they could avoid the delays and extra expense of meeting Arlington’s stormwater regulations. “It added barriers that limited our choices,” Chaleff recalls.
They scrapped the basement bathroom, which would have tipped the amount of land disturbance on their 8,100-square-foot lot over 2,500 square feet, triggering a host of additional costs and permitting requirements.
Steering clear of the stormwater mandates also assured a more efficient and predictable timeline. The entire renovation took eight months.
All told, Chaleff says, the only unanticipated costs included a requirement that they erect a fence to cordon off the area workers were allowed to enter. They had to pay to repair that fence when a neighbor’s tree fell on it, and again when a construction vehicle knocked it over.
Completed in February 2024, the renovation doubled the size of their house to 2,736 square feet—still modest by Arlington standards—with thoughtful touches such as hardwood floors, builtin shelving, a generous kitchen island and a small porch off the master bedroom (see page 59) where Chaleff now enjoys an occasional cigar.
“They didn’t want to make it big,” DeFalco says. “They wanted to be comfortable with the cost.” ■
Tamara Lytle is a freelance writer in Northern Virginia covering politics, business and other topics.
Wonders SMALL
Size is not the only measure of a home’s livability. These stylish spaces prove that with good design, you may not need more square footage.
BY JENNY SULLIVAN
In 1998, architect Sarah Susanka published The Not So Big House, the first in a series of groundbreaking books challenging America’s “bigger is better” mentality. Her thought was to show (and not just tell) how relatively small homes with thoughtfully designed spaces could feel every bit as luxurious as bigger abodes with plus-size floor plans.
We decided to ask a handful of local architects and designers to do the same, sharing some of their best maneuvers for making little spaces shine. Whether you are building a new home, renovating a petite postwar dwelling, or nesting in a high-rise condo or apartment, here are some ideas for living large when space is tight.
Embrace the Dark
Once upon a time, the conventional wisdom was to avoid dark colors in small spaces for fear of making them feel closed in. On the contrary, says designer Cindy Eyl of Arlington-based Jefferson Street Designs. Rich colors and fabrics can impart a sense of coziness. Tucked inside a home in Yorktown, this sumptuous little “snug”
room was inspired by the owner’s British mum. “In England they just call it a snug,” Eyl says. “It’s a small, dark, comfortable space, kind of like a library, with oversize furniture.”
To complement the crushed velvet sofa and a leather chair from 1stDibs, Eyl painted the entire room a deep teal (Benjamin Moore Newburg Green), in-
cluding the baseboards, molding and existing built-ins. Against those rich walls, carefully selected paintings really pop. “The owner is a fine arts appraiser at Weschler’s Auction House,” Eyl says, “so she has amazing art.”
A slender cocktail table by Woodbridge Furniture provides a perfect little perch for a nightcap.
■ small wonders
Interior designer Nicole Lanteri isn’t afraid of the dark, either. “Choosing paint colors and wallcoverings is more about the quality of light in the room than the size of the room,” says Lanteri, who lives in Arlington and has a studio in D.C. “This may sound counterintuitive, but dark can sometimes feel bigger because it gets rid of the corners in a room. It has a softening effect.”
Play With Patterns
An avowed maximalist, Lanteri maintains a similar philosophy about wallpaper (which, if you haven’t heard, has made a roaring comeback). “People think having it on all the walls is too busy, so let’s just do one accent wall. I disagree,” she says. Doing a full 360 (see top right) “has a ‘wow’ factor and softens the corners in the same way as dark paint, so that you aren’t fixating on the room’s dimensions.”
Plus, she says, “in a smaller space, there are often lots of necessary dribs and drabs on the wall—HVAC vents, light switches, a TV. Wallpaper or dark paint can smooth those things out to read as one large wall instead of seeing lots of bits and pieces.”
Want to make a big statement? Try coordinating wallpaper and upholstery in the same pattern (see left). “This house is small like my house in Arlington,” Lanteri explains. “They did a renovation that left an odd little spot in the kitchen that was too small for a dining room table. Our solution was this little tete-a-tete. They have two kids, and each has a drawer under the bench seating to throw their stuff in.”
The banquette for two features a pattern from Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon line. “We blended the
Dark walls downplay the TV in this mod living room by Nicole Lanteri.
Make a bold statement with matching wallpaper and upholstery.
walls with the cushions so it all feels like one large piece,” she says. “A contrasting fabric would have made it look smaller,” whereas the continuation of the pattern has an elongating effect.
In the bedroom of her own center-hall Colonial in Ashton Heights (right), Lanteri used a photorealistic wallpaper by Deborah Bowness to create a trompe l’oeil effect that counterbalances the room’s low (8-foot) ceilings.
“We went high with a 63-inch headboard from Room & Board, and vertical drops of wallpaper on either side,” she says. “I did a fun color because it has some gravitas to it. When you walk in, it feels like a big room, but it’s not.”
The simple nightstands from Design Within Reach are the same height as the mattress. That’s by design.
“I like that they have no hardware,” she explains. “That way your eye stays level with the bed and isn’t drawn downward.”
Whimsical wallpaper on all sides gives this modest living room a playful retro vibe.
Lanteri’s bedroom in Ashton Heights
ROBERT RADIFERA
Painted millwork and tall windows emphasize the vertical orientation of this gathering spot by KPH Studio.
Think Vertical
Need more space? The solution may be to stack and go up, says Kelly Holland, owner of KPH Studio. Those bare walls could be working harder for you.
Take this 180-square-foot communal zone (left), designed to accommodate the laid-back leanings of an Arlington family of five. It adjoins the kitchen, serves multiple functions and puts many of the owners’ favorite possessions on display. A corner banquette with seating by Flowers Upholstery in Fairfax accommodates breakfast hour, kids doing homework and neighbors stopping by for drinks.
“We asked a lot of this room and it delivers,” Holland says. “It serves as a dining room, bar, library and lounge. They have a very casual lifestyle. Their
front door is always open. There’s always stuff going on in there.”
At 9 feet, the ceilings aren’t unusually high, but Holland’s design makes them feel taller. Vertical storage for books, collectibles and barware essentially “wraps the room” in shelving.
Introducing built-ins actually solved some minor design problems, she shares. “By adding architecture, we were able to ignore or make sense of some awkward parts of that front room, including an odd bump-out.”
Floor-to-ceiling curtains further accentuate the room’s verticality: “With drapes, I like to extend them all the way up beyond the window casing. It’s like the difference between slouching and standing up straight.”
Custom built-ins also play a starring role in a “Tiny Tudor” remodel (above) by Lee Design Studio in Falls Church. “The husband is a music teacher with an extensive vinyl collection,” explains principal Matt Lee. “For this music room, we designed shelves that are exactly the right depth for records and a dedicated area for a turntable. The whole room is about 100 square feet.”
For continuity, the pastel palette harmonizes with the colors in an adjoining family room.
Big windows with sightlines to the outdoors also make the interiors feel larger, Lee adds. “We have natural light pouring in from everywhere.”
Storage sings in this music room by Lee Design Studio.
Splurge a Little
Who doesn’t love a touch of luxury? Small spaces are ideal spots for treating yourself to upgrades like high-end upholstery, designer wallpaper and fancy tile because those finishes are only needed in small quantities.
This jewel-box home in Arlington Forest is a lovely example. “In the dining room, we added a Schumacher silk wallpaper to the backs of the existing built-ins,” says Eyl of Jefferson Street Designs. “It’s pricey, but we didn’t need much.”
The dining chairs feature a performance fabric on the seats and a higher-end Thibaut pagoda pattern on the backs. “The chinoiserie backs are the fun part,” Eyl says. “We used an upholstery company in D.C. and ordered our own fabrics.”
JENN VERRIER
A small dining room with classy finishes in Arlington Forest
In the living room (right and below), the owners sprung for a custom console table wrapped in grass cloth and upholstered benches that tuck underneath when not in use. “Other consoles were either too big or too small,” Eyl says. “This allowed us to maximize the space with exact dimensions” and furniture that doesn’t impede traffic flow.
“The x-shaped benches under the console are something we do a lot in Arlington houses that are cute and charming,” she adds. “You can pull them out for extra seating. This client entertains a decent amount and uses them often. She has great taste and actually ended up working for me.”
The intimate living room is designed for conversation.
Upholstered benches provide pops of color and extra seating for guests.
A vaulted ceiling with skylights makes this small connecting porch feel spacious.
Reconfigure It
Do you have dead spaces in your floor plan that could be put to better use? If so, you may already have the real estate you need for that lifestyle upgrade you’ve been dreaming of. The original layout of this home in Donaldson Run (left) had an awkward back deck sandwiched between the dining room and the primary bedroom. “We considered fully integrating it into the interior,” says Hannah Burkholder, marketing assistant with TriVistaUSA Design+Build, “but ultimately, the clients liked the idea of transforming it into a sunroom.” Now the 133-square foot space is a screened porch that connects to nature while also bridging the public and private parts of the house. And it gets a lot more use.
Wall cavities can also have untapped potential. As part of this basement retrofit in Arlington’s Woodmont neighborhood (above) TriVistaUSA Design+Build transformed two awkward closets under the stairs into a tidy niche for appliances. Now, a stacked washer-dryer and a wine fridge sit side-by-side, with a custom built sliding barn door that hides the laundry when not in use. The wine storage puts bottles within reach of a lowerlevel bar and entertainment space, says principal Michael Sauri.
While remodeling their home in Alcova Heights (above and below), the owners of this popped-up Cape Cod found themselves wishing for more deck, but they didn’t want to expand the footprint of the house. Working with architect Tripp DeFalco and Alair Homes, they decided to sacrifice a little bit of interior square footage to add a 6-foot-by-8-foot porch off their second floor bedroom. DeFalco’s design literally carves a block of open-air space out of the rectangular volume of the house.
This tidy porch is a breath of fresh air.
Rethink that weird space under the stairs.
Clear Things Up
When your canvas is a 430-square-foot studio apartment, every design choice carries weight. To minimize visual clutter in this tiny Crystal City condo, Carrie Armstrong of Lapis Ray recommended a translucent glass console table and Lucite café chairs. White furnishings exude calm, and a library ladder provides access to loft storage above the sitting area. “Whatever the size of the home, we like to create these vignettes—little pockets of joy—centering on objects that have meaning,” Armstrong says. “For this client, the art was important and intentional.” The abstract panels of cerulean blue offer soothing bursts of color therapy.
Efficient and pretty in Crystal City
Edit With Intention
Personalization is a critical element in good design, says Samara Goodman of Samara Interiors, no matter how large or small your place may be. This Shirlington apartment showcases family heirlooms such as a sled and sleigh bells (repurposed as wall décor), a vintage ice box (now a storage cabinet) and a hand-crocheted likeness of the owner’s childhood home in Ohio, which Goodman framed and hung next to the bed. “It’s an uncluttered space with meaningful objects and multipurpose furnishings,” says the Arlington designer.
In the living room, Crate and Barrel ottomans can be used as coffee tables or seating, and the cubes have storage space inside. An armless slipper chair maintains a low profile, and the sofa has a pull-out bed for visiting family. Drapes spanning the full length of the back wall make that wall feel bigger, with black hardware that “draws the eye up,” Goodman says.
The area rug is made up of carpet squares from FLOR. “What I love about this product is that it’s affordable, durable and can be customized to fit any space,” she adds. “The squares can even be reconfigured and reused if needed.”
For cohesion, Goodman went with a neutral color
palette with warm accents in her client’s favorite colors. In the bedroom, she counterbalanced the heavier case goods—including a dresser her client already owned and a queen bed with built-in storage drawers underneath—with more delicate accessories such as a slender floor lamp and a side table with tapered legs. “You don’t want every piece to be a block,” she advises. The nightstand was a $25 score that Goodman fixed up by tightening the joints, painting the drawer a contrasting color, and replacing the hardware with a fun knob from Anthropologie.
This home’s warm color palette was inspired by a still-life painting with sentimental meaning to the owner.
Balance Your Scale
Keep in mind, small spaces do not necessitate Lilliputian furnishings. When in doubt, Lanteri advises, it’s always better for art, furniture and light fixtures to be too large than too small.
“People say, ‘Oh, I need smaller furniture.’ Nope. You actually need to use every square inch of the space. If the wall is 84 inches, do an 82-inch sofa. Fewer, bigger things work really well in a small space, versus more smaller things, which just make it feel cluttered.”
And if your house has a few odd alcoves, landings and cubbies that defy conventional measurements? Lean into them and have fun, she suggests. “All the nooks and crannies make a house feel like home. Quirky spaces bring the magic. Even in a larger home, you need smaller, humanscaled spaces to ground you.” ■
Jenny Sullivan, editor of Arlington Magazine, is a former architecture and design writer who loves pictures of pretty houses.
BRIE WILLIAMS
This small stair landing in Nicole Lanteri’s Arlington home is big on style.
Bloomsbury Living redefines aged-qualified communities with a focus on luxury, design and lifestyle. Situated in the nation’s most sought-after locations, it offers refined interiors, exceptional amenities, and comprehensive health and wellness care. This innovative vision ensures residents experience the best in living, with a promise that “The Best is Yet to Come™.”
THE PROJECT
Chain Bridge Estates, nestled in the heart of McLean, Virginia, sets a new standard for senior living by delivering the ultimate luxuries: health, wellness, security and peace of mind. Expansive townhome residences, spanning over 3,200 square feet, are designed for effortless living with private elevators, high-end finishes and concierge closets. Partnering with Bayada Home Health Care, the community ensures residents have access to optimal medical services. The state-of-the-art Wellness Center, equipped for in-person and telehealth visits, guarantees personalized healthcare is always within reach. The Clubhouse, elegantly furnished by Restoration Hardware, features a modern gym, spa and HydroWorx therapy pool, and offers spaces for fitness, relaxation and restoration. Outdoor amenities, including a community garden, pickleball court and beautifully landscaped areas, encourage connection and well-being. With 24/7 gated security, advanced surveillance and a dedicated concierge, Chain Bridge Estates delivers unparalleled peace of mind and comfort. The Best is Yet to ComeTM
HydroWorx Therapy Pool Clubhouse
Residential Exterior
Residential Interior
Renderings, building elevations, depictions of amenities, drawings and floor plans of the units, amenities and common elements are for marketing/illustrative purposes only and are not part of the basis of the contract between Seller (i.e., the Declarant) and Purchasers. They do not necessarily reflect actual dimensions and configurations. Features, finishes, and prices are subject to change without notice. Certain features are available in select units and are subject to change. The specifications, room dimensions, and features shown in the unit floor plans are approximate and are for marketing/illustrative purposes only. Square footage totals and room dimensions provided may not be relied upon as definitive, are subject to modifications without notice, and may differ from the actual square footage and dimensions delivered. Actual layout, room dimensions, window sizes and locations, and steps to grade may vary and are subject to modifications without notice. The units, as constructed, may differ from the floor plan. Final building and unit configurations, to include, but not be limited to building dimensions, floor plans, unit dimensions, elevations, amenities and common elements will be as defined by the purchase and sale agreement. Buyers should carefully review their purchase and sales agreement before purchasing. Secure entry gate subject to county approvals.
Since 1971, Commonwealth Restorations has been an innovative leader in the construction and remodeling industry in Arlington and the greater Northern Virginia area. To better serve those looking to build a new home, sell their lot or buy new, we launched CR Custom Homes—a designated new build division. We are a locally-owned and -operated business, and we are proud to call many of our clients neighbors and friends.
OUR WORK
CR Custom Homes creates state-of-the-art homes that exceed industry standards by providing excellent care and craftsmanship. We offer what few other home builders can, paying attention to the details from the beginning of a project and using the highest selection of products as a starting point. It’s our standard—never an upgrade—to provide high-grade lumber, quality brand products, and detailed coordination with our expert design and construction team. For our clients who are more involved from the beginning of a project, we aim to deliver a superior customer experience, with open communication, transparent budgeting, staffing and onsite organization. Building on our breadth of experience in home renovations, we can confidently and successfully make your dream home come to life. Contact us today to learn more.
“It’s not just construction. For us, it’s about the community and the artistry that goes into creating a beautiful home.” —Deborah Sauri
Michael and Deborah Sauri have called Arlington home for over 20 years. Their deep roots in the community are reflected in every project they take on with TriVistaUSA Design + Build. They’ve built homes for friends, neighbors and clients, with each project becoming an integral part of the community’s fabric.
OUR WORK
We’re excited to showcase this Northern Virginia primary bathroom remodel, where sleek modern design meets custom craftsmanship. Out went the oversized, built-in tub, making way for a spacious, glass-enclosed shower—a change that not only modernizes the space but also creates a sense of openness. We added a double floating vanity, providing ample storage while elevating the bathroom’s luxury and sophistication.
Voted Best Builder in 2025 by the readers of Arlington Magazine, TriVistaUSA Design + Build is dedicated to crafting unique, beautiful homes with innovative solutions. Their team is equally exceptional, composed of talented designers, architects and seasoned craftsmen— each bringing a passion for artistry to every project. “We’re not just home builders,” says Michael Sauri. “We’re also painters, wood carvers, musicians and chefs! We incorporate artistry into everything we do, all while having fun and thinking outside the box.”
Alair Homes Arlington
Arlington, VA | 703-791-1317
Chad.Hackmann@AlairHomes.com | AlairArlington.com
IG: @alairnovadc
BIO
Alair Homes, an award-winning custom builder with 20+ years of local expertise, serves Arlington, McLean, Falls Church and Washington D.C. from our Arlington and new Falls Church offices. Specializing in custom homes, additions and renovations, we deliver exceptional results through a transparent, client-focused process, turning each homeowner’s vision into reality.
THE PROJECT
Renovating your home is a significant investment and choosing the right builder makes all the difference. These homeowners began their project with another builder, but returned to Alair for greater value and service. With our guidance, they partnered with an architect and used our Client Control® system to prioritize spending. Our transparent process allowed them to splurge on upgrades, like a balcony off the primary suite, while choosing cost-effective materials in other areas. Thanks to our expert advice and real-time budget access, they were also able to fully finish the basement. What started as an addition to their 1,600-square-foot home turned into a complete transformation—a stunning sixbedroom, four-bath modern colonial with over 3,600 square feet of living space. The homeowner shared, “Alair gave us creative control and sound advice. We couldn’t be happier with our forever home.” With Alair, your forever home exceeds expectations—because quality comes first.
Our collaborative design process will result in a unique solution that is custom fit to your needs. Tripp DeFalco, AIA is a licensed architect. You’ll work directly with the owner and receive personalized attention for the life of the project. Winner: Arlington Magazine Best Architect, 2022 & 2024.
THE PROJECT
My clients wished to transform this small Arlington Cape into a “new” modern home. A narrow lot and a tight budget led us to a vertical solution to provide additional space for their blended family. This was accomplished through a full gut and renovation of the existing home, coupled with a modest rear addition and a new full second story. All systems, appliances and fixtures were replaced, and additional insulation was added to improve efficiency. Moving the existing staircase was the key to opening up the house and to creating a large kitchen and family room. Formal dining resides where the original living room was, while a home office and full bathroom provide options for future one-floor living. Upstairs, a dedicated laundry room separates the kids’ rooms from the owner’s suite overlooking the back yard.
Builder: Alair Homes Arlington
ODE DESIGN
205 W. Jefferson St., Falls Church, VA 22046
703-534-2500 | ode-design.com | IG: @ode_design_ BIO
Under the leadership of Creative Director Yuri Sagatov, ODE Design (formerly Sagatov Design+Build) crafts sophisticated, unique homes through a holistic approach that seamlessly blends architecture, interior design, advanced technology and decades of construction expertise. Committed to excellence and innovation, we approach every project as a work of art and every client as a valued collaborator.
OUR WORK
ODE’s design team creates homes that balance budget, aesthetics and functionality, delivering beautiful and practical spaces. Every detail is thoughtfully curated to align with each project’s unique aesthetic and functional goals. Experienced in a wide range of styles from transitional to modern, we prioritize a collaborative partnership with our clients throughout the design process. Our construction services focus on precise project management and seamless coordination with our design team. With decades of experience building complex, high-performance homes, our project managers ensure efficient timelines and exceptional craftsmanship. This integrated approach allows us to achieve meticulous detailing and superior quality, transforming ideas into homes that exceed expectations. Please visit our website or Instagram profile to explore our work.
Bowers Design Build
703-506-0845
www.BowersDesignBuild.com
BIO
For 35 years, our on-staff architects, designers and construction professionals have focused on creating beautiful homes for each of our clients’ unique needs. Award-winning, creative designs coupled with our expert construction management process have garnered a highly satisfied client base. The proof: 100% of our clients surveyed by GuildQuality would recommend us to a friend.
THE PROJECT
Our successful architecture, design and construction-integrated process focuses on respecting our clients’ objectives every step of the way. For this kitchen renovation, respecting the charm of our client’s Arlington 1930s stone colonial home was key. The existing kitchen was very small, and this family of four wanted a large, open, eat-in kitchen with better access to the family room so they could spend more time together during meal preparation and dining. The solution was reconfiguring half of the main level of the home to provide the space and functionality they wanted. Focusing on client functional and aesthetic needs and delivering an overall great client experience through our tried-and-true process is why 30% of our clients are repeat customers. To see all the before and after photos for this project, visit our website BowersDesignBuild.com.
James McDonald Associate Architects, PC
10135 Colvin Run Road, Suite 200, Great Falls, VA 22066 (703) 757-0036 | james@jamesmcdonaldarchitects.com www.jamesmcdonaldarchitects.com
BIO
James McDonald Associate Architects (JMAA) is an award-winning, design-oriented architecture firm operating in the Washington D.C. area. Family-owned and -operated, JMAA has been actively working with clients to create their dream homes for 13 years. JMAA’s projects include infill and custom homes, spec homes, and renovations.
OUR WORK
JMAA designs projects throughout the metro region. From modern designs to rich classics, the same excellence and attention to detail is paramount. Our process starts by listening to our clients’ needs and wishes. It quickly proceeds to a design charrette, developing ideas and sketching directions in the initial meeting. With our design talent, knowledge of market trends and our construction know-how, we can bring all our clients’ wishes and dreams to life. This infill custom home was designed to maximize the feel of the indoor spaces. Creating a flowing open lower floor plan with larger rooms and minimized circulation takes advantage of all the allowable square footage. The clean exterior modern aesthetic uses a strong vertical window configuration with a juxtaposition of corner glass and stone panels. The family room and kitchen expand through recessing sliding doors to a rear covered loggia. All the main living spaces and bedrooms are full of large glass window walls to allow the light to flood in.
Andrew Moore is president of Arlington Designer Homes. An Arlington native, he has served his community as a translator at the Arlington Free Clinic, on public school planning commissions and as president of the Custom Builders Council. Most recently, he was presented the prestigious ‘Best Green Building,’ Gala award by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA).
OUR WORK
Arlington Designer Homes construction is a true custom builder specializing in green energy-efficient building. “As a true custom builder, we design our projects based upon what the customer needs and wants,” says President Andrew Moore. We have been doing custom new homes and remodeling for over four decades. “Whereas all projects are different, the processes through which we approach them are the same,” says Moore. “It all starts with our clients. We listen to their needs and through open conversation see if we are a good fit for their expectations. In turn, we see if they are a good fit for our systems and processes.” We build for the way you live!
MC3 Design
1308 Vincent Place McLean, VA 22101
202-599-7779
info@mc3group.com www.mc3group.com
BIO
MC3 Design+Build is a family-owned firm in McLean, VA, that crafts harmonious spaces with international flair. Husband-and-wife team John McKenna (architect) and Maya Chehab (engineer) bring 10+ years of expertise to residential and commercial projects, seamlessly blending client visions with meticulous design.
OUR WORK
Imagine your dream home brought to life. MC3 Design+Build transforms houses into havens, blending your vision with our passion for innovative and functional design. We guide you through every step, from concept to completion, ensuring a seamless experience and a space that reflects your unique style. Our expertise extends beyond aesthetics. We navigate zoning regulations, oversee construction and manage every detail with meticulous care. With MC3, you gain more than just a beautiful space. You gain peace of mind knowing your project is in expert hands. Explore the possibilities and let us create a home that tells your story.
Atlas Moran Construction
4754 1st St. N., Arlington, VA 22203 571-419-0035 | info@atlasmoran.com www.atlasmoran.com
BIO
Atlas Moran Construction is an award-winning Arlington designbuild firm specializing in whole-house projects. We offer a full suite of custom home remodeling services and have the experience, technical capability and design sensibility to execute your dream project.
OUR WORK
With our comprehensive evaluation, design development and production process, we collaborate closely with clients to transform their homes with precision and care. We prioritize their needs by focusing on innovative design, sustainable building practices and leveraging the latest advancements in building science technologies.
Our skilled team of lead carpenters and designers works seamlessly with expert suppliers and tradespeople—many of whom have been trusted partners for over two decades. As a family-owned business founded by long-time Arlington residents, we take pride in our deep roots within the community. We grew up here, our families live here and we’re dedicated to transforming Arlington the right way. We are committed to responsible, high-quality design and construction practices, expecting nothing less than excellence in every project. Above all, our top priority is ensuring our clients are 100% satisfied—from concept to completion.
As an Arlington native and graduate of McKinley, Swanson and Yorktown, Seth Ballard is very familiar with Arlington’s neighborhoods and the community. While many builders come in, tear down and maximize lot lines, Ballard’s firm enjoys the challenge of designing homes that blend in and “Keeping Arlington Arlington.”
OUR WORK
Small details like the use of brick and stone, keeping roof lines lower against property lines and crafted architectural details that are simple—but keep the character of our neighborhoods—are always well received by neighbors. Even inside, adding room scale and details, like soft drywall arches and keeping traditional trim while still opening things up for modern living, help to hold onto a home’s heritage. The house shown is in a rising South Arlington neighborhood. It is a great example of how a significant renovation with a large addition can still retain era charm.
Ballard + Mensua specializes in historic preservation, additions and renovations, custom homes, vacation homes and the creation of special backyard spaces with pools, pavilions and staycation spaces. While the firm’s office is in D.C. and does work all over the DMV, they are now building a large portfolio of ski homes, lake homes, and beach and bay homes at retirement locations around the U.S.
Denny + Gardner
571-220-1628
www.DennyandGardner.com
BIO
As a full-service design-build company, Denny + Gardner has delivered top-quality home improvement projects in Northern Virginia and the D.C. area for over 20 years. Our commitment to using the best materials with our team of experienced in-house professionals guarantees high-quality workmanship and attention to detail that exceeds our customers’ expectations.
OUR WORK
From kitchen & bathroom remodeling to additions & whole home renovations, the Denny + Gardner team works closely with clients from the initial consultation to the final touches, ensuring each project is completed to the highest standards in a timely manner.
A recent home renovation provides a brighter and better-functioning kitchen to match the homeowner’s needs. Removing an existing peninsula created space for a large island with plenty of storage.
A new sunroom offers a place for relaxing in front of a fireplace, in addition to a dining area located adjacent to the kitchen. Featuring Sunspace windows, the sunroom is enjoyed year-round.
Visit www.DennyandGardner.com for a full gallery of home renovations and featured projects.
Ed Ball Designs, led by principal Ed Ball, brings over 20 years of expertise in luxury landscape architecture across Northern Virginia. Specializing in bespoke outdoor living spaces, our award-winning firm designs and constructs stunning gardens, pools, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens, blending aesthetics and functionality to elevate our clients’ homes with timeless, nature-inspired designs.
OUR WORK
We transform outdoor spaces into luxurious, functional retreats tailored to each homeowner’s vision. Our work ranges from serene garden sanctuaries to grand resort-style landscapes, ensuring every element enhances both design and lifestyle. One of our standout projects involved a homeowner seeking a resort-style retreat with multiple areas for relaxation and entertainment, designed for yearround enjoyment. The design featured a stunning pool as the focal point, surrounded by thoughtfully curated spaces. Two distinct fire pits—one natural and one gas-fired—were strategically placed in separate areas, creating inviting spots to sit and unwind in cooler months. A spa pool offered a soothing place to relax, while an elevated deck and an outdoor undercover seating area provided versatile spaces for entertaining in any season. Every element was meticulously designed to evoke the ambiance of a high-end resort, blending elegance, comfort, and functionality. At Ed Ball Designs, we bring creativity, expertise, and craftsmanship to every project, turning outdoor spaces into extraordinary living experiences.
Paul’s Best is a local, family-owned company that focuses on lawn rehabilitation and ongoing routine maintenance. Thorough in all aspects of our work, you simply can’t compare apples to apples in this industry, and there is only one Paul’s Best. We stand behind all the work we do, and the work speaks for itself.
THE PROJECT
After the initial clean up, the client asked us to “fix” the lawn. Our turf program is a cost-effective alternative to sodding to achieve the same results over time. Fifteen months and two fall-seeding cycles later, the turf is healthy and free of weeds and disease. Many homeowners lump companies in our industry together as the “lawn guy with a mower and a truck,” assuming we’re all the same but with different prices. Others think they can do this work as well as any company, only needing help if they don’t have the time to do it themselves. After all, it’s just yard work, right? Wrong. Our crews are masters of their craft. We take pride in providing the highest quality service for clients who don’t accept mediocrity. Visit our website to view other examples of our work and see how we can help your property achieve its full potential.
After Before
Foster Remodeling Solutions, Inc.
7211-H Telegraph Square Drive, Lorton, VA 22079 703-945-1940 | www.FosterRemodeling.com
BIO
Foster Remodeling Solutions, Inc., based in Lorton, VA, is a trusted designbuild firm with over 40 years of experience. Specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, additions and aging-in-place solutions, they offer innovative designs, quality craftsmanship and a seamless remodeling process supported by a state-of-the-art design showroom for personalized project planning.
OUR WORK
Foster Remodeling Solutions, Inc. offers a comprehensive range of designbuild services to transform homes in Northern Virginia. Their expertise spans kitchen and bathroom remodeling, custom additions, whole-home renovations and aging-in-place solutions. Whether refreshing a single room or reimagining an entire home, they deliver tailored designs and exceptional craftsmanship. Their kitchen remodeling services focus on creating functional, stylish spaces with custom cabinetry, countertops and innovative layouts. Bathroom renovations transform outdated spaces into modern, luxurious retreats. For growing families or expanding needs, Foster specializes in seamless additions that blend with the home’s architecture. Their whole-home renovations modernize living spaces for comfort, style and increased value. Foster is a leader in aging-in-place solutions, ensuring homes are safe and accessible without sacrificing beauty. With a stateof-the-art design showroom and a team of skilled professionals, Foster Remodeling Solutions provides a stress-free remodeling experience, ensuring every project is completed on time and within budget.
AJ Building Services LLC
Servicing Northern VA
703-638-4666
aj.bld.services@gmail.com
www.ajbuildingservices.com
IG: ajbldservices
BIO
We’re a family-owned and -operated home remodeling company with more than 40 years of experience in new custom home building, additions and remodeling. That experience is invaluable with projects in Arlington because the homes have a wide range of ages, styles and homeowner needs. We’ve seen just about everything and solved many building challenges for our clients.
OUR WORK
“Working with Andy and Daniel of AJ Building Services was a wonderful experience. From the moment work began, they were at the job site every day and kept the work on schedule. Daniel connected us with high quality vendors to pick out fixtures and cabinetry, guiding us through every step. When changes would come up, he would take time to strategize with us on what we wanted and help us stay within our budget. What sets AJ Building Services apart is their commitment to consistent communication. They were always available to us when we needed them. There was never a time when we felt like we didn’t know what was happening or where a question was unanswered. Andy and Daniel are transparent, honest and focused on their client’s satisfaction. Our home renovation was completed ahead of schedule, and the final result was truly a dream come true.” —J.E.
GTM Architects
7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-333-2000 | www.gtmarchitects.com
BIO
Celebrating over 35 years of service, GTM Architects is an awardwinning design firm specializing in architecture, planning and interior design. With 70+ professionals across Bethesda, Washington, D.C., and Frederick, Maryland, GTM has completed more than 10,000 projects in single-family and multifamily residential, commercial interiors, retail, restaurant, and recreational design, earning over 150 awards for design excellence.
THE PROJECT
This 1923 Tudor-style home has been thoughtfully transformed to balance its historic charm with modern luxury. GTM Architects reimagined the four-level residence without altering its original footprint, crafting a sophisticated space designed for today’s family living. At the heart of the home lies an expanded gourmet kitchen, now flowing effortlessly into a sunlit breakfast room converted from the original screened porch. This new layout enhances openness while also providing space for practical features, including a mudroom, walk-in pantry and butler’s pantry, perfect for modern convenience. The second floor offers an expansive owner’s suite, two additional en-suite bedrooms and a centralized laundry room. A new rear dormer floods the attic with light, turning it into a loft-like retreat, while the newly finished basement provides a guest suite, wine room and exercise space. With new windows, a refreshed color palette and subtle exterior updates, this Tudor revival blends timeless character with contemporary elegance—offering a fresh perspective on a classic design.
Todd Minners in his Bellevue Forest garden amid red chokeberry, autumn goldenrod, green and gold, and white oak seedlings
Gaining Ground
Many common yard plantings do more harm than good to local wildlife. Here’s how you can fix that.
BY AMY BRECOUNT WHITE | PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA JOAN WHITE
When Todd Minners and his wife, Sandy, moved into their newly constructed Bellevue Forest home in 2013, the yard featured a mix of grass, nonnative privets, boxwoods and other standard builder plantings. Over the next few years, they added a back patio, a retaining wall and planter boxes—and more plants that weren’t native to this region.
“I bought whatever the big box stores sold, with no attention,” Minners says in retrospect.
His landscaping philosophy changed dramatically once he retired and trained to become an Arlington Regional Master Naturalist in 2018. That’s when he realized how little value those prior horticultural choices
were contributing to the local ecosystem.
Luckily, their builder had left a few oaks—a “keystone species” that produces food for small insects, which, in turn, feed other creatures up the food chain, like dragonflies and birds. But there weren’t many native plants and shrubs of the sort that serve as gestational hosts and food sources for butterflies, moths and other pollinators.
Minners ordered a free tree (a native river birch) from EcoAction Arlington, a local nonprofit that offers complimentary saplings seasonally. He ripped out the invasive privet and nandina bushes and began replacing them with more productive and attractive native plants, including winterberry, viburnum and Virginia sweetspire. Curb ap-
■ gaining ground
Invasive vs. Native Plants
What makes a plant invasive? To be included on the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation’s 2024 list of invasives, “there must be demonstrable evidence that a species poses a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands, or waterways.” Invasive plant species do environmental harm by outcompeting native plants for limited resources, including the land and pollinators they rely on to thrive.
Take butterfly bush, which was recently added to Virginia’s invasives list. It often reseeds beyond where it’s planted and forms thickets in the wild that crowd out native plants. Yes, you may see butterflies and moths nectaring on its blossoms, but that means those insects are neglecting the native plants that depend on them for pollination.
Certain insects, in turn, may be co-dependent on native plants for their existence. Species such as the monarch butterfly, zebra swallowtail and some bees have co-evolved over time to use the leaves and stems of a particular plant to lay eggs or provide food for larvae or caterpillars. If milkweed, pawpaw trees and the spring beauty ephemeral cease to exist, so do those insect species.
A butterfly bush takes up valuable real estate that might otherwise be devoted to plants that support the immediate ecosystem and help it to flourish. Other invasive plants, such as widespread nandina, may actively harm local wildlife. Studies suggest that nandina berries may be toxic to cedar waxwing birds that would otherwise consume the healthful berries of native plants.
peal was still a priority, he says, but so was environmental stewardship.
To steer his habitat remediation efforts, Minners created two spreadsheets. One records the natives he’s already planted, with notes about each plant’s benefits to area wildlife. The second document is more aspirational, cataloging the native varietals he’d like to introduce down the road. “It was my own way to learn about the plants and to sort out what would work well in the yard,” he explains.
TO SAY THAT Minners had a life-ordeath situation on his hands is not an overstatement. Rapid development over the past 50 years has contributed to the destruction of natural habitats worldwide, while warming temperatures, widespread pesticide use and pollution have further decimated plant and animal populations. Many scientists refer the present era as “the sixth extinction.”
Here in Virginia, the birds, butterflies and bees are disappearing from our backyards, in part because of what
Stephanie Johnson of Green Steeze removing nonnative Japanese honeysuckle and Himalayan blackberry
we choose to grow. Ornamental, “exotic” and hybrid plant cultivars prized for their good looks have literally supplanted many of the native flowers and shrubs some animal and insect species need to survive.
We may think of our national, state and local parks as safe havens for biodiversity, but that isn’t always true. Even the public parks in this area—the George Washington Memorial Parkway, overseen by the National Park Service, is one example—are overrun by inva-
sive plants such as English ivy, multiflora rose and porcelain berry that crowd out and ultimately starve indigenous flora and fauna.
The good news is that invasive plants are a problem that can be solved.
BLUEMONT RESIDENT Julie Hanson
Swanson always admired the demonstration gardens planted and maintained by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV) in Bon Air Park, near her house. In 2021, while
completing her own master gardener training, she volunteered her yard for an MGNV practice pruning session. She still remembers her surprise when the extension agent leading the tutorial stopped by for a pre-visit and “pointed out all the invasive shrubs and plants” in her beds, including nandina, rose of Sharon, burning bush, leatherleaf mahonia and nonnative honeysuckle.
She shifted her priorities and set a new goal: “To create a habitat for insects and other wildlife.”
Native flora such as the obedient plant (top left) and blue mistflower support Virginia pollinators. Winterberry (below) is an important fall and winter food for local birds.
Plant This, Not That
If the prospect of overhauling your entire yard to support local biodiversity feels daunting (and expensive), fret not. There’s no need to do it all at once. Experts like Arlington master gardener Elaine Mills advise starting slowly and swapping out a few plants at a time. “The substitution of any native plants for invasives is a step in the right direction,” Mills says, and the reality is, most yards are a mix. The plants in the “avoid” column below are ones listed as invasive by the state of Virginia and/or Arlington County.
Groundcovers English ivy, pachysandra, liriopeGolden ragwort, green and gold, wild stonecrop (a native sedum), wild ginger, moss phlox and evergreen ferns. Many native sedges also work well as groundcover.
Perennials Asian daylily, money plant, purple loosestrife, European lily of the valley
Grasses Fountain grass (and ideally reduce the size of your lawn overall)
Shrubs Nandina, burning bush, Chinese and border privet, butterfly bush, leatherleaf mahonia, Japanese spirea, rose of Sharon, Asian viburnums
Virginia bluebells, false indigo, golden alexander, bee balm, sunflowers, butterfly weed, phlox, milkweed, asters, goldenrod
Native grasses such as bottlebrush, little bluestem, purple love grass, Pennsylvania sedge and plantain-leaved sedge
Winterberry, buttonbush, fothergilla, Virginia sweetspire, native viburnum, strawberry bush (if protected from deer), inkberry, red-twigged dogwood, grey owl juniper, southern bayberry (for larger spaces)
Vines Chinese or Japanese wisteriaNative wisteria, coral honeysuckle, crossvine, Carolina jessamine
NANDINA
LAWN
ASIAN DAYLILY
EUROPEAN LILY OF THE VALLEY
FOUNTAIN GRASS
SUNFLOWERS
PENNSYLVANIA SEDGE
There were some aesthetic considerations. Swanson wanted a blooming garden of low-lying perennials (no taller than 2 feet) so as not to overwhelm her small Cape Cod home. After consulting with other master gardeners and MGNV’s wide library, she chose native chokeberries, sweetspire, viburnum, winterberry and fothergilla for her foundation plantings. Away went her lawn in favor of native grasses (she adores purple love grass) and Virginia groundcovers such as golden ragwort, green and gold, and moss phlox.
She was rewarded with an almost immediate flurry of new visitors outside her window. “I was amazed at all the additional insects coming to my yard. I was so excited when I saw the leaf bites and knew it was a leaf cutter bee.” Come fall, she says, her goldenrod was “just so busy with bees and wasps and skippers.”
TURNS OUT, PUBLIC and protected lands aren’t the only battlegrounds for our planet’s survival. What grows on private property matters, too, notes Penrose resident Elaine Mills, a Virginia Extension master gardener and former MGNV education outreach coordinator whose public talks on native landscaping include one that’s garnered more than 30,000 views on YouTube.
Human conventions like property lines mean nothing to local wildlife. But how we choose to green and beautify our private domains certainly does.
“The choices you make can have a direct impact on the success of our ecosystems and all the animals in them,” Mills stresses, “from the smallest of the pollinators to the various birds and mammals.”
Many well-meaning gardeners are “not aware that some of the very popular plants in the horticulture trade [are], in fact, invasive,” she says. “The more I learned about native plants, the more I saw how beautiful they were.”
Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware and author of the books Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope, encourages private
Want a Free Yard Consultation?
The Northern Virginia Bird Alliance wildlife sanctuary program offers home visits “to promote citizen participation in conserving and restoring local natural habitat and biodiversity.” After observing your property, a wildlife ambassador will suggest ways make it more wildlife friendly, not only for birds, but also box turtles, salamanders, bees, moths and butterflies—species that aren’t currently listed as endangered, but “will be if they keep losing habitat,” says local program coordinator Alda Krinsman. The ambassador assigned to visit your home (an Arlington Regional Master Naturalist or a Master Gardener of Northern Virginia) will explain how even the limited real estate of a small yard can support the larger ecosystem. If the ambassador notices anything invasive that is likely to spread quickly, particularly by birds eating and spreading its seeds, that plant will be first on the recommended list for removal. “As a good citizen, you don’t want that in your park,” Krinsman says. Request a free visit at nvbirdalliance.org/wildlife-sanctuary-program.
homeowners to set a long-term goal of dedicating 70% of their yard space to native plants. He’s inspired a national movement called Homegrown National Park.
Donaldson Run neighbors Cathy Hope, Maureen Testoni and Cathy Biersack, whose homes collectively back up to Zachary Taylor Park, are part of that
movement. All have replanted sections of their yards with native plants to create a wildlife corridor for local fauna. It’s a small but intentional effort to be part of a larger solution.
Stephanie Johnson, owner of Green Steeze, a conservation landscaping business based in Gainesville, helps area homeowners work toward that
An American goldfinch feeds on the seed heads of purple coneflower, a Virginia native plant.
■ gaining ground
More Helpful Resources
The native plants highlighted in this article are only a sampling of flora that thrive in local gardens and green spaces. Consult these excellent sources for more options and growing tips.
Earth Sangha (earthsangha.org), based in Springfield, is one of the area’s oldest native plant nurseries.
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (mgnv.org), has developed a series of “Tried and True Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic” sheets with input from master gardeners and other experts in Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The website also features 24 short videos on invasive plants and their identifying characteristics, created by MGNV members Elaine Mills and Alyssa Ford Morel.
Plant NOVA Natives (plantnovanatives.org) offers native plant guidebooks with plants organized into a wide spectrum of categories, including options that are deer resistant, shade-loving or likely to attract hummingbirds.
Not sure which zone you’re in? Simply type your ZIP code into the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder widget (nativeplantfinder.nwf.org) for a catalog of native flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs, ranked by the number of butterfly and moth species that use them as host plants for their caterpillars.
shared goal. She says her observations are sometimes an eye opener for clients. People often don’t see how their aesthetic choices affect and are affected by the ecology next door.
“They want the biggest, boldest flowers,” Johnson explains, “but they don’t really understand why there are flowers, why the flowers have this color, and why they bloom during this period of time.” For millions of years flowers, their pollinators and any fauna that lay eggs on those plants have evolved together. Often the timing of a plant’s blooming (not to mention the flower’s color and structure) coincides with a pollinator’s mating or gestational season, or migratory pattern. They’ve evolved to support one another’s life cycles.
It’s a mind shift to start viewing your own land as “something that’s living and important,” Johnson says.
IN 2024, STACY and Gordon Brookes hired Johnson to give their Vienna yard “a less curated look.” They wanted the landscaping to appear more natural—
plus, they had some concerns about drainage. Johnson removed invasive honeysuckle and some sparse, nonnative azaleas, and encouraged the couple to remove ivy that was smothering several large trees, along with a stubborn patch of pachysandra.
Introducing native saplings among the established trees, she counseled, would ensure a “consistent legacy tree canopy” in the decades ahead, even as the older trees died off—an approach known as succession planting.
“I’m excited to see the space return to nature,” Gordon says. “When we first moved in, it was just covered with terrible grass and ivy. It wasn’t a great space for anything.”
Johnson’s advice also centered on a “right plant, right place” design philosophy. “I’m not a plant plopper,” she says. “I’m really focused on what belongs in this particular habitat.”
A habitat, mind you, could be a domain as small as the shady corner of a quarter-acre yard. The key is to choose native plants that might naturally grow
in that setting, given the water conditions, sun exposure and soil quality. Is the soil rich or poor, or previously disturbed by development? “That tells me what’s going to thrive here and what will do the most good,” Johnson explains.
For the Brookeses, she recommended the “versatile and gorgeous” perennial golden alexander, in part because it’s a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly and other beneficial insects, plus it can thrive in previously disturbed soil. Other improvements on their lot included replacing the traditional grass with Pennsylvania sedge and clover seeds to create a different kind of “lawn” with deeper roots to help address their drainage issues while also promoting greater biodiversity. As a bonus, the native sedge and clover form a groundcover that requires no herbicides or watering to maintain it.
“She put in these beautiful ferns that remind me of camping, and they stay green through the winter,” Stacy says. “These just remind me of being out in a forest. I want it to feel really magical when we have a place to sit out there.”
They’re adding a fire pit soon. ■
Amy Brecount White, an Arlington Regional Master Naturalist, is working toward having 70% native plants in her yard. She is still in the process of removing some pesky ivy and pachysandra.
An eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly alights on golden alexander.
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Leaps of Faith
Church redevelopment is changing the Arlington landscape and raising important questions about density and community values.
BY KIM O’CONNELL
When it comes to location, some might say the siting of Clarendon Presbyterian was divinely inspired. The church sits on a triangle of land formed by the angled intersection of North Irving and North Jackson Streets. From the northern point of the triangle, the stone structure looks a little like it’s sitting at the tip of a peninsula, with singlefamily homes lining it on both sides.
Redeveloped in 2012, the First Baptist Church of Clarendon now includes a 10-story building with affordable housing.
■ leaps of faith
Founded in 1924, the church has what most houses of worship want: to be visible and prominent in their communities. Since ancient times, church steeples have stood out in the landscape for a reason; they remind people to put their minds toward God and heaven, but they also show them how to get to the front door.
Over the last few decades, however, declining church attendance and lower revenue have left many churches at a difficult crossroads. With fewer folks in the pews, how do they keep the doors open? How do they maintain a connection with their mission and their communities? Often, like Clarendon Presbyterian, these organizations are sitting on prime real estate, boasting a large chapel building, office and multipurpose space, or perhaps a rectory or ancillary structures.
For a growing number of church organizations, the answer to their conundrum lies in redevelopment. Clarendon Presbyterian is now planning a new multistory structure that includes affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors. The proposal, and others like it, is raising questions about the roles that a church plays
As of 2019, faith groups in the DMV owned nearly enough vacant parcels to build between 43,000 and 108,000 low-cost housing units, according to the Urban Institute.
in a community, how much density is too much, and who decides.
ACCORDING TO DATA
compiled by the Association of Religious Data Archives, Arlington County was home to 120 congregations across a range of faiths in 2020 (the last year data was available), from mainline and evangelical Protestant denominations to Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon and other groups.
Nearly 35% of Arlington’s population participates in faith communities, according to the association—a percent-
age that has stayed fairly stable and has even grown somewhat alongside the county population as a whole, up slightly from 31% in 2010.
The makeup of those groups has evolved somewhat. In 1980, more than 28% of county residents identified as mainline or evangelical Protestant, but by 2020, Protestants accounted for a lesser 15.5%. Catholic adherents have stayed fairly steady, representing 18% of the population in 1980 and 15.7% in 2020.
Nationwide, religious observation has generally declined. According to Gallup polling data, the share of Americans who attend weekly church services dropped from 34% in 1992 to 21% in 2023, while the percentage who never attend services rose from 14% to 31% in the same time period. And whereas 58% of Americans considered religion to be “very important” in 1992, that number has since fallen to 45%.
Although about 75% still identify with a particular religion, regardless of worship attendance, that number has also decreased. Twenty-five years ago it was 91%, according to polling data.
The reasons for our society’s chang-
Clarendon Presbyterian (left) on North Jackson Street
ing faith habits are many and diverse. Religious scholars point to declining trust in organized religion because of high-profile scandals, increasing interest in individualized and secular activities, and a more diverse population, among other factors.
Faced with dwindling attendance, a profitable way forward for a growing number of religious organizations is to redevelop their properties to include affordable housing or other community-oriented uses that faith groups say align with their mission and principles.
In Arlington, several such projects are either completed or in the planning stages—including those at the First Baptist Church of Clarendon, Arlington Presbyterian Church, St. Charles Catholic Church and the Ballston Central United Methodist Church. Other nonprofits with signifi-
“Partnering with houses of worship is a key to unlocking the land piece of [the affordable housing puzzle]. It’s a basic supply and demand equation.”
cant real estate, such as the Melwood property in South Arlington, are advancing similar proposals.
Advocates view these conversions as a win-win. They’re filling a critical community need by addressing the housing crisis—which Arlington County Board
recently said was a top priority for his term—while liquidating a church’s real estate assets and keeping it in the black.
Chair Takis Karantonis
Arlington Presbyterian (inset) was demolished in 2016 to make way for Gilliam Place, a 173-unit affordable housing complex off Columbia Pike.
Carmen Romero of True Ground Housing Partners
In a riff on the classic NIMBY/YIMBY phraseology, church redevelopment proponents have coined their own acronym—YIGBY—which stands for “Yes, in God’s Backyard.” (The name YIGBY has been trademarked by a San Diego housing organization, but that hasn’t stopped others from using it.)
“If you open up any kind of newspaper today, or listened to the presidential debates, vice presidential debates, red states, blue states, tribal areas, suburb, rural, everyone is talking about affordable housing,” says Carmen Romero, president of the nonprofit True Ground Housing Partners (formerly the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing).
True Ground has been the nonprofit development partner for several of these types of rebuilding projects, including Arlington Presbyterian just off of Columbia Pike (now home to an affordable housing complex called Gilliam Place) and Clarendon Presbyterian.
As a percentage of the total housing supply, Arlington’s stock of affordable housing has seen modest growth in recent years. It now accounts for about 15% of homes countywide. (“Affordable,” in this case, refers to rents priced to accommodate people who earn 80% or less than the area median income, or AMI, acknowledging that 80% of AMI is still out of reach for many.)
Concerns about the soaring cost of living here are what prompted the ongoing and acrimonious debates about Arlington’s Expanded Housing Options, or EHO (aka the “missing middle”) zoning ordinance, which is currently on hold after a court injunction last fall. The church debate is an extension of those considerations.
According to a 2019 study by the Urban Institute, faith institutions own nearly enough vacant parcels in the Washington, D.C., metro area to build between 43,000 and 108,000 low-cost housing units. And that’s not including land occupied by houses of worship
whose congregations may be dwindling. Converting underused, churchowned spaces to affordable housing “is fundamental to how we are going to move this country forward,” Romero says. “Partnering with houses of worship is a key to unlocking the land piece of it. Because part of the issue we have is there’s not enough supply of housing. It’s a basic supply and demand equation. How do we, as partners in this community, work with a pastor or house of worship that feels called to serve and meet that need?”
CLARENDON PRESBYTERIAN’S
current building, like a lot of housing and institutional buildings in Arlington, dates to the mid-20th century. This was a boom time for the Christian church, when numerous new buildings were erected in the burgeoning suburbs.
But society has evolved quite a bit since then. Clarendon Presbyterian’s congregation now sits at about 65 people, according to Pastor Alice Tewell. The church is part of More Light Presbyterians, a faction of the sect that celebrates LGBTQ+ congregants.
In 2023, the church’s parishioners voted 90% in favor of selling its property to True Ground Housing Partners for the construction of affordable senior housing that is specifically welcoming to LGBTQ+ seniors. The process would require a change to the property’s current zoning to allow for increased density.
“For the last 40 years, the church, engaging in different mission studies, has explored these central questions,” Tewell says. “For Clarendon Presbyterian, a small and mighty LGBTQ+ celebrating congregation, what does our faith in action look like for Arlington County? What does God’s embodied love look like for the world? How are we called to seek to embody that grace, justice and love?”
Tewell points to county statistics indicating that three quarters of Arling-
ton seniors spend more than 30% of their income on housing. The segment of the population forecasted with the highest growth rate is households 85 years of age and older, anticipated to grow by nearly 81% to 3,250 by 2040.
“For LGBTQIA+ elders, the statistics are even more daunting,” Tewell says. “There is no explicitly LGBTQ+ affirming affordable senior housing in Arlington or the region.”
Although still in the conceptual stages, a rendering of Clarendon Presbyterian’s proposed development shows a sixstory building filling most of the triangle lot, matching the height of the multifamily buildings just to the south of 13th Street, but dwarfing the church building on the lot’s northern point and most of the houses on either side. The concept drawing does note that several of the residences flanking the property are either multifamily structures or townhomes, indicating a mix of housing types.
Architect Michael Foster is principal of MTFA Architecture in Arlington. His firm designed the redevelopment plan for First Baptist Church in Clarendon to include what is now called VPoint Apartments. Foster argues it’s essential that these historic buildings—and the cultural role they play in a community—are preserved, and better yet, adaptively reused.
“Every time you lose one of these places, it’ll never happen again,” he says. “Because if it was now, [community groups such as] churches and Boys and Girls Clubs and daycare and Goodwill would be paying retail prices for that real estate.”
“We try to step up when someone has a bold vision for a need that they feel called to address, and we bring our technical expertise,” says True Ground’s Romero. “But it’s more than that, right? It’s about being able to walk alongside folks. These churches that we’ve partnered with have been around a hundred years in their communities. That’s a big move to talk about tearing down
your church and re-imagining it to be worship space plus housing, or worship space plus a daycare and all these things. But we feel like that’s part of the value we can add to this community.”
They’re big moves, indeed—the kind that some citizens say violate the coun-
ty’s established zoning code. More than that, opponents argue such projects are irrevocably changing the character of the local landscape.
IN 2023, A GROUP called Lyon Village Neighbors launched a petition on
Change.org titled “Stop High Rises in Arlington Residential Neighborhoods.” The complaint was waged in opposition to Clarendon Presbyterian’s proposed redevelopment project, stating that it “will have serious detrimental effects on our community’s character, quality of life, and historical heritage.” To date, 1,157 people have signed the petition.
The objections, in this case, are to the county’s growing inclination to approve new high-rise, high-density development without attendant increases in parkland, schools, parking spaces or infrastructure.
Critics contend that the county routinely makes exceptions to established zoning codes—such as the General Land Use Plan (GLUP)—to allow for such developments, and that these exceptions are adding up to a backdoor subversion of the code.
“Whether it’s a church or [a nonprofit like] Melwood, there is a lot of bending of the rules,” says Natalie Roy, a local real estate agent and Lyon Park resident. Roy ran for the county board on a platform that included addressing
Parishioners from Clarendon Presbyterian (here and below) see the redevelopment of their church as an extension of its mission.
the need for affordable housing, but by “engaging all stakeholders,” a necessary step she says is lacking in some of these current projects.
“That’s what happened with EHO,” she contends. “It’s really not checking in on what the public wants, and it’s not being transparent, and in a lot of cases, throwing up social justice arguments.”
When a church wants to have its land rezoned to allow for a much bigger structure, she says, “You do have to talk about parking, stormwater issues, the grid…the essential services that we all expect from a well-run county. Planning is imperative.”
At the same time, she adds, “I think there are creative things we should be doing. We’re behind Alexandria and D.C. on that front. I do think there is an openness to the idea that density is good to increase our tax base, and the churches are hearing this message.”
Anne Bodine, a spokesperson for
“[Arlington’s] population is growing, but the infrastructure is not growing, and that’s out of sync.”
Arlingtonians for our Sustainable Future (ASF), a watchdog group that has requested more transparency from the county in how it assesses and responds to these kinds of proposals, shares Roy’s concerns about the impact on county services. Bodine worries that the amount of dedicated parkland and the number of classrooms in Arlington’s public schools aren’t growing apace with new development. “The population is growing,” she says, “but the infrastructure is not growing, and that’s out of sync.”
In February 2023, ASF published a paper, which it sent to the county board, about zoning exceptions called “Special GLUP” actions.
“A new special GLUP application for a church site in Lyon Village, if approved, would ignore local residents’ assertion that the Clarendon Sector Plan…is the current and comprehensive land use planning policy approved by the County Board related to the Property,” the report states.
The problem, Bodine explains, is a lack of predictability, consistency and communication that undermines community trust, while irrevocably changing neighborhood character.
Lyon Village resident and community activist Celina Penovi says a separate group of neighbors has similarly submitted letters and testimony to the county board, along with two legal analyses in opposition to the Clarendon Presbyterian project. A petition append-
Single-family homes in Lyon Village
DAVID EDWARDS (LYON VILLAGE)
ed to the legal analysis includes 220 signatures of residents in Lyon Village and other Arlington neighborhoods.
“This analysis demonstrates that the proposal violates practically every established Arlington policy, regulation, applicable law, practice and precedent,” the document states, including failing to meet established requirements for parking, tree canopy, density and other considerations.
STANDING ON A STREET
corner a few yards from Clarendon Presbyterian, Bob Braddock is talking about edges. Not just the edges of buildings and streets, but the edges of neighborhoods—and why they’re important.
We’ve been taking a short walk around the block when he stops and points north toward a thicket of lowlying single-family homes. Then he points south, toward the Clarendon Metro station, where higher-density office and residential buildings form a more vertical profile.
“What you’ll probably notice, and the most important thing to understand about this, is that we’re in a neighborhood,” says Braddock, a residential architect and an officer in the Lyon Village Citizens’ Association. “We’re on the edge of an edge. The next street is the edge of the neighborhood.”
He’s among those who have expressed concerns about the church redevelopment project.
“This may seem like it’s just a Lyon Village issue, but it’s not,” he says. “It affects all of Arlington. If this is allowed, it sets a precedent.”
The county planning office, for its part, says it reviews proposals from all entities, including faith-based organizations, through legally established processes.
“The necessary course of action varies from project to project but may include building and other permit reviews, site plan reviews, form-based code reviews, and special land use
studies,” Anthony Fusarelli, Jr., Arlington County planning director, said in an email. “This allows county government, advisory commissions and community members to consider the project’s appropriateness, including how well it aligns with the county’s vision and plans for an area, and with community priorities such as health, safety, an adequate and accessible housing supply, racial and other forms of equity, livability, energy efficiency and economic resilience.”
When asked to address citizen concerns about special GLUP exceptions, Fusarelli added that “the county evaluates whether a proposed rezoning and site plan development proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan, and any other applicable planning guidance for the area. Further, county service providers of critical infrastructure regularly coordinate with planners to confirm the long-range forecasts for population, household and employment growth,” he said. “The review process also incorporates public engagement, where a diverse range of community members provide input on proposed projects.”
Lots of eyes will be watching to see if that happens, and many intend to weigh in if it does—in public conversations about Clarendon Presbyterian and other faith-based projects around the county.
“This may seem like it’s just a Lyon Village issue, but it’s not. It affects all of Arlington. If this is allowed, it sets a precedent.”
“Clarendon Presbyterian Church deeply desires to be a good neighbor,” Pastor Tewell says. “There has been tremendous support of our parishioners for the proposed redevelopment.”
Romero of True Ground Housing Partners says there’s a reason these projects often take years to come to fruition. She stresses that she and her colleagues strive to forge solutions that satisfy as many stakeholders as possible, and doing so takes time.
“It’s not a short process,” she acknowledges. “I know people are always anxious. We play the long game. We really are careful to be patient and not rush. The intentionality and the concept and the feasibility work are all really important.” ■
Kim O’Connell is a writer based in Aurora Highlands.
Anne Bodine at a community hearing
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Christopher Wilkes
Washington Fine Properties christopher.wilkes@wfp.com
Veronica is a veteran real estate agent with over 20 years of experience under her belt. Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, she grew up surrounded by her parents’ real estate and construction business, which ignited her lifelong passion for the industry and her desire to help people achieve their dreams.
Before pursuing a career in real estate, Veronica was a professional swimmer on the Spanish National team, where she discovered her love for meeting people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Her athletic background taught her valuable lessons in discipline, perseverance, and teamwork, which she applies to her work as an agent.
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Veronica also worked as a labor law consultant for Deloitte, leveraging her
degree in Labor Law from the University of Barcelona. Her legal background enhances her skills as a negotiator and advocate for her clients.
What Veronica’s Clients Say:
“I highly recommend Veronica. She is an expert through and through. After my property had been on the market for about three months, she stepped in, took the lead, and sold it in just two weeks. She guided me through every step of the process with transparency and honesty. What I loved most was her data-driven approach. She took the time to walk me through current market conditions, comparable properties, and helped me price the home appropriately to attract the right buyers.”
- Miriam Ponciano
HALA ADRA
HALA@HALAADRA.COM
HALAADRA.COM
M. 703.980.4041 O. 703.310.6111
Combining unrivaled local insight, creative vision, and the compassionate drive to make a difference in the lives of her clients, Hala knows that buying or selling is a transformative life milestone. One that’s often defined by numerous complexities and challenges. Hala is known for helping clients navigate every potential roadblock to make their dreams a reality. Whether she’s guiding out of area buyers or seasoned sellers, Hala is a dedicated advocate for every client, always putting their best interests first. The results she’s achieved are proof of her success - it’s no surprise that her business is 90% repeat and referral-based, or that she’s built a reputation as one of the most reliable, devoted Realtors around.
As an associate broker with almost 30 years’ experience, Hala offers extensive insight into the entire DMV area— from the manicured sidewalks of McLean to the bustling streets of DC, and the scenic pathways of Bethesda.
What Hala’s Clients Are Saying:
“Since buying or selling a home is a large investment, it is important to partner with the best-in-class capable broker. We have found that in Hala Adra. She helped us in two transactions, while we downsized: finding a pieda-terre and also finding the right buyer for our house. In addition to being very professional and with a lot of knowledge in the DMV real estate market, we found Hala to be easy to work with and a very pleasant person to interact with. She is positive and enthusiastic. She is an advocate and not pushy. Above all, she is honest and transparent. She bases her recommendations on market data and presents her point of view as an ally. She is persistent in pursuing the best approach, assessing the options, and methodically studying the risks and benefits of each. We are very pleased with Hala’s results, and we highly recommend her for your real estate needs.”
- Debakey Family
■ top real estate producers
AGENTS
Andrew Musser
| $7,500,000 - $9,999,999
KW United - Falls Church andy@themusserteam.com
Angela Neeb
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty aneeb@ttrsir.com
Anne DiBenedetto Compass anne.d@compass.com
Beth Sheehy
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty bsheehy@ttrsir.com
Bobby Pichtel
Samson Properties bobbypichtel@yahoo.com
Brynn Runkel Compass brynn.runkel@compass.com
Christine Rich Long & Foster McLean christine.rich@longandfoster.com
Darren Robertson Samson Properties darren@darrenrobertsonhomes.com
Dawn Wilson
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty dwilson@ttrsir.com
Deborah Davis
RE/MAX Allegiance deborahsoldme@gmail.com
Dixie Rapuano
RE/MAX Distinctive dixiemyrealtor@gmail.com
Elena Gorbounova
RE/MAX Allegiance elenaysc@gmail.com
Elliott Oliva
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls elliott@olivahomegroup.com
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls monica.gibson@kw.com
Nick Mullen
RE/MAX Distinctive nick@chrissyandlisa.com
Nikki Nabi
RLAH @properties nikki@nikkinabi.com
Nita Neri
Samson Properties nitarealtor@yahoo.com
Pat Brosnan
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls pat@metroplatinumgroup.com
Patricia Ammann Redfin patricia.ammann@redfin.com
Phyllis Patterson
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty phyllis@pattersonrealestategroup.com
Roxanne Southern
Samson Properties roxanne@monumentalteam.com
Ruth Boyer O’Dea
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty rboyerodea@ttrsir.com
Sarah Picot
Corcoran McEnearney sarah.picot@corcoranmce.com
Saundra Giannini
Washington Fine Properties saundra.giannini@wfp.com
Sue Goodhart
Compass sue@compass.com
Tom Hanton
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls tom@hantonpg.com
Tracy Dillard
Compass tracy@compass.com
Trevor Moore
Compass trevor.moore@compass.com
Victoria Zhao
Samson Properties vzvictoriazhao@gmail.com
Will Thomas
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty wthomas@ttrsir.com
Will Gaskins
KW United - Falls Church will@thegaskinsteam.com
Expertise like no other
At TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, our commitment has always been to curate an exceptional experience for our clients – one that is characterized by excellence, integrity, and professionalism. Whether you are buying your first home, relocating, or exploring real estate opportunities locally or abroad, our team of experts provides personalized advice and strategies backed by deep market knowledge and a global network.
From the bustling neighborhoods in The District to the country homes of Loudoun County, our reach covers a variety of different regions, and our team provides a wealth of expertise like no other.
Ranked among the top 2% of Realtors in Northern Virginia, Melody is recognized for her calm demeanor, expert negotiation skills, and passion for client education. With a background in marketing and over three decades of yoga practice, she integrates strategy, mindfulness, and commitment to help clients achieve their real estate aspirations. Licensed in Virginia and Washington, DC, Melody is a Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty and has proudly called Arlington home since 1995. Learn more at MelodyAbella.com. M +1 703 371 9219 | MABELLA@TTRSIR.COM
Andre Amini
I am dedicated to providing an authentic and honest perspective, recognizing that integrity and transparency are the foundation of trust. My unwavering priority is to deliver exceptional customer service and maintain clear, proactive communication, ensuring my clients are fully informed at every step of their buying or selling journey. Whether you’re a homebuyer, seller, or investor, I am ready to discuss your unique needs and help you achieve your real estate goals confidently and professionally.
The Alliance Group
The Alliance Group is the top-producing team of Realtors in the McLean office of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. With real estate sales exceeding $750M+, the team provides an unrivaled level of exceptional customer service and produce powerful results for clients at all price points, across the entire Washington, DC metro region.
Alexandra Fielding
With 16 years of industry expertise and a lifelong resident of the Washington area, Alexandra offers her clients insight into the local markets. Driven by a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and meticulous attention to detail, she conducts her business with unwavering integrity, market knowledge, and professionalism. Alexandra highly values the trust her clients place in her, as evident in the repeat business and referrals that form a significant portion of her clientele. Licensed in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, Alexandra is dedicated to delivering exceptional service.
Sheri Grant
Move Beyond Your Expectations. It can be easy to assume that all real estate agents are the same. The truth is, we’re different—very different. In a world full of doing the minimum, I offer the alternative—where marketing and exposure matters, negotiation, and sales skills matter and where networks, a calm presence and good sense of humor matter. Being different isn’t for everyone, but to me, it is everything as I help my clients sell and buy their homes, as if they were my own. Let’s have a conversation about your real estate plans. 2022, 2023 and 2024 Top Producing Agent and Senior Vice President in the TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Arlington Brokerage.
Russell Firestone
Russell has won multiple sales awards including being one of the Top 100 Individual Sotheby’s International Realty Agents in the world in 2024, #2 Individual Agent in Washington, DC for 2023 by Washington Business Journal, the award for the top individual TTR Sotheby’s agent in Washington, DC for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 for total sales volume, top team in 2018 and 2019 and top individual agent in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. He has had multiple properties featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and many other publications and websites.
Debran
A native of North Carolina and graduate from Wake Forest with a BA in Art History and Interior Design, Debran has called the DC area home since 1993. Practicing real estate in VA, DC & MD since 1999, Debran’s creative background and expertise in marketing historic homes have earned her recognition as a top producer in Arlington. She brings a comprehensive perspective and imaginative approach to the entire home sale process for sellers and buyers alike. A resident of Arlington, Debran lives with her teenage boys and enjoys supporting the local community.
Beth Sheehy
Beth Sheehy proudly assists new and repeat clients with their real estate needs throughout the DC metro area. With over $300m in sales and voted one of Washingtonian Magazine Top 100 agents, Beth strives to make every transaction pleasant, professional and efficient. Beth has lived in Arlington for over 20 years and proudly represents buyers and sellers in all of Arlington’s fine neighborhoods. Beth received her undergrad degree from Miami University (OH) and her Master’s degrees from George Mason and Georgetown University.
Angela Neeb
Angela Neeb, a native Washingtonian and Arlington resident, brings decades of local expertise and an unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency, and hard work. With a proven track record as a top producer licensed in VA, DC & MD, Angela is celebrated for her personalized approach and meticulous attention to detail. Angela’s extensive community connections and passion for delivering exceptional service makes her the ideal advisor for first-time, luxury and investor clients. Trust Angela to guide you through every step of a smooth, successful transaction.
Wilson
Dawn has been a full time Realtor® in the DC metro area since 2005. Prior to that, she practiced law locally. Dawn is licensed in Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Dawn has repeatedly been recognized by Arlington Magazine as a Top Real Estate Producer and has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals. Dawn has a global reach in the real estate market and provides superior, personalized service. Let Dawn’s experience, expertise, and education serve you whether you are selling or buying.
AGENTS | $15,000,000 - $19,999,999
Amy Harasz Compass amy.harasz@compass.com
Brandon Lowkaran Keller Williams McLean Great Falls brandonlowkaran@kw.com
Chris Earman Weichert, Realtors chrisjearman@gmail.com
David Lloyd Weichert, Realtors dlrealtygroup@gmail.com
Debbie Shapiro
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty dshapiro@ttrsir.com
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty dheider@ttrsir.com
David Cabo
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls david@davidcabo.com
Dean Yeonas Yeonas & Shafran Real Estate dean@yeonas.com
Diane Lewis
Washington Fine Properties diane.lewis@wfp.com
Eli Tucker RLAH @properties eli@eliresidential.com
Fenny Hurwitz Keller Williams McLean Great Falls fenny@kw.com
Jason Cheperdak Samson Properties info@shepherdhomesgroup.com
Jennifer Thornett
Washington Fine Properties jennifer.thornett@wfp.com
John Eric Compass johneric@compass.com
Jon DeHart
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls jon@homesfromdehart.com
Katie Loughney Compass katie.loughney@compass.com
Laurie Mensing Long & Foster McLean laurie.mensing@longandfoster.com
Lilian Jorgenson
Long & Foster McLean lilian@longandfoster.com
Lisa Dubois RE/MAX Distinctive lisa@chrissyandlisa.com
Marianne Prendergast Washington Fine Properties marianne.prendergast@wfp.com
Mark Lowham
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty mlowham@ttrsir.com
Megan Fass
FASS Results Group | eXp Realty megan@fassresults.com
Micah Corder
Washington Fine Properties micah.corder@wfp.com
Michelle Sagatov
Washington Fine Properties michelle.sagatov@wfp.com
Piper Yerks Washington Fine Properties piper@yerks.com
Rob Ferguson RE/MAX Allegiance rob.ferguson@rmxtalk.com
Robert Hryniewicki
Washington Fine Properties robert.h@wfp.com
Samer Kuraishi Samson Properties sk@onestreet.one
Shawn Battle Real Broker shawn@thebattlegroup.com
Sherif Abdalla Compass sherif@compass.com
Steve Watson
KW Metro Center - Arlington steve@watsonhomesgroup.com
Steve Wydler Compass steve.wydler@compass.com
Theresa Valencic Long & Foster McLean theresa.valencic@longandfoster.com
Tori McKinney
KW Metro Center - Arlington tori@rockstarrealtygroup.com
Tracy Williams
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty twilliams@ttrsir.com
Will Prendergast
Washington Fine Properties will.prendergast@wfp.com
Yvette Lawless
Samson Properties sales@premierhomes.group
Michelle Doherty
MICHELLEDMVREALTOR.COM
Nikki Nabi
NIKKINABI.COM
DMV
703.501.1364 | MDOHERTY.REALTOR@GMAIL.COM
Michelle's passion for real estate began early as her Nana's apprentice in interior design. After graduating from Christopher Newport University in 2011, she explored real estate and earned her license in 2015. With experience selling hundreds of homes in the DC Metro area, she joined RLAH and was named a REALTOR Magazine 30 Under 30 Honoree in 2019.
In 2022, she was elected to the Virginia Realtors® Board of Directors and graduated from the NAR Leadership Academy. Michelle is excited to serve as the 2024 NAR YPN Chair. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her daughter Izzy, fiancé Alex, and their dogs Riley and Honey.
DC & VA
703.725.6981 | NIKKI@NIKKINABI.COM
Recognized by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors as a Top Producer and member of the Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club, Nikki has been dedicated to earning the trust of many clients throughout the area’s luxury residential market. She provides a dedicated work ethic, extensive market knowledge, and superior negotiating skills. It is all these qualities and characteristics that has allowed Nikki to be nationally recognized as a top agent since starting her career in 2010.
As a 30-year Virginia resident, from her hometown of Vienna and currently residing with her family in Great Falls, Virginia; Nikki knows the ins and outs of this area, adding more value to her deep understanding and knowledge of our hot market. Whether it’s representing top professional athletes or the family next door, Nikki offers the same high level of service and standards to achieve the ultimate goal of 100% client satisfaction.
Kristen Schifano is a dedicated and accomplished real estate professional with a passion for helping individuals and families achieve their real estate goals. Known for her exceptional communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills, Kristen is committed to providing a seamless and rewarding experience, whether her clients are buying their dream home, selling a property, or exploring new investment opportunities.
She understands the significance of these transactions and works tirelessly to ensure her clients' satisfaction. Kristen’s dedication has earned her prestigious accolades, including recognition as a 40 Under 40 honoree, Top Producer by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors and Washingtonian, ranking among the top 1.5% of America’s Best Real Trends Inc., and inclusion in Marquis Who's Who in America
For more than nine years, Eli has written a locally focused weekly real estate column, Ask Eli, for Arlington's ARLnow local news site. He provides clients with a blend of analytics, business savvy, and attention to detail.
Eli Residential Group's mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for home buyers and sellers across Arlington and the surrounding DMV communities through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.
Ropp
Jean has a 1 year old and a 3 year old…she gets it! Jean is dedicated to providing thoughtful, enthusiastic, genuine home search and sale services for Northern Virginia families. Need more space? Need a yard? Need a welcoming community? She has you covered. After years in corporate event planning, promoting our area as a convention destination, she has built her real estate business with Eli Tucker, The Eli Residential Group and RLAH @properties.
“Jean is literally the best agent in the DMV area. It was tricky to time our home sale so that we could use the proceeds to purchase our dream home. Jean got it down in the most worry free fashion. She is absolutely the best at what she does.”
- Buyer/Seller, Falls Church 2024
Coral Gundlach
CORALGUNDLACH.COM
703.200.3631 | CORAL@SELLWITHCORAL.COM
Coral isn’t just a real estate agent—she’s a passionate, empathetic problem-solver who truly connects with the people in her life. Known for her tenacity, curiosity, and loyalty, she maintains high standards for her business. Having lived in Nevada, South Africa, Arkansas, Michigan and California, Coral developed a deep understanding of the emotions tied to moving and a knack for thriving in diverse environments. This background shaped her love for different cultures, foods, and people, which she now shares with her clients.
For 24 years, Coral has called Arlington home. She’s explored every corner, from the parks and trails along the Potomac to mastering the quirks of the local roads. Her love for Northern Virginia is infectious, and she’s a proud advocate for its vibrant communities. When not immersed in real estate, Coral enjoys outdoor dining, walking her dogs, traveling with her husband and college aged sons, and listening to audiobooks, music and podcasts. She’s also a dedicated volunteer, delivering food weekly for AFAC.
Recognized as a top agent by Washingtonian Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, and Arlington Magazine, Coral has also been celebrated for her innovative approach to real estate by Inman News. In February 2025, she’ll host the Genuine Hustle Conference, continuing to inspire and connect within the industry.
KW Metro Center - Alexandria kim@oneresre.com / info@oneresre.com
Roncales Team (6)
Keller Williams McLean Great Falls virginiaowner@gmail.com
Shepherd Homes Group (26) Samson Properties info@shepherdhomesgroup.com
Sullivan Brownell Partners (2) Washington Fine Properties sullivanbrownell@wfp.com
Talout International (4) Long & Foster fouad.talout@gmail.com
Numbers in parentheses
The AZH Group (8) Compass theazhgroup@compass.com
The Battle Group (5) Real Broker shawn@thebattlegroup.com
The Casey O’Neal Team (5) Compass casey@caseyoneal.com
The Chrissy and Lisa Team (7) RE/MAX Distinctive chrissy@chrissyandlisa.com
The Davenport Group (16) RLAH @properties blake@thedavenportgroupre.com
The Gaskins Team (4) KW United - Falls Church will@thegaskinsteam.com
The Lewis Team (2) Washington Fine Properties diane.lewis@wfp.com
The Luxury Collective DC (5) Compass office@theluxurycollectivedc.com
The ONE Street Company (36) Samson Properties info@onestreet.one
The Prendergast Team (2) Washington Fine Properties marianne@theprendergastteam.com
The Robert Ferguson Team (2) RE/MAX Allegiance rob.ferguson@rmxtalk.com
The Sherif and Ali Group (5) Compass sherifandaligroup@compass.com
The Yerks Team (3) Washington Fine Properties yerks@yerks.com
Thornett + Corder (2)
Washington Fine Properties jennifer.thornett@wfp.com
Walker Team Realtors (4)
KW United - Falls Church kris@walkerteamrealtors.com
Watson Homes Group (2)
KW Metro Center - Arlington steve@watsonhomesgroup.com
Wydler Brothers of Compass (12) Compass wydlerbrothers@compass.com
great spaces ■ by Wendy A. Jordan | photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Keeping It Casual
This all-season porch is the essence of versatile.
AFTER LIVING IN their 1978 McLean home for several years, Jamie and Kara Hartnett were tuned in to its shortcomings. They didn’t use the formal dining room, the patio was too buggy for entertaining, and the kitchen was too small for their family of six to gather. Case Architects & Remodelers fixed these problems in late 2023 by creating an open kitchen and informal dining area that connect to a spacious porch.
Surrounded by screened windows on three sides, the new porch enjoys nature views. Clear vinyl window panels lend protection from the elements in bad weather and slide aside into a neat stack when not in use. The windows are more economical than glass, says Case architectural specialist Jorge Leon.
Stained pine ceiling rafters and a stone-veneer gas fireplace (not shown) add rustic accents, and skylights channel natural light. The fireplace and wall-mounted electric patio heaters keep the room warm, even in winter, while LED smart fans promote cross-ventilation in warmer seasons.
Durable TimberTech tongue-and-groove floors have the look of wood but are actually a low-maintenance polymer made from recycled materials.
Among Kara’s favorite features is a pass-through opening with insulated Marvin windows that connects the porch to the kitchen. With kids ranging in age from 5 to 12, she says, it helps that the sink is on the kitchen side of the opening. “As a mother of four, I spend most of my time in front of that sink. And when we have parties on the porch, I feel part of the action.”
A quartz-topped counter on the porch side provides additional space for casual dining or buffet-style serving.
The porch furnishings include an extendable dining table and a sectional sofa, both from Pottery Barn. Barstools from Serena & Lily rotate 360 degrees, as do the Huntington all-weather wicker chairs. Sunbrella slipcovers on the sofa and chairs are easy to clean.
Bonus: While the porch enhances the home’s function and value, it’s not considered conditioned space and therefore does not add taxable square footage, says Gizem Ozkaya, director of project development at Case.
“The room works well for family and for entertaining,” Jamie says, including gatherings of as many as 25 adults. “When the pass-through and doors are open, the porch and kitchen feel like one big space.” ■
Data provided by Bright MLS and MarketStats for ShowingTime+ as of Jan. 22, 2025. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Home Sales Trends
In more than 400 neighborhoods
Which neighborhoods in our area are seeing heavy turnover or rapidly rising home prices? Where are properties selling the fastest? The following chart tracks residential sales for single-family homes, condos and townhouses. You’ll find figures indicating the number of homes sold, average sale price and average days on market (DOM) in more than 400 neighborhoods in Arlington, Falls Church and McLean from 2020 to 2024. Condo buildings are typically listed as individual subdivisions. The neighborhoods included had at least 15 total sales during the last five years. (However,
the totals for each ZIP code reflect all sales in that ZIP code, not just the totals for the neighborhoods shown.) Because subdivisions entered into the Bright MLS database are not required to follow a standard nomenclature, we have expanded the data set to account for misspellings and inconsistencies in many subdivision names. Real estate agents may also enter sales into the database retroactively. As a result, some of the historical data may vary slightly from the data in previous years’ charts. A designation of “NR” indicates that no sales were reported for that year.
Meet Rob, your neighbor and lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. With an impressive 30 years of dedicated expertise in Arlington real estate, he not only understands the neighborhoods but also has a keen insight into the local market trends.
Choose Rob Ferguson for a real estate experience that goes beyond buying or selling – it's about building lasting relationships in the place we all call home.
About Bright MLS — The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 95,000 real estate professionals, who in turn serve over 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com About ShowingTime+ — ShowingTime+ is modernizing real estate for the benefit of all agents, brokers and multiple listing services, providing products and services to help deliver elevated experiences. Its technology suite includes Listing Showcase, Listing Media Services, ShowingTime, dotloop, Bridge Interactive and Aryeo.
Real Estate Agents Profiles
Michelle Sagatov
Arlington Magazine Winner, Best Real Estate Agent, 2024
Arlington Magazine Top Producer, 2019-2025
Arlington Magazine Top Vote Getter, Best Real Estate Agent, 2019-2023
Real Trends, America’s Best, 2019-2024 Washingtonian Top Agent, 2019-2024
Northern Virginia Magazine Best Real Estate Agent, 2019-2024
4200 Fairfax Drive, Suite 250, Arlington, VA 22203 703-402-9361 | michelle.sagatov@wfp.com michellesagatov.com
Q: Do you have a typical buyer client?
A: Our buyer client profiles can vary significantly because we assist clients of all types from first-time home buyers to new construction buyers to move-up buyers and right-sizers. We enjoy them all and are extremely well-versed with their differences. I think we really shine when it comes to communicating with our clients to make sure there are no surprises and allow them to truly feel confident in our partnership. Building trust with clients in a short amount of time takes practice. We always want our clients to feel confident and heard—after all, we are helping them with one of their largest purchases and we take that very seriously and with care.
Q: Tell us about your impressive track record as a Realtor.
A: I am extremely proud of my success because it means that my clients are benefiting. When it comes to helping clients sell their home, my comprehensive listing package helps maximize the sales price with minimal days on market. In the last five years, my average List or Sold Price is an impressive 102.2% with a median of six days on market. Having been in the business now for 18 years while working in all price ranges, I have honed my skills when it comes to helping my clients sell their homes and they benefit from my years of experience. It’s a win-win.
We look forward to helping more buyers and sellers in the coming year!
Steve Wydler
WYDLER BROTHERS OF COMPASS
#1 Compass Team in Virginia
Over $2.7 Billion in lifetime sales
Voted “Favorite Son” by Mom
6849 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22101 703-348-6326 | steve@wydlerbrothers.com www.wydlerbrothers.com
Q: What is your professional and educational background?
A: My brother Hans and I (aka the “Wydler Brothers”) lead the highest producing large real estate team in Washington, DC. We have written numerous articles for The Washington Post and a book, Inside the Sell. We created one of Washington’s most respected boutique brokerages in the DMV which we sold to Compass in 2019. We have had the privilege of representing some of our region’s most influential and powerful residents. I am a graduate of Dartmouth and have a J.D. from Vanderbilt Law. Hans graduated from Yale and has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Q: What benefits do you provide your clients?
A: Over the last 22+ years in the business, Hans and I have built strong relationships with the area’s top brokers, builders, developers, and investors. Our reputation brings credibility to every opportunity. We are passionate about keeping our clients well-informed and helping them “see around corners.” We view our role as a “deep rudder” and help clients make intelligent and well-informed decisions.
Q: What makes you different from other real estate agents?
A: What sets us apart is a combination of three things: our extensive local knowledge and network built over 20 years in the business, a deep understanding of the home buying and selling process, and savvy negotiation which helps our clients achieve their goals. With me and my team at their side, our clients optimize their chance of achieving their real estate goals.
A: My grandmother—she was the hardest working person I’ve ever known. I grew up in Soviet Lithuania and there were limited resources available for its citizens. But my family was very well fed because, in addition to a full-time job in a government-owned farm, my grandmother had a sizeable farm of her own. And she needed free labor! So my dad put my sisters and me to work. Most weekends and summers we spent planting, harvesting, weeding, turning hay. I used to be so jealous of my friends playing in the yard, but now I appreciate the work ethic that was instilled in me.
Q: Why are you shifting to working with sellers?
A: At this point in my career, I want to do
work that I’m best at. Helping my sellers from the beginning to the end is the most fulfilling and exciting work that I’ve ever done. I love every aspect of the challenge—the emotional support, understanding priorities, figuring out the timeline, pricing, arranging improvements, staging, showcasing, negotiations—all of it. I’m a force and I make it happen!
Q: What keeps you going after 22 years of being a Realtor?
A: I’m a pure servant at heart and I love helping people through their real estate transitions. It’s a process filled with stress, uncertainty and an overwhelming to-do list. With warmth, expertise and hands-on help, we get through it together, one step at a time. That’s where I find my meaning.
Close Partners
KAREN CLOSE & CANDEE CURRIE
Home, where our story begins and ends…
5904 Washington Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22205
Karen: 703-517-9477
karen.close@C21nm.com
Candee: 703-203-6005
candee@c21nm.com
Q: Give us a look inside Close Partners.
A: In our local real estate scene, few names resonate like ours. With decades of experience, we have built a reputation as two of the most trusted and successful brokers. Our journey is a story of resilience, adaptability, knowledge and the art of connecting with people.
Q: What is your secret sauce?
A: We have a passion for people. We don’t just sell houses, we connect with our clients on a personal level, guiding owners through the process of selling their home or educating prospective buyers on how to purchase one. We understand the importance of “home” to all of us. While technology supercharges all we do, it’s the human connection that makes the difference. Our clients appreciate that we are by their side every step of the way.
Q: What are your clients saying?
A: Choosing to work with Karen and Candee, Close Partners, opens the door to a quality experience—the difference that true expertise and genuine care can make in real estate.
“[Karen & Candee are] caring, smart, responsive and savvy”
“Knowledge of the local market is unmatched”
“Professional, good negotiators”
“Clearly know their profession and artfully guided us every step of the way with confidence to a successful result in a timely manner”
“Smart businesswomen who work really hard for you”
“A delight to work with and we will be friends now going forward”
Karen Close Associate Broker
Candee Currie Associate Broker
Natalie U. Roy
BICYCLING REALTY GROUP, KW METRO CENTER ARLINGTON
Licensed in VA, MD and D.C.
Arlington Magazine Top Producer, 2025
Washingtonian “The Face of Real Estate” 2024
Washingtonian “Top Agent” 2024
Northern Virginia Magazine “Best and Top Producing Real Estate Agent Winner” 2023
Virginia Living “Top Realtor” 2023
Arlington Magazine Winner, Best Real Estate Agent, 2022
2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1050, Arlington, VA 22201
703-224-6000 (o) | 703-819-4915 (c)
natalieuroy@gmail.com www.bicyclingrealty.com
Q: How did Bicycling Realty Group come to be?
A: After years of running non-profit organizations, I found real estate to be a natural fit, since it is fundamentally a service industry. I learned that I love the challenge of helping people deal with the biggest financial decisions most will ever make. I brought my environmental ethic and energy into the business and, voila, Bicycling Realty Group was born.
Q: What makes you stand out in this crowded marketplace?
A: My team of highly motivated professionals offers clients a unique service: house hunting via bicycle. There is no better way to get to know a community than to bike or walk through it. But don’t worry—if you’d prefer to go by car or metro, that works too! Most importantly, our energetic team is committed to getting every client to the finish line with a smile on their face.
Q: What is the key to being a good Realtor?
A: Real estate is personal. It is all about relationships, meaning it is critical to find the right fit, whether it is house hunting and finding that perfect neighborhood or choosing a real estate agent to sell your home. I take that to heart in my business. I walk clients through what can seem a daunting process, answering questions such as: Are we in a housing bubble? Will prices keep increasing? Am I better off waiting to sell? While these are all great questions, and we answer them as best we can, no one has a crystal ball.
Sarah Picot
CORCORAN MCENEARNEY
Licensed in VA and D.C.
Platinum Top Producer
“I have had the pleasure of working with Sarah twice, and each experience has been exceptional. I deeply respect her expertise and highly recommend her to anyone seeking a top-notch realtor.” —Ashley G.
“I truly can’t say enough good things about my experience working with Sarah.” —Justin F.
A: My clients say that I am calm, patient, knowledgeable, empathetic and responsive. One common theme in almost all the testimonials I get is that I go “above and beyond.” I am very proud that, as one client put it, I make everyone I work with “feel like Sarah’s most important client all the time.”
Q: What’s a challenge that you’ve faced in your life and how did you overcome it?
A: Divorcing and starting a new career to support myself and my sons was daunting. As a stay-at-home mom with several Pilates businesses, I knew what it was like to be an independent contractor. I always planned to become a Realtor, like my mom did after my dad died. Without a backup plan, I was driven to succeed, pouring everything into my new career. Thankfully, I love what I do and have had incredible mentors along the way.
Q: What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
A: There is something so satisfying about creating manageable steps out of what might seem like an overwhelming process. My super power is keeping all heads cool even when problems arise. There are many players and many moving pieces—keeping track of it all and helping reduce the “to do” list until there is nothing left is quite rewarding. Of course, seeing my clients’ joy at settlement is the ultimate satisfaction.
Buck & Associates
BILL BUCK, SR.
Bill Buck, Sr. founded Buck & Associates in 1976, growing it from an insurance agency to a trusted real estate firm in Arlington. A dedicated community leader, Bill served on the county planning commission and as chairman of the site plan review committee, advocating for smart growth and development in Northern Virginia.
2519 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22101 703-528-2288 | info@buckrealtors.com buckrealtors.com
Q: Why should you work with Buck & Associates vs. a national brokerage?
A: Buck & Associates stands out among Arlington brokerages because we’re truly local. Most of our agents grew up here, live here and are deeply involved in the community we call home. As your neighbors, we offer unmatched local expertise, a personal understanding of Arlington’s unique neighborhoods, and a strong commitment to giving back through community outreach. With nearly 50 years of boutique service, our team provides a personalized and client-focused approach that larger brokerages can’t match. Choose Buck & Associates for authentic local knowledge and a trusted partnership rooted in the heart of Arlington.
Q: How is Buck keeping relevant in a fast-changing real estate world?
A: Our secret lies in adaptability, local
knowledge and unwavering client focus. At Buck & Associates, we embrace innovation while staying true to our core values. We continually update our tools and strategies to reflect the latest market trends. Many of our agents are lifelong Arlington residents. We prioritize relationships over transactions, delivering personalized service and building trust. By blending tradition with innovation, we’ve remained a trusted name in Arlington real estate for nearly half a century.
Q: How do you plan to celebrate your 49th year in real estate?
A: This year’s celebration is like a dress rehearsal for the big 5-0. There’ll be bubbly—because what’s a celebration without that?—and some reminiscing about almost half a century of homes and happy clients. But Year 50? That’s when we go full confetti-cannon mode!
Lauren Reardon
RE/MAX DISTINCTIVE REAL ESTATE
Top Agent for Volume, RE/MAX Distinctive, 2021 Arlington Magazine Top Vote Getter, Best Real Estate Agent, 2022, 2024
Arlington Magazine Top Producer, 2019-2025
Washingtonian Top Agent 2015, 2018-2021
Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Lifetime Top Producer
Q: What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
A: Seeing my clients achieve their real estate goals—whether buying their first home, their dream home or an investment property—brings me such joy and satisfaction. In guiding them through the process and answering every question, I take the stress out of the buying and selling process. I point them to professionals along the way and I make sure they are always aware of their rights and options. 2025
Q: What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
A: As a Realtor, the greatest satisfaction for me comes from helping my clients achieve their goals, whether it’s finding their dream home or successfully selling their property. The joy of being part of such an important milestone in someone’s life— first-time buyers and seasoned investors alike—motivates me every day. There’s something incredibly rewarding about guiding people through the process, providing them with knowledge and helping them make informed decisions. I’m not a salesperson—I’m here to serve. I’ve always been in the service industry, and I still am. But ultimately, it’s about building lasting relationships and seeing my clients happy and settled in the homes they’ve worked so hard to find.
Shawn Battle
THE BATTLE GROUP AT REAL BROKER
“I highly recommend Shawn and the Battle Group to anyone who is looking to sell real estate. Shawn is thoughtful, professional, and skilled at crafting and executing effective strategies. His personal touch goes above and beyond, and his genuine, personable nature made working with him an absolute pleasure!”
2300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22201 703-999-8108 shawn@thebattlegroup.com www.thebattlegroup.com
Q: What makes you stand apart from other Realtors?
A: The Battle Group is designed to be a small, close-knit real estate team. Our agents embody a strong work ethic, show mutual respect and are eager to share knowledge. We’re passionate about all things real estate and host the weekly Shawn and Matt Show—a real estate podcast where we dive into everything from local market updates to national housing trends. Our hundreds of episodes cover a wide range of topics, from cost-effective home improvement tips to the potential impact of political events, like Trump’s presidency, on our local real estate market.
Our podcast not only keeps us at the forefront of the industry but also allows us to share valuable insights with you. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by
all things real estate. Find the show at youtube.com/@shawnbattle.
Q: How do you use technology to the benefit of your clients?
A: Whether you embrace it or not, social media has become an essential part of modern life and a game-changing tool in the real estate world. Our team fully leverages the power of platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to showcase property tours, highlight unique features and ensure maximum visibility for our listings. By sharing engaging and high-quality content, we aim to reach as many potential buyers as possible and connect with audiences in a way that traditional marketing simply can’t. Social media isn’t just a trend, it’s a critical strategy for making properties stand out in today’s competitive market.
From left: Mike Lanczycki, Miguel Moscol, Shawn Battle, Shoukoufa Aboubakri and Matt Leighton (not pictured: Patricia Gil)
Linda Murphy
CORCORAN MCENEARNEY
“Linda goes above and beyond to ensure a smooth and simple real estate purchase experience. She provided excellent communication and service with a gracious and kind attitude. Her genuine personality and honesty won us over. We highly recommend her to our friends and family.” — Lyon Park, Arlington Buyers, 2024
3135 Langston Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
703-850-0190
linda.murphy@corcoranmce.com
lindaleemurphy.com
Q: What is your secret to success in a very competitive industry?
A: As I celebrate my 15th year as a Realtor, I’m fortunate to do what I love every day—helping clients. The connections I’ve built with my clients go beyond transactions, and I pride myself on offering a personalized, thoughtful experience that prioritizes their goals and well-being. My approach is grounded in empathy and understanding. I take the time to listen, offering the support and expertise needed to make informed, confident decisions every step of the way.
Q: What is something clients might not know about you?
A: In 2024, I took my passion for real estate a step further by renovating and flip-
ping two homes. One was a solo project, while the other was in collaboration with my husband and a close friend under our venture, Modern Classics Build & Design. I have an eye for potential and love transforming a fixer-upper into something truly special. I love bringing my vision to life through thoughtful renovation and design.
Q: What is your life like outside of work?
A: For the past 36 years, I’ve called Arlington home, where I’ve raised three children and built a life with my husband and our dog, Maisie. In my free time, I love to travel, cook and hike. I’m also committed to giving back, actively supporting the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and recently becoming a member of the Northern Virginia Alliance League (NVAL).
John Mentis
LONG & FOSTER
#1 Long & Foster Arlington office agent 2020, 2021, 2022
Multi-year top producer recognition by the following: Arlington Magazine, DC Modern Luxury magazine, Northern Virginia Assn. of Realtors, Northern Virginia magazine, Washingtonian magazine, and Virginia Life magazine
4600 Cherry Hill Road, Arlington, VA 22207 202-549-0081 | john.mentis@longandfoster.com Johnmentis.com | IG: @johnmentis
Q: What is “The John Mentis Experience” and how does it benefit your clients?
A: As an award-winning Realtor® and a top agent in Long & Foster’s Arlington office, I’ve cultivated a reputation for going above and beyond to make my clients feel they are in control of their real estate journeys—something they have lovingly dubbed “The John Mentis Experience.” With over twenty years of real estate achievements and licensures in the DMV, I am adept at empowering both my buyers and my sellers.
When clients come to me doubting they can achieve their real estate goals, I help them change that attitude to one of believing almost anything is possible. Seeing that shift in mindset is deeply gratifying and what keeps me in this challenging business. For me, it’s all about people.
Q: How would you characterize your approach to customer service?
A: It centers around attentively listening to my clients. I have an extensive knowledge of the area, a trustworthy demeanor and a talent for communicating important transaction information. I help clients develop an action plan, broken down into manageable pieces that get them to their goal. During the transaction, clients come to appreciate the personal care and attention I give to their specific needs.
While I have experience working throughout the DMV region, I’ve spent much of my career helping clients buy and sell homes in Arlington. Some of my proudest moments are seeing clients repeatedly come back to work with me over the years as their lives change. I couldn’t ask for greater validation.
Carol Temple
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
“Carol does the right thing, not the easy thing, distinguishing herself as a true professional. She ensured that both negatives and positives were crystal clear before I committed. Carol was straightforward and clearly concerned about my well-being. I felt totally supported.” —Brad G.
Washingtonian magazine, Top Agent, 2015-2024
310 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314 703-568-1100 | carol@arlingtonhouses.com www.arlingtonhouses.com
Q: What is a challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?
A: Arlington is my market and also my home. The early 1990’s Arlington market took a nosedive and took me with it. Times were tough. A hard look at my business yielded a startling discovery. My business was primarily new-to-me Sellers and Buyers. Friends, acquaintances and neighbors were not approaching me. I took the uncomfortable step of asking why. They incorrectly assumed I did not need or want their business as I appeared successful. They further assumed I dealt only with high-end properties out of their price range. My incorrect assumption? They would come to me because they trusted me and knew that I was good at my job. We were all wrong. I adjusted and now have an exceptional blend of both new and repeat business that includes friends, acquaintances and neighbors.
Q: What is the one thing that prospective clients should know about you?
A: Before I started selling real estate, I seriously considered a career in advertising. I was working for a small advertising company and I loved it. I was so good at my job that the owner of the company offered to mentor me; to “teach me the ad game,” in his words. That was my path not taken. But that early experience (think “Mad Men”) had a lasting effect on me. I attribute my marketing skills, love of advertising and admiration of excellent writing to that early exposure to the world of Mad Men.
KW Beltway Homes
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
ALEX PACHEDZHIEV
MARY ANTHONY
Realtors, Certified Appraiser
Licensed in VA, D.C., MD
NVAR Lifetime Top Producer
NVAR Platinum Top Producer
Washington Magazine Elite Producers Arlington Magazine Top Producers
6820 Elm St.
McLean, VA 22101
703-618-1666
mary.anthony@kw.com
beltwayhomes.net
Q: What are your backgrounds in the industry?
A: Experience is the best teacher! In a business where each person and property is unique, experience is key. We have a combined 54 years of experience and hundreds of transactions under our belt. In 2017, we joined forces as KW Beltway Homes, bringing synergy to a brilliant partnership.
Q: Do you have any secret weapons that contribute to your success?
A: [Alex]: My psychology degree provides an intuitive edge in negotiations, securing significant savings for buyers. I’m passionate about sharing my personal wealth-building strategies and even teach classes on investing. As an investor and educator in building wealth, my motto is to “Listen, Understand, and Accomplish.”
[Mary]: My background in the arts and
Hollywood production helps showcase homes at their finest, while my experience as a chief appraiser ensures sellers maximize their value. Beyond work, my passion for adventure—like climbing Kilimanjaro and skydiving in New Zealand—mirrors my dedication to serving clients. The boldest actions are often the most rewarding!
Q: What should prospective clients know about you?
A: We bring Grant Cardone’s “be obsessed or be average” flair to every phone call, buyer meeting, listing presentation and negotiation table. Average is a failing plan and we are beloved for our inventive marketing strategies, preeminent market knowledge and daring ideas. Whether you are searching for a home or looking to sell, you have found the right real estate team—it’s time to make your move!
Jeannine and Miguel Garcia
THE NATIONAL LANDING
CENTER
As they continue to elevate their brand and expand their impact, Jeannine and Miguel remain committed to their mission: offering unmatched service with elegance and integrity. Whether buying your first home, selling a luxury property or investing in the D.C. metro area, The National Landing Team is the trusted partner you need.
1775 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1450, McLean, VA 22102 571-221-4322 | jeanninegarcia@kw.com www.jeanninegarcia.kw.com
Q: How would your clients describe you?
A: Our clients often describe us as professional, approachable and dedicated. They see us as fierce negotiators who deliver results with elegance and grace. Many also mention our ability to listen attentively and craft tailored solutions, making every interaction seamless and rewarding.
Nothing compares to seeing a client’s dream come to life, whether it’s buying their first home, selling a cherished property or finding the perfect investment. Knowing we’ve helped them achieve their goals while making the process enjoyable and stress-free is the greatest reward.
Q: What makes you different than other real estate agents?
A: Our story of resilience and hard work sets us apart. From immigrants with $500 to our names to record-breaking real estate professionals, we understand
the value of perseverance and the importance of listening. We combine integrity, elegance and an unmatched ability to negotiate, ensuring our clients achieve the best outcomes in every transaction.
Our clients should know that their success is our success. We treat every transaction with care, discretion and an unwavering commitment to achieving their goals. We pride ourselves on being approachable, yet relentless when it comes to advocating for our clients.
Q: What’s an example of something in your professional life that you’re particularly proud of?
A: We are immensely proud of our recent record-breaking $6 million condo sale in Arlington, a testament to our ability to navigate complex transactions and deliver exceptional results. This milestone represents the dedication and trust that we bring to every client relationship.
Matt Shepard Irena Menisher
KW METRO CENTER
Licensed in VA, D.C., MD and DE
Arlington Magazine Top Producers 2019-2025
Real Trends WSJ America’s Best Real Estate Professionals 2020, 2021
Washingtonian Top Agent 2019, 2020, 2022
NVAR Top Producers Club 2020 and NVAR
Multi -Million Dollar Sales Club
Virginia Living Top Realtor 2021
2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1050, Arlington, VA 22201
Q: What advice would you offer to someone just starting out in your profession?
A: Focus on perfecting your craft and taking care of your clients beyond the needs of the transaction. Be a resource for anything else they may need around real estate. It is all about managing the little details along the way and embracing challenges. We are hyperfocused on client care, not just during the transaction, but for years after. Our business is built on nurturing long-lasting relationships. It is equally important to know the local market and to be up to speed on the latest technology and trends.
Q: What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
A: Helping people realize the dream of homeownership, especially in a challeng-
ing market, will always be number one. But besides that, we are both equally passionate about home staging—so much so that we offer our in-house staging services to all of our seller clients for free. The look on our clients’ faces when they see the transformation is priceless, and it is a true labor of love paired with years of experience.
Q: What are your interests outside of work?
A: We are both huge dog lovers, so most of our activities outside of work revolve around spending time with our dogs. Some of Matt’s favorite activities include long walks on the Rehoboth beach boardwalk and visiting museums. Irena enjoys hikes, meeting with her book club and trying out new restaurants with her close friends on weekends.
Lilian Jorgenson
LONG AND FOSTER REAL ESTATE / FORBES GLOBAL PROPERTIES
Lilian has sold more than 2,450 homes totaling more than $1.85 billion over the course of her 40-year career. “If it is to be, it is up to me!”
1355 Beverly Road, Suite 109 McLean, VA 22101 703-790-1990 lilian@lnf.com www.Lilian.com
Q: What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
A: I take pride in consistently performing the job with dedication and skill, ensuring positive outcomes every time, and ultimately leaving both buyers and sellers satisfied with their experience and the results. Each morning, I wake up with the confidence that I can look at myself in the mirror, knowing I have always made the right choices. I am committed to never stopping until everything is done correctly.
The Chrissy & Lisa Team
CHRISSY O’DONNELL & LISA DUBOIS RE/MAX DISTINCTIVE
RE/MAX—Top 1% in DC Metro Area & Nation NVAR Top Producer Washingtonian Top-Selling Agents Arlington Magazine Top Producer
710 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046 703-821-1842 (o) | 703-372-9191 (c) info@chrissyandlisa.com | chrissyandlisa.com
Q: What’s The Chrissy & Lisa Team’s secret sauce?
A: We’re all about making real estate easy! Our clients rave about our professionalism, quick responses and dedication to doing the job right. From transformative staging to clear communication and expert negotiation, we exceed expectations. Whether you’re buying or selling, we take care of every detail and deadline. As our happy client exclaimed: “They made the entire process stress-free!” Ready for exceptional results? We’re here for you!
From left: (back row) Nick Mullen, Chrissy O’Donnell, Lisa DuBois, David Early (front row)
Q: What sets The Prendergast Team apart from the competition?
A: For more than 30 years, The Prendergast Team has provided unparalleled service, maintained the highest level of integrity and delivered outstanding results. Our team’s deep knowledge of the D.C. metro real estate market goes beyond licensing. We are ranked among the Top 200 Real Estate Teams nationwide by The Wall Street Journal, and we have been in the top 1% of Realtors for 30 consecutive years. Additionally, our team is regularly recognized with “Best and Top Realtor” awards regionally by various publications including Arlington, Washingtonian and Northern Virginia magazines. What we are truly known for is stellar service and exceptional results. From first-time home buyers to empty nesters, The Prendergast Team provides a hands-on, personalized approach to each client.
The Shively Team at Douglas Elliman
1660 International Drive, Suite 600, McLean, VA 22102
A: Trustworthy, professional, knowledgeable, dedicated, impactful and resourceful—these are just a few words clients use to describe The Shively Team. With 45 years of combined expertise, we guide clients with confidence and care, understanding that real estate is more than a transaction—it’s your life. We don’t just help clients find houses. We help them discover homes where they can grow, thrive and create lasting memories.
We are celebrated for our adaptability and attention to detail, and we ensure every transaction is seamless and stress-free. Understanding each client’s unique needs, we provide thoughtful guidance through the emotional and financial aspects of buying or selling a home. We are more than Realtors. We are trusted lifelong property partners helping clients achieve their dreams.
Modan Times
I’M SITTING AT the sushi bar at Modan, gazing upon a pristine Kumamoto oyster topped with Hokkaido sea urchin and golden pearls of Kaluga caviar. It’s the first of 15 courses coming my way as part of the “omakase experience” at this sleek Japanese restaurant, which opened in November inside the luxury Heming apartment building in Tysons.
Having already sampled the a la carte and smaller tasting menus, I’m excited to try this next-level experience which, for $220 per person, is offered to an intimate group of eight to 10 diners at a discrete counter with 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. seatings.
Tipping the oyster shell’s bounty into my mouth, I feel like I’ve plunged into the sea in one perfect, blissful bite. And with that divine introduction I am rapt, all the way through to the final spoonful of a satiny crème brulee infused with Hojicha, a roasted green tea. The journey in between includes a sashimi assortment of hay-smoked
In Tysons, a luxe, new hideaway for high-end
Japanese dining
BY DAVID HAGEDORN
PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY
needle fish, wild yellowtail and dryaged (more on this process later) king salmon; crispy-skinned grilled eel; savory egg custard with snow crab and shaved black truffles; sake-steamed ruby snapper; pickled spot prawns with fig, blueberries and ruby red grapefruit; a succession of six nigiri; and donburi, a rice bowl topped with Kagoshima Prefecture A5 Wagyu beef, salmon roe and truffles.
The nigiri, by the way, are sublime, including variations laden with soycured bluefin tuna and toro (fatty tuna)
from Mexico, king mackerel and golden-eye snapper from Japan, and what is perhaps the finest Hokkaido uni (sea urchin) I’ve ever tasted. Executive chef Chico Dator reveals that this “Black Label” urchin costs between $300 and $500 for a 250-gram box.
Modan (the name is a derivation of the Japanese word for modern) is the brainchild of McLean resident Benjamin Lin, 50, a former government IT contractor who sold his business to a private equity firm in 2021 and used the proceeds to pursue his dream of becoming a restaurateur.
“I love Japanese food and would always take clients to Shōtō, Nobu and [Sushi] Nakazawa [all in D.C.] and thought, I shouldn’t have to go into Washington for this!” Lin explains. “Tysons is littered with steakhouses, but how many times can you go to The Palm and The Capital Grille?”
He put together a group of investors to form Modan Hospitality Group and
Diners at the eight-seat omakase counter
MODAN
1788 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
703-743-6600
modanrestaurant.com
HOURS
Monday through Saturday: 5 to 10 p.m.
PARKING
Heming has a garage ($13), but at the time of this review, Modan did not validate parking.
PRICES
Appetizers: $6 (edamame) to $28 (Wagyu dumplings)
Entrees: $31 to $55, plus $168 for 4 ounces of A5 Wagyu on a lava stone
Classic rolls: $12 to $32
Sashimi/nigiri: $6 to $14 per piece
15-course omakase: $225 (including dessert and a glass of Champagne)
Tasting menus: $125 (signature) or $165 (premium)
Desserts: $14 to $16
tapped Dator, 38, as chef and co-owner, having befriended him during Dator’s three-year stint as executive chef at Nobu in D.C. from 2021 to 2024. (Dator now lives above Modan, in Heming.)
Cool and contemporary, the 7,000-square-foot restaurant designed by D.C.-based Collective Architecture juxtaposes natural elements, such as lava rock and light wood, with black steel and glass shelving. Teardropshaped light bulbs suspended from the ceiling have a starlike effect, with dimmers and wall uplighting contributing to the sexy vibe.
The dramatic focal point is an open sushi kitchen and robata grill, where
six chefs put their craft on display, wielding torches and pulling jeweltoned fish and seafood from refrigerated glass display cases to serve patrons in the 150-seat dining room, lively bar area and 35-seat private dining room. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of Tysons as glittering Silver Line cars zip in and out of the McLean Metrorail station.
The place has a quiet luxury and Zen feel to it, save the step-and-repeat backdrop festooned with faux cherry blossoms (for IG moments) and a fab restroom housing five private bathrooms, each one decorated lavishly and differently.
Also on display are refrigerated cases holding tomahawk steaks, cut swaths of salmon and tuna, and whole fish suspended from hooks for dry-aging.
“The only fish we [technically] dryage are tuna and salmon, anywhere from seven to 10 days,” explains Dator. “It removes moisture, deepens flavor, softens the texture and enhances umami. The rest of the fish, like snapper, goldeneye and amberjack, we hold close to the freezing point for three to seven days, depending on their fat content. We call that ‘conditioning’ rather than dry-aging.”
A trio of king salmon, wild yellowtail and Japanese grouper sashimi
Tuna with crispy sweet potato (top) and king salmon carpaccio with sweet onion salsa, truffle aioli and ponzu gel
Black cod with house miso and smoked trout roe
Dator learned both processes from chef Ray Lee, a friend and relative of Lin’s who own Akikos omakase restaurant in San Francisco.
At Modan, he puts his 10 years of experience working for famed chef Nobu Mastsuhisa—at Nobu outposts in Hawaii, Malibu, Kuala Lumpur and D.C.—to good use. The menu is divided into appetizers, soups and salads, hot dishes, cold dishes, tempura, sushi/ sashimi and classic rolls.
That makes it a cinch to put together an exciting a la carte meal. Easier still is the signature five-course tasting menu for $125 (or the premium one for $165), which features familiar Nobu dishes such as mini nori tacos filled with tuna tartare and miso-marinated black cod.
“Even if I don’t want to serve [the cod], I have to,” Dator says. “It’s the number one seller!”
Modan’s version is less sweet and more succulent than I remember at Nobu, and Dator’s addition of trout salmon roe adds a nice texture and salty punch to the fish’s caramelized flesh.
The five-course tasting menu is obviously shorter than the omakase, but it’s plenty generous. It begins with a Wagyu-stuffed puff pastry ball with
honey truffle aioli, and I get that ball rolling with a crisp lychee martini.
A delightful leafy green salad with sesame dressing and fried shiitake mushrooms follows. Next up: the aforementioned tacos and two other crudo dishes—ponzu-marinated bluefin tuna topped with crispy shredded sweet potatoes, and king salmon carpaccio with sweet onion salsa, truffle aioli and fried onions. Then comes the miso-marinated cod and a second entrée, grilled teriyaki chicken thigh, which is perfectly tender but pedestrian.
The meal’s sweet endings include assorted mochi and a stunning matcha cheesecake topped with feuilletine crunch, strawberries and edible flowers. Presented in a ceremonial wooden box, the cheesecake is served with yuzu sorbet and a pitcher of caramel syrup.
The service personnel I encountered during each of my visits to Modan were well-informed and provided extra touches commensurate with the elevated prices, such as offering my dining companion a hook for her purse.
I cannot help objecting to the exorbitantly priced and not very creative wine list, and the unavoidable $13 parking garage fee. At the time of my visits, the restaurant did not validate parking, al-
WHAT TO DRINK
Modan has an extensive beverage menu. In addition to classic cocktails ($17), the bar offers nine craft cocktails ($18 to $30), many enhanced with Japanese ingredients such as mugicha (roasted barley tea), kokuto (a Japanese sugar) syrup and kinako (roasted soybean flour).
Spirit offerings include 13 Japanese whiskies ($18 to $70).
Only 14 of the 56 bottles on Modan’s pricey wine list are under $100, and 17 are over $300. Three iterations of a Bond Napa Valley (via Silicon Valley?) Bordeaux blend cost $2,100 each.
Seventeen sakes range between $40 and $570, with most well over $100 per bottle. Wine and sake pairings are available.
though it was in negotiations to do so.
But the food is exquisite. By the end of my omakase adventure, it was evident (from their conversation) that the other diners joining me at the counter were seasoned connoisseurs of highend Japanese cuisine. The chef asked us how we liked our meal.
“Amazing! Just a whole other level!” said the woman next to me. I think she got it right. ■
Matcha cheesecake with yuzu sorbet and caramel syrup
A lychee martini
Go Nuts
Local chainlet Burger7 recently introduced a frosty treat that piqued my interest—a milkshake made with vanilla ice cream and my favorite pastry, pistachio baklava. Flecked with crunchy bits and topped with chopped pistachios, this divine creation ($6.99) comes courtesy of Leila Iskandar, the executive chef of Lebanese restaurant Villa Yara in Georgetown and the mother of Burger7 co-owner Ramzi Iskander. She makes the baklava that gives this shake its pizzazz. Find it at Burger7 locations in Falls Church, Arlington and Alexandria, burger7.com
Smash Hit
Safa Farighi’s passion for Jon’s Joint, the smashburger restaurant he opened in November with his best friend, Amaan Jan, matches the thrill I felt with my first bite of their OKC—two patties heaped with onions and melty American cheese on a buttered, toasted potato bun that does this Oklahoma City specialty proud. The onions steam into the meat, their juices enhancing the umami flavor of the halal beef, which the partners source from a farm in Bealeton, Virginia. They trim and grind cuts of chuck and brisket in-house to achieve the perfect fat ratio for smash griddling. The result: delectable, lacy burger patties that are crispy on the edges.
The owners, both 24, were born and raised in Woodbridge and went to elementary, middle and high school together. Farighi has always loved cooking and says he’s wanted to open a burger joint since he was 5. His professional mentor is Amaan’s father, Naeem “Jon” Jan, a chef and restaurateur who owns several dining establishments, including Eerkin’s Uyghur Cuisine in Fairfax. Naeem is an investor and co-owner.
Located on the edge of Arlington’s Buckingham neighborhood, Jon’s Joint seats 24, with red walls and nostalgic posters reflecting the proprietors’ childhood interests, from Spiderman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the AMC crime drama Breaking Bad
The mainstays here are five composed burgers, available in single, double or triple patties ($8.95 to around $16.95), with a house sauce of mayo, mustard and chopped pickles. Try the Classic with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion; the spicy Jalapeno topped with pepper jack, pickled jalapenos and grilled onions; or build your own. Additional menu items include a fried chicken sandwich, loaded fries and ice cream. @jonsjoint on Instagram
Round It Up
Sometimes you need child care, lunch and a moment to answer a few emails. Or maybe you just need a really good sandwich. Enter Shorty’s Deluxe, the 12-seat café tucked inside Mulberry Lane, a Del Ray day care and coworking space that Stella Borou launched in partnership with Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG) in November. The food menu, designed by NRG executive chef Nathan Anda, includes soups and salads, but it’s really all about the six sandwiches inspired by New Orleans’ famed muffaletta—a large, round Sicilian bread stuffed with cured meats and pickled vegetables.
“Michael [Babin, NRG’s founder] is from Louisiana and wanted sandwiches with muffaletta-style bread,” explains Anda. “So I started experimenting.”
He settled on a form of milk bread, fermenting the dough for 18 hours to add some tang. “It has a focaccialike quality, but what makes it perfect is putting it on a heated tortilla press. That takes some air out of it, crisps it up and gives it a uniform thickness.”
The 12-inch sandwiches, sold in whole, half, quarter or eighth segments ($8.75-$58.50) are named after members of the punk band The Ramones. I personally love the Joey (ham, mortadella, finocchiona salami, soppressata, provolone, olive spread,
garlic aioli); the Johnny (roast beef, whipped Gorgonzola, onions, aioli, salsa verde); and the Richie (olive oil poached tuna, Nicoise olives, green beans and roasted peppers).
If salad you must, order the Cobblike California Sun, or the Gabba Gabba, a version of the Joey that swaps the bread for greens.
Or try a little of both. A $14.85 combo includes an eighth of a sandwich plus soup (tomato or chicken and rice) or half a salad.
Shorty’s is named after Orlando “Shorty” Aparicio, who has worked for NRG ever since its first property, Evening Star Cafe, opened in Del Ray in 1997. shortysdeluxe.com
The Dee Dee (mortadella, pistachio, stracciatella, cherry pepper mayo and onion marmalade)
places to EAT
ARLINGTON
A Modo Mio Pizzeria
5555 Langston Blvd., 703-532-0990, amodomio pizza.com. Dig into authentic Neapolitan pies, house-made gnocchi, lasagna, spaghetti del mare and cannoli. o L D V $$
Aladdin Sweets & Tandoor
5169 Langston Blvd., 703-533-0077, aladdin arlington.com. Chef Shiuli Rashid and her husband, Harun, prepare family recipes from their native Bangladesh. L D $$
Ambar Clarendon
2901 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-9663, ambarrestau rant.com. Feast on Balkan fare such as stuffed cabbage, mushroom pilav and rotisserie meats. O R L D G V $$
Anita’s New Mexico Style Bar & Grill
3444 Fairfax Drive, 571-290-0659, anitascorp. com. The chainlet has 10 NoVA locations serving burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and other Tex-Mex standards. O C B R L D G V $
Arlington Kabob
5046 Langston Blvd., 703-531-1498, arlingtonka bobva.com. Authentic Afghan fare includes kebabs, shawarma and lamb shank with rice. L D $$
Astro Beer Hall
4001 Campbell Ave., 703-664-0744, astrobeer hall.com. Jet to this space-themed brewpub for fried chicken, burgers, doughnuts, arcade games and a retro basement billiards hall called 1969. o B R L D A $$
B Live
2854 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-7094, bliveva.com. Go for beach-inspired eats, a bloody mary bar and live music five nights a week. o R L D A $$
Bakeshop
1025 N. Fillmore St., 571-970-6460, bakeshop va.com. A tiny storefront serving coffee, cupcakes, cookies, icebox pies and vegan treats. B V $
Ballston Local s
900 N. Glebe Road, 703-852-1260, ballstonlocal. com. Pair your local brew with a plate of poutine or a New York-style pizza. L D V $$
Banditos Tacos & Tequila
1301 S. Joyce St., 571-257-7622, banditostnt.com. Mexican street food, tequila, mezcal and sugar-skull décor keep the party going. o L D G V $$
Bangkok 54
2919 Columbia Pike, 703-521-4070, bangkok54res taurant.com. A favorite for Thai curries, grilled meats, stir-fry, noodles and soups. L D V $$
Bar Bao
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-600-0500, barbao-va. com. Find trendy dishes reminiscent of Chinese and Taiwanese street food, plus sake, soju and Asian fusion cocktails. L D V $$
Barley Mac
1600 Wilson Blvd., 703-372-9486, barleymacva. com. Upscale tavern fare, plus more than 100 kinds of whiskey and bourbon. R L D A G V $$
Bartaco
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 571-3908226, bartaco.com. A lively spot for tacos (13 kinds) and tequila. Feels like vacation. L D V A $$
Basic Burger
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-248-9333, basicburger.
com. The homegrown eatery and food truck cooks with locally sourced, certified Angus beef and cagefree, antibiotic-free chicken. L D $$
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery 1515 N. Courthouse Road, 703-243-2410, bayou bakeryva.com. Chef David Guas’ New Orleans-inspired menu includes beignets and gumbo. Breakfast all day on weekends. O C B R L D G V $
Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique 576 23rd St. S., 571-257-5873, beautycham pagneandsugar.com. Find cookies, cocktail fixings, small plates, bubbly and gifts at this woman-owned bistro and market. Closed Mondays. L D $$
Bethesda Bagels
1851 N. Moore St., 703-312-1133, bethesdabagels. com. The popular DMV chain has an outpost in Rosslyn. Eat a sandwich! O L V $
KEY: Price designations are based on the approximate cost per person for a meal with one drink, tax and tip.
$ under $20
$$ $21-$35
$$$ $36-$70
$$$$ $71 or more
o Outdoor Dining
c Children’s Menu
B Breakfast
R Brunch
L Lunch
D Dinner
A After Hours/Late Night
G Gluten-Free
V Vegetarian
s Best of Arlington 2024 or 2025 Winner
Jinya Ramen Bar
■ places to eat
BGR the Burger Joint 3129 Langston Blvd., 703-812-4705, bgrtheburger joint.com. Top your dry-aged beef, veggie or turkey burger with add-ons like grilled jalapeño, pineapple or fried egg. C L D V $
Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co. s 4401 Wilson Blvd., 703-276-3032; 4251 Campbell Ave., 703-933-2867, eatbigbuns.com. Satisfy your cravings with creative burgers, shakes, beer and booze. L D $$
Bird’s Eye Thai 1651 Crystal Drive, birdseyethai.com. Order up a round of tiki drinks, crispy Thai spring rolls and khao soi noodles from this outdoor kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. O L D $$
Bluefish Bistro Sushi & Kitchen
950 S. George Mason Drive, 703-270-0102, blue fishbistro.com. Try specialty rolls with names like Green Dragon and King Kong, or go for a “chef’s choice” selection and be surprised. Closed Tuesdays. L D G V $$
Bob & Edith’s Diner
2310 Columbia Pike, 703-920-6103; 539 23rd St. S., 703-920-2700; 5050 Langston Blvd., 703-5940280; bobandedithsdiner.com. Founded in 1969, the 24-hour eatery whips up pancakes, eggs, meatloaf, and pie à la mode. C B L D A V $
Bollywood Bistro Express
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 571-3121071, bollywoodbistroexpress.com. Build your own bowl with fillers such as chicken tikka, paneer, chana masala and pickled onions. L D V $$
Bonsai Sushi at Crystal City 553 23rd St. S., 703-553-7723, crystalbonsai sushirestaurant.com. A go-to for sushi, sashimi, yakisoba, tempura, teriyaki. Closed Mondays. L D $$
Bostan Uyghur Cuisine
3911 Langston Blvd., 703-522-3010, bostanuyghur. com. The Uyghur Chinese dishes include kebabs, lagmen (hand-pulled noodles), manta (dumplings) and honey cake. L D $$
Brass Rabbit Public House
1210 N. Garfield St., 703-746-9977, brassrabbit pub.com. Pair lettuce wraps and crab BLTs with craft cocktails like the El Conejo, featuring tequila, carrot juice, ginger, lime and cilantro.
O R L D V A $$
Bronson Bierhall
4100 Fairfax Drive, 703-528-1110, bronsonbier hall.com. Find communal tables, German and regional beers, sausages, schnitzel and cornhole in this 6,000-square-foot ode to Munich.
O L D A $$
Bubbie’s Plant Burgers
1721 Crystal Drive, bubbiesburgers.com. Grab a plant-based or kosher burger, a fried green tomato sandwich or a plate of avocado fries at this outdoor kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. O L D V $
Buena Vida s
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-888-1528, buenavida gastrolounge.com. Savor the flavors of Mexico, from tacos to churros, and head to the top floor for one of the best rooftop bars in town. O R L D $$
Burger Billy’s Joint
3800 Langston Blvd., 703-512-0102, burgerbillys joint.com. Order smashburgers made from locally sourced Angus beef (or plant-based), as well as hot dogs, wings and fries, using a food locker pickup system. L D V $
Busboys and Poets
4251 S. Campbell Ave., 703-379-9757, busboys andpoets.com. Known for its poetry slams, onsite bookstore and social justice programming, the café offers an eclectic menu with plenty of options for vegetarians. O C B R L D G V $$
The Café by Kitchen of Purpose
918 S. Lincoln St., 703-596-1557, kitchenofpur
pose.org/cafe. Operated by the nonprofit Kitchen of Purpose, this lunch spot serves soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries and Swing’s coffee. L V $
Café Colline
4536 Langston Blvd., 703-567-6615, cafecolline va.com. The cozy French bistro in the Lee Heights Shops satisfies with paté maison, duck confit and chocolate pots de creme. O R L D $$
Café Sazón
4704 Columbia Pike, 703-566-1686, cafesazon. com. A homey Bolivian café specializing in dishes such as silpancho and empanadas. B L D V $$
Carbonara s
3865 Wilson Blvd., 703-721-3905, carbonarava. com. Enjoy house-made pastas, eggplant parm, chicken cacciatore and the spirit of Sinatra at this old-world-meets-modern Italian trattoria.
L D V $$$
Caribbean Grill
5183 Langston Blvd., 703-241-8947. Cuban preparations such as jerk-style pork, fried plantains and black bean soup are mainstays. C L D G V $
Carlyle
4000 Campbell Ave., 703-931-0777, greatameri canrestaurants.com/carlyle. The original anchor of Shirlington Village is a reliable pick for fusion fare, happy hour and Sunday brunch.
O C R L D G V $$$
CarPool Beer and Billiards
900 N. Glebe Road, 703-516-7665, gocarpool. com. Mark Handwerger’s garage-themed watering hole has pool, pub grub and an extensive beer list, including “house” suds brewed at sister bar the Board Room. D A $
Cava
1201 Wilson Blvd., 703-652-7880; 4121 Wilson Blvd., 703-310-6791; cava.com. Build your own salad, wrap or bowl with an array of Greek dips, spreads, proteins and toppings. L D G V $$
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant
2500 Columbia Pike, 703-746-9644, celtichouseva.com. The pub on the Pike serves up pints alongside favorites like corned beef and traditional Irish breakfast. C R L D A $$
Charga Grill
5151 Langston Blvd., 703-988-6063; 3203 Columbia Pike, 703-574-5050; chargagrill.com. How do you like your chicken? Choose Peruvian, jerk, Tandoori or Pakistani charga or sajii. L D $$
Chiko s
4040 Campbell Ave., 571-312-0774, mychiko. com. Fan favorites at this Chinese-Korean joint include cumin lamb stir-fry and double-fried chicken wings. C L D G V $$
Circa at Clarendon s
3010 Clarendon Blvd., 703-522-3010, circabis tros.com. Bistro fare ranges from salads and small plates to steak frites and wild mushroom pizza. Sit outside if you can. O R L D A G V $$$
Coco B’s
2854 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-7094, lovecocobs. com. The sister to B Live features a rooftop bar, live music, tiki drinks and tropical dishes like ceviche and jerk chicken. Closed Monday and Tuesday. O D A V $$$
Colada Shop
2811 Clarendon Blvd., 571-771-8400; 244 19th Court S., 703-631-5320; coladashop.com. Hit this colorful Caribbean coffee cafe and bar for beachy vibes, tropical drinks and Cuban-inspired eats. C B R L D V $$
Colony Grill
2800 Clarendon Blvd., 703-682-8300, colonygrill. com. The Stamford, Connecticut-based pizza chain specializes in ultra-thin-crust “bar pies” with a spicy, pepper-infused hot oil topping. L D G V $$
Copperwood Tavern
4021 Campbell Ave., 703-522-8010, copperwood tavern.com. This rustic saloon serves up steaks and chops, draft beers and 30 small-batch whiskeys. O R L D $$$
Cornerstone
2900 Columbia Pike, 703-512-2056, pikecorner stone.com. The menu is heavy on apps and shareables such as wings, nachos and mini skewers, but you’ll also find salads, burgers and rib-sticking entrees. C O R D A $
Corso Italian
4024 Campbell Ave., 703-933-8787, corsoitalian. com. Find fresh pastas, porchetta and veal chop Milanese at this Italian trattoria by Cheesetique “cheese lady” Jill Erber. O r L D V $$$
Cowboy Café
4792 Langston Blvd., 703-243-8010, thecowboy cafe.com. Cool your heels and fill up on sandwiches, burgers, brisket and chili mac. An outdoor beer garden features a mural by Arlington artist MasPaz. Live music on weekends. O C R L D V $$
Crush Pizza + Wine
1601 Crystal Drive, crushpizzaandwine.com. Enjoy New York-style pizza, wines by the glass and patio crushers at this al fresco dining spot in National Landing’s Water Park. O L D V $$
Crystal City Sports Pub
529 23rd St. S., 703-521-8215, ccsportspub.com. Open 365 days a year, it’s a sure bet for big-screen TVs, pool tables, trivia and poker nights, beers and bar snacks. C B R L D A G V $$
Crystal Thai
4819 First St. N., 703-522-1311, crystalthai.com. A neighborhood go-to for traditional Thai curries, grilled meats and house specialties like roast duck. L D V $$
Dama Restaurant & Cafe
1503 Columbia Pike, 703-920-3559, damapas try.com. The Ethiopian family-owned business includes a breakfast café, market and dining room. B L D V $$
Darna
946 N. Jackson St., 703-988-2373, darnava.com. Snack on mezze and flatbreads at this cocktail and hookah bar. D A V $$
Delhi Dhaba Indian Restaurant
2424 Wilson Blvd., 703-524-0008, delhidhaba.com. The best bargain is the “mix and match” platter, which includes tandoori, seafood, a curry dish and a choice of rice or naan. O L D G V $$
Detour Coffee
946 N. Jackson St., 703-988-2378, detourcoffee co.com. This comfy cafe has a college vibe and serves up locally roasted coffee, light bites and weekend brunch. O B R L V $
District Dumplings
923 S. Glebe Road, 571-518-9764, districtdumplings.com. When you’re hungry for Asian-style dumplings, sandwiches and wraps. L D $$
District Taco
5723 Langston Blvd., 703-237-1204; 1500 Wilson Blvd., 571-290-6854; districttaco.com. A local favorite for tacos and gargantuan burritos. C B L D G V $
Don Tito
3165 Wilson Blvd., 703-566-3113, dontitova.com. The sports bar specializes in tacos, tequila and beer, with a rooftop bar. O R L D $$
Dudley’s Sport and Ale
2766 S. Arlington Mill Drive, 571-312-2304, dudleyssportandale.com. A spacious sports bar with wall-to-wall TVs, a roof deck, a ballpark-inspired beer list and weekend brunch. O C R L D A $$
Earl’s Sandwiches
2605 Wilson Blvd., 703-647-9191, earlsinarling
ton.com. Made-to-order sandwiches use prime ingredients, like fresh roasted turkey. O B L D G V $
East West Cafe
3101 Wilson Blvd., 571-800-9954, ewcafe.com.
The Clarendon cafe serves espresso drinks, brunch (try the massive Turkish breakfast spread), sandwiches, tapas, beer and wine. B L D $
El Paso Café
4235 N. Pershing Drive, 703-243-9811, elpaso cafeva.com. Big portions, big margaritas and bighearted service make this Tex-Mex cantina a local favorite. C L D G V $$
El Pike Restobar
4111 Columbia Pike, 703-521-3010, elpikeresto bar.com. Bolivian dishes satisfy at this no-frills institution. Try the salteñas stuffed with chicken or with beef, olives and hard-boiled egg. L D $ El Pollo Rico
932 N. Kenmore St., 703-522-3220, elpollorico. com. A local institution, this rotisserie chicken mecca gained even more street cred after a visit from the late Anthony Bourdain. L D V $
El Rey
4201 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-5530, elreyva.com. Down tacos, margs and draft brews in a colorful interior featuring street-art murals by Mike Pacheco. Visit The Filling Station next door for live music. L D A $$
Elevation Burger
2447 N. Harrison St., 703-300-9467, elevationburger.com. Organic, grass-fed beef is ground on the premises, fries are cooked in olive oil and the shakes are made with fresh-scooped ice cream. O L D V $
Eli’s Taqueria
3207 Columbia Pike, 703-663-4777. Dig into beef birria tortas, shrimp tacos and pupusas at this homey spot (a spin-off of the Taqueria La Ceibita food truck) run by Nevi Paredes and his daughter, Yorktown alum Elizabeth Marquez. L D $ Epic Smokehouse
1330 S. Fern St., 571-319-4001, epicsmoke house.com. Wood-smoked meats and seafood served in a modern setting. O R L D G $$$ Falafel Inc.
1631 Crystal Drive, falafelinc.org. Fill a pita or bowl with falafel, pickled veggies and your choice of sauces. The eatery donates a portion of its sales to feed refugees. O L D V $
Fat Fish
1641 Crystal Drive, fatfishrolls.com. Grab poke bowls, sushi and bento boxes from this budgetfriendly kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park.
O L D G $
Federico Ristorante Italiano
519 23rd St., 703-486-0519, federicoristorante italiano.com. Go for pasta and chianti at this trattoria co-owned by Freddie’s Beach Bar proprietor Freddie Lutz. L D V $$
Fettoosh
5100 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-7710, fettoosh restaurant.com. Pita sandwiches and kebabs keep the kitchen fired up at this bargain-priced Lebanese and Moroccan restaurant. C R L D G V $ Fire Works
2350 Clarendon Blvd., 703-527-8700, fireworks pizza.com. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas and more than 30 craft beers on tap. You can also build your own pasta dish. O C L D A G V $$
First Down Sports Bar & Grill s 4213 Fairfax Drive, 703-465-8888, firstdownsports bar.com. Three cheers for draft beers and snacks ranging from sliders to queso dip. L D A V $$
For Five Coffee Roasters
1735 N. Lynn St.; 2311 Wilson Blvd., 571-2577219, forfivecoffee.com. Pop in for coffee drinks, espresso martinis, acai bowls, avo toast and “stuffed” cookies. B R L G V $
Four Sisters Grill
3035 Clarendon Blvd., 703-243-9020, foursisters grill.com. A go-to for banh mi sandwiches, papaya salad, spring rolls and noodle dishes. O L D $$
Freddie’s Beach Bar 555 23rd St. S., Arlington, 703-685-0555, fred diesbeachbar.com. Freddie Lutz’s longstanding “gay, straight-friendly” hangout is always a party, with pink and purple Barbiecore décor, flashy drinks, drag bingo and weekend brunch. O R D A V $$
Galaxy Hut 2711 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-8646, galaxyhut.com. Pair craft beers with vegan bar foods like “fricken” sandwiches and smothered tots. L D A G V $$
Gharer Khabar
5157 Langston Blvd., 703-973-2432, gharerkhabar va.com. Translated as “home’s food,” this art-filled, 14-seat café serves Bangladeshi fare cooked by chef Nasima Shreen. L D $$
Good Company Doughnuts & Café
672 N. Glebe Road, 703-243-3000; 1350 S. Eads St., 703-894-1002; gocodough.com. The family- and veteran-owned eatery serves house-made doughnuts, Intelligentsia coffee and savory cafe fare. B L V $$
■ places to eat
Good Stuff Eatery
2110 Crystal Drive, 703-415-4663, goodstuff eatery.com. Spike Mendelsohn’s Crystal City outpost offers gourmet burgers (beef, turkey or mushroom), shakes, fries and salads. L D G V $
Grand Cru Wine Bar and Bistro 4301 Wilson Blvd., 703-243-7900, grandcrubistro. com. This intimate European-style café includes a wine shop next door. O R L D G $$$
Green Pig Bistro 2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-888-1920, greenpigbistro.com. An Arlington fave for Southern-influenced food, craft cocktails, happy hour and brunch. R L D G V $$$
Guajillo
1727 Wilson Blvd., 703-807-0840, guajillo mexican.com. Authentic Mexican dishes such as carne asada, mole poblano and churros are favorites. O C L D G V $$
Guapo’s Restaurant
4028 Campbell Ave., 703-671-1701, guaposres taurant.com. Expect hearty portions of all the TexMex standbys—quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos and burritos. O C R L D G V $$
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
1119 N. Hudson St., 571-527-0445, gyu-kaku.com. Marinated meats, veggies and seafood are cooked on tabletop grills. L D $$
Gyu San
4300 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-7373, gyusan.com. Go for Japanese barbecue, sushi, soba noodles and saki. L D G $$$
Hal & Al’s BBQ
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-400-8884, halandals bbq.com. There’s no pork on the menu at this halal ’cue joint. Go for beef brisket, turkey sausage or beef “Dino” ribs rubbed with Old Bay and other spices. L D $$
Hanabi Ramen
3024 Wilson Blvd., 703-351-1275, hanabiramen usa.com. Slurp multiple variations of the namesake noodle soup, plus rice bowls and dumplings. L D $$
Haute Dogs
2910 N. Sycamore St., 703-548-3891, hautedogs andfries.com. Cookout fare goes gourmet with hot dog toppings ranging from banh mi with sriracha mayo to a buffalo dog with blue cheese. L D $
Hawkers Asian Street Food
4201 Wilson Blvd., 703-828-8287, eathawkers. com. Dig into hot chicken, pork belly bao and other Asian street foods, plus sake, whiskey and zeroproof quaffs. G V L D $$
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe s
2150 N. Culpeper St., 703-527-8394, heidelberg bakery.com. A local favorite for baked goods and Old Country specialties such as bratwurst and German potato salad. Closed Mondays. B L $
Highline RxR
2010-A Crystal Drive, 703-413-2337, highlinerxr. com. A Crystal City bar offering draft beers, draft wines, a whiskey menu and a retractable wall that opens up in nice weather. O L D A $$
Hot Lola’s
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 1501 Wilson Blvd. (Rosslyn), hotlolas.com. It’s all about Kevin Tien’s Nashville-meets-Sichuan hot chicken sandwiches. L D $
Hyde Social
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-647-9342, hyde-social. com. Meet up for poke towers, fancy pub fare (try the burger blending brisket, short rib and pork belly) and classy quenchers like the Ube Spice (mezcal, tequila, agave, lime, ube, gochujang flakes, lava salt). R L D A G V $$
Idido’s Coffee & Social House
1107 S. Walter Reed Drive, 703-253-1576, ididos socialhouse.com. Devotees go for the pastries, sandwiches and Ethiopian coffee. B L V $
Immigrant Food
4245 N. Fairfax Drive, 703-203-0337, immigrant food.com. Global dishes from this “gastroadvocacy” kitchen range from Salvadoran pupusas and Filipino fried chicken to a Kamala Harris-inspired coconutcurry chicken and rice bowl. O R L D G V $$
Inca Social
1776 Wilson Blvd., 703-488-7640, incasocial.com. Empanadas, saltados, ceviche, sushi and pisco sours round out the menu at this Peruvian cousin to the original in Dunn Loring. R L D G V $$
Ireland’s Four Courts
2051 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-3600, irelandsfour courts.com. Stop in for a pint and an EPL game over an order of fish and chips. C R L D A $$
Istanbul Grill
4617 Wilson Blvd., 571-970-5828, istanbulgrill virginia.com. Feast on Turkish meze and kebabs at this homey spot in Bluemont. L D V $$
The Italian Store s
3123 Langston Blvd., 703-528-6266; 5837 Washington Blvd., 571-341-1080; italianstore.com. A favorite for pizzas, sandwiches, prepared entrées, espresso and gelato. O L D G V $
Jon’s Joint
250 N. Glebe Road, 202-384-4954. Order halal smashburgers topped with cheese, grilled onions and pickled jalapeños. L D $
Kabob Palace
2315 S. Eads St., 703-486-3535, kabobpalaceusa.com. Open 24 hours, this Crystal City storefront serves grilled halal meats, pillowy naan and savory sides. L D A G V $$
Hyde Social
Kaldi’s Social House
3100 10th St. N.; 3639 S. Glebe Road; 571-2131502, kaldissocialhouse.net. The National Landing location serves a full dinner menu in addition to espresso drinks and brunch. Try a burger with red onion jam, Gruyere and rosemary aioli, or a matcha beet salad with pecans. B R L D G V $$ Kanji Izakaya
4301 Fairfax Drive, 703-512-0017, kanjiarlington. com. Dive into teriyaki, ramen, yakitori and hibachi dishes, plus traditional and signature sushi rolls. L D G $$
Khun Yai Thai
2509 N. Harrison St., 703-536-1643, khunyaithai va.com. The family-owned restaurant serves “homestyle Thai” cuisine. L D G V $$ King of Koshary
5515 Wilson Blvd., 571-317-7925, kingofkoshary. com. Washington Post critic Tim Carman dubbed its menu “Egyptian food fit for royalty.” Try the hearty namesake dish, grilled branzino, beef kofta, roasted chicken or any of the tagines (stews). L D G $$ Kusshi
1201 S. Joyce St., 571-777-1998, kusshisushi. com. Feast your way through shishito peppers, sushi, oysters and mochi at this Westpost café. Or splurge for omakase. O L D G V $$$
L.A. Bar & Grill
2530 Columbia Pike, 703-685-1560, labargrill.com. Regulars flock to this dive bar on the Pike (L.A. stands for Lower Arlington) for cold brews and pub fare. D A $$
La Coop Coffee
4807 First St. N., 571-257-7972, lacoopcoffee. com. Stop in for single-origin Guatemalan coffee,
house-made horchata, breakfast sammies, empanadas and ice cream. B L $
La Côte D’Or Café
6876 Langston Blvd., 703-538-3033, lcd6876.com. This little French bistro serves standards like crepes and steak frites. O R L D G V $$$
Láylí
3033 Wilson Blvd., 703-512-3094, layligarden.com. Chef Samer Zeitoun’s menu centers on the flavors of Lebanon, Turkey and Greece in dishes such as hand-rolled grape leaves, beef tenderloin shawarma and hummus with duck confit. O R L D $$$
Lebanese Taverna
5900 Washington Blvd., 703-241-8681; 1101 S. Joyce St., Pentagon Row, 703-415-8681; lebanese taverna.com. A hometown favorite for shawarma, kebabs, flatbreads and more. O C L D G V $$
The Liberty Tavern
3195 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-9360, thelibertytavern. com. This Clarendon anchor offers a spirited bar and creative cuisine fueled by two wood-burning ovens. O C R L D A G V $$$
Livin’ the Pie Life
2166 N. Glebe Road, 571-431-7727, livinthepielife. com. The wildly popular pie shop and bakery started as an Arlington farmers market stand. B L V $$
Lost Dog Café
5876 Washington Blvd., 703-237-1552; 2920 Columbia Pike, 703-553-7770; lostdogcafe.com. Known for its pizzas, subs and beer selection, this deli/café supports pet adoption through the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. L D G V $$
Lucky Danger
1101 S. Joyce St., Unit B27 (Westpost), luckydanger.co. Chefs Tim Ma and Andrew Chiou put a
fresh spin on Chinese American takeout with dishes such as duck fried rice and lo mein. L D V $$
Lyon Hall s
3100 N. Washington Blvd., 703-741-7636, lyonhall arlington.com. The European-style brasserie turns out French, German and Alsatian-inspired plates, from charcuterie and sausages to moules frites.
O C R L D A V $$$
Mae’s Market and Café
1450 S. Eads St., maesmarketandcafe.com.
Scratch-made baked goods, salads, gourmet sandwiches, espresso drinks, cheese and wine round out the offerings o B R L D V $$
Maison Cheryl
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-664-0509, maisoncheryl. com. Seared duck breast, steak frites and madeleines are among the offerings at this French American bistro. R L D V $$$
Maizal Latin Street Food
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 571-3966500, maizalgrill.com. South American street food—arepas, empanadas, churros. L D V $
Makers Union
1450 S. Eads St., 703-419-3504, makersunionpub. com. Pop in for comfort food (mac ’n’ cheese, Nashville hot chicken, steak frites), creative cocktails and live music several nights a week. R L D G V $$
Mala Tang
3434 Washington Blvd., 703-243-2381, mala-tang. com. A fragrant eatery specializing in Sichuan hot pot, dry pot and Chinese street foods. O L D G V $$
Mario’s Pizza House
3322 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-0222, mariospizza housemenu.com. Open into the wee hours, it’s
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been cooking up subs, wings and pizza since 1957. O C B L D A $
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
4017 Campbell Ave., 571-431-6530, masons lobster.com. Order lobster rolls your way (butter or mayo) at this Shirlington outpost of the Annapolisbased seafood chainlet. L D $$
Maya Bistro
5649 Langston Blvd., 703-533-7800, bistromaya. com. The family-owned restaurant serves Turkish and Mediterranean comfort food. L D V $$
McNamara’s Pub & Restaurant
567 23rd St. S., 703-302-3760, mcnamaraspub. com. Order a Guinness and some corned beef or fish and chips at this friendly watering hole on Crystal City’s restaurant row. O R L D A $$
Meda Coffee & Kitchen
5037 Columbia Pike, 571-312-0599, medacoffee kitchen.com. A casual café serving coffee, baked goods and traditional Ethiopian dishes like kitfo and tibs. C B L D G V $$
Me Jana
2300 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-4440, mejanarestau rant.com. Named for an old Lebanese folk ballad, this Middle Eastern eatery offers prime peoplewatching in Clarendon. O C L D G V $$
Mele Bistro
1723 Wilson Blvd., 703-522-0284, melebistro.com. This farm-to-table Mediterranean restaurant cooks with fresh, organic, free-range, regionally sourced, non-GMO ingredients. O R L D G V $$
Metro 29 Diner
4711 Langston Blvd., 703-528-2464, metro29. com. Classic diner fare includes triple-decker sandwiches, mile-high desserts, burgers, roasted chicken and breakfast. C B R L D V $
Mexicali Blues
2933 Wilson Blvd., 703-812-9352, mexicali-blues. com. This colorful landmark dishes out Salvadoran and Mexican chow. O C R L D G V $$
Mister Days Sports Rock Café
1101 N. Highland St., 703-986-3335, misterdays usa.com. The beloved Clarendon sports bar has been resurrected with plenty of happy hour deals and bar munchies for game-watching. R D A $
Moby Dick House of Kabob
3000 Washington Blvd., 703-465-1600; 4037 Campbell Ave., 571-257-8214; mobyskabob.com. Satisfy that hankering for Persian skewers and flavorful sides. L D $$
Mpanadas
2602 Columbia Pike, 571-312-0182, mpanadas usa.com. Try barbecue pork and cheeseburger empanadas, birthday cake paletas and java chip macaroons. B L D $
Mussel Bar & Grille
800 N. Glebe Road, 703-841-2337, musselbar. com. Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s Ballston eatery is known for mussels, frites, wood-fired pizza and more than 100 Belgian and craft beers. O L D $$
Nam-Viet
1127 N. Hudson St., 703-522-7110, namvietva.com. The venerable restaurant in what was once Arlington’s “Little Saigon” neighborhood specializes in flavors of Vietnam’s Can Tho region. O L D V $$
Nighthawk Pizza
1201 S. Joyce St., nighthawkpizza.com. Visit this Westpost brewpub and sports bar for personal pizzas (both thick and thin crust), beer and smashburgers. L D V $$
NiHao
1550 Crystal Drive, 703-512-4109, nihaoarlington. com. Sichuan small plates by chef Peter Chang include walnut shrimp, spicy dry-fried eggplant, and pork ribs with fries. Enjoy cocktails made with bai-
jiu, a Chinese liquor, or tea-infused whiskey. O L D G V $$
Noonchi
1201 S. Joyce St., 571-451-7030, @noonchipocha. Visit Scott Chung’s Korean street food and soju bar for bulgogi, kimchi fried rice and kimbap. L D G $ Northside Social Coffee & Wine s 3211 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-0145, northsidesocial va.com. Tucked inside a red house on the edge of Clarendon, the two-story coffee and wine bar with a big patio is always busy...which tells you something. O B L D V $$
Ocean Shack
2163 N. Glebe Road, 703-488-7161, oceanshack arlington.com. Dig into a seafood boil, a fried oyster basket or an order of fish tacos and pretend you’re at the beach. R L D A $$
Oh K-Dog
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 703-5673376, ohkdog.com. Try a fried Korean rice dog with add-ins like sweet potato, cheddar or squid ink. L D $
Old Dominion Pizza Co.
4514 Langston Blvd., 703-718-6372, olddominion pizza.com. Order thin crust or “grandma style” pies named after local high school mascots. L D G $
Open Road
1201 Wilson Blvd., 703-248-0760, openroadgrill. com. A solid pick for burgers and beers or a proper entrée and a craft cocktail. O L D $$
Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-567-7295, origincoffeeco. com. The industrial-chic coffee shop roasts its own beans and serves all-day breakfast, bar munchies and dinner plates. O B R L D V $$
Osteria da Nino
2900 S. Quincy St. (Village at Shirlington), 703820-1128, osteriadaninova.com. For those days when you’re craving a hearty portion of spaghetti and clams, or gnocci with pesto. O D G V $$$
O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub
3207 Washington Blvd., 703-812-0939, osullivans irishpub.com. You’ll find owner and County Kerry native Karen O’Sullivan behind the bar, pouring pints and cracking jokes. L D A $$
Our Mom Eugenia
4044 Campbell Ave., 571-970-0468, ourmom eugenia.com. This family-owned spot is beloved for its real-deal Greek fare, from saganaki to souvlaki. O L D $$
Padaek
2931 S. Glebe Road, 703-888-2890, padaekdc. com. Chef Seng Luangrath’s kitchen in Arlington Ridge turns out Lao, Thai and Burmese fare—satay, curries and noodle dishes. O L D G V $$
Palette 22
4053 Campbell Ave., 703-746-9007, palette22.com. The Shirlington gallery-café specializes in international small plates and is a hoppin’ brunch spot. O R L D V $$
Peking Pavilion
2912 N. Sycamore St., 703-237-6868, peking pavilionva.com. This family-owned restaurant serves standbys such as moo shu pork and beef with broccoli. L D $$
Peruvian Brothers
1450 S. Eads St., 703-625-6473, peruvianbroth ers.com. Dig into sandwiches (try the chicharron with pork, sweet potato and salsa criolla), saltados, empanadas, rotisserie chicken and power bowls. Grab a bottle of hot sauce to take home. L D V $
Peter Chang Arlington
2503-E N. Harrison St., 703-538-6688, peterchang arlington.com. The former Chinese Embassy chef brings his fiery and flavorful Sichuan cooking to the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. C L D $$
Pho 75 s
1721 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-7355, pho75.res taurantwebexpert.com. Purported to have curative properties, the piping-hot soup at this local institution is all about fresh ingredients. O L D V $
Pho & Banh Mi Eatery Café
3000 Washington Blvd., 703-489-8212, eatery cafeva.com. Fill up on banh mi (with tofu, grilled chicken or pork), steaming bowls of pho and poke bowls. L D G V $
PhoWheels
1731 Crystal Drive, phowheelsdc.com. The popular food truck serving Vietnamese pho and banh mi now has a kiosk at Water Park. O L D G $
Pie-tanza
2503-B N. Harrison St., 703-237-0200, pie-tanza. com. Enjoy pizza (including gluten-free options), calzones, lasagna, subs and salads. C L D G V $$
Pines of Florence
2109 N. Pollard St., 703-566-0456, pinesofflor encearlingtonva.com. The classics include linguine with pesto, veal parm and chicken cacciatore, plus housemade pizza and subs. L D V $$
Pirouette Café & Wine Shop s
4000 Fairfax Drive, pirouette.cafe. Pair your favorite vino with cheese, whole roasted fish, a pork cutlet for two and other enticing plates at this Ballston cafe and wine shop. L D G V $$
Poppyseed Rye
818 N. Quincy St., poppyseedrye.com. Pick up sandwiches, biscuits, salads, flower bouquets and gift items (beer and wine, too). O r L D G V $
Pupatella s
5104 Wilson Blvd.; 1621 S. Walter Reed Drive, 571-312-7230, pupatella.com. Enzo and Anastasiya Algarme’s authentic Neapolitan pies are considered among D.C.’s best. O L D V $$
Quarterdeck
1200 Fort Myer Drive, 703-528-2722, quarterdeck arlington.com. This beloved shack has served up steamed crabs for 40 years. O C L D V $$
Queen Mother’s Kitchen
1601 Crystal Drive, 703-997-8474, queenmother cooks.com. Grab a fried chicken sandwich and a side of duck fat fries at chef Rock Harper’s kiosk in the Water Park at National Landing. O L D $
Quincy Hall
4001 Fairfax Drive, 703-567-4098, quincyhallbar. com. Go for pints, meatballs and New York-style pizza at this spacious beer hall in Ballston. L D $ Quinn’s on the Corner
1776 Wilson Blvd., 703-640-3566, quinnsonthe corner.com. Irish and Belgian favorites such as mussels, steak frites, and bangers and mash, plus draft beers and a big whiskey selection. B R L D A $$
Ragtime
1345 N. Courthouse Road, 703-243-4003, ragtime restaurant.com. Savor a taste of the Big Easy in offerings such as jambalaya, catfish, spiced shrimp and oysters. There’s a waffle and omelet bar every Sunday. O R L D A V $$
Rasa
2200 Crystal Drive, 703-888-0925, rasagrill.com. Build a bowl with options like basmati rice, chicken tikka, lamb, pickled vegetables, lentils, chutneys and yogurt sauces. O L D G V $
Ravi Kabob House
350 N. Glebe Road, 703-522-6666; 250 N. Glebe Road, 703-816-0222. Curries, kebabs and delectably spiced veggies keep this strip-mall café plenty busy. C L D V $$
The Renegade
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-468-4652, renegadeva. com. Is it a coffee shop, restaurant, bar or live music venue? All of the above—with snacks ranging from lambchop lollipops to lo mein. B L D A $$
Rhodeside Grill
1836 Wilson Blvd., 703-243-0145, rhodeside grill.com. Find chops, meatloaf, burgers and po’boys accompanied by every kind of hot sauce imaginable. O C R L D A V $$
Rien Tong Asian Bistro
3131 Wilson Blvd., 703-243-8388, rientong.com. The large menu includes Thai and Chinese standards, plus sushi. L D V $$ Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co.
3471 Washington Blvd., 703-528-9663, rocklands. com. Owner John Snedden has been slow-cooking barbecue at this Arlington favorite since 1990. O C L D G V $
Roggenart Bakery, Bistro & Café
4401 Wilson Blvd., 703-721-3182, roggenart.com. Stop in for breakfast, coffee, pastries and sandwiches on house-baked bread. B R L D V $$
Ruffino’s Spaghetti House
4763 Langston Blvd., 703-528-2242, ruffinospaghetti.com. Fill up on classics such as veal Parmigiana and chicken piccata. C L D V $$ RusUz
1000 N. Randolph St., 571-312-4086, rusuz.com. The family-run bistro serves hearty Russian and Uzbek dishes such as borscht, beef stroganoff and plov—a rice pilaf with lamb. L D $$
Ruthie’s All-Day s
3411 Fifth St. S., 703-888-2841, ruthiesallday. com. Chef Matt Hill’s “meat and three” serves up wood-smoked proteins with creative sides like crispy Brussels sprouts with fish sauce vinaigrette. Breakfast (with house-made biscuits) offered daily. O B R L D G V $$
Ryu Izakaya
3030 Columbia Pike, 703-399-9052. A spot on the Pike for sushi, sake and yakitori. L D G $$
Sabores Tapas Bar
2401 Columbia Pike, 571-970-1253, saboresva. com. Dine on ceviche, lomo saltado and classic gambas al ajillo at this tapas bar on the Pike. R L D G V $$
Saigon Noodles & Grill
1800 Wilson Blvd., 703-566-5940, saigonnoodles grill.com. Traditional Vietnamese pho, banh mi and noodle dishes round out the offerings at this restaurant and takeout. L D $$
Sakaki Izakaya
3227 Washington Blvd., 703-718-4931, sakakiizakaya.com. Try mini “sushi burgers,” Wagyu fried rice and the dazzling Egg on Egg dish (king salmon, quail egg, ikura and wasabi soy in a smoking bowl). Closed Tuesdays. L D A G $$
Salt s
1201 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-0491, saltrosslyn.com. The speakeasy-style cocktail bar serves cheese plates and carpaccio, classic sazeracs and old-fashioneds, as well as nouveau craft cocktails. D $$
The Salt Line 4040 Wilson Blvd., 703-566-2075, thesaltline. com. Hit this seafood-centric oyster bar for clam chowder, lobster rolls, stuffies, smashburgers and fun cocktails. c O R D $$$
Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub 2800 S. Randolph St., 703-379-0122, samuel becketts.com. A modern Irish pub serving Emerald Isle recipes. O C R L D A G V $$
Santé
1250 S. Hayes St. (inside the Ritz-Carlton), 703-
412-2762, meetatsante.com. Mediterranean fare includes shrimp saganaki, whole roasted branzino and lamb “osso bucco.” B R L D G V $$$
Sawatdee Thai Restaurant
2250 Clarendon Blvd., 703-243-8181, sawatdeeva. com. The friendly eatery (its name means “hello”) is frequented by folks craving pad thai or pad prik king. L D V $$
Screwtop Wine Bar and Cheese Shop
1025 N. Fillmore St., 703-888-0845, screwtop winebar.com. The congenial wine bar and bottle shop offers tastings, wine classes, and small plates for sharing and pairing. O C R L D G V $$
Seamore’s
2815 Clarendon Blvd., 703-721-3384, seamores. com. Dine on sustainably sourced seafood, from clams and mussels to arctic char and yellowfin tuna. Brunch on weekends. O R L D G V $$$
Seoulspice
1735 N. Lynn St., 703-419-5868, seoulspice.com. Korean fast-casual comfort food, anyone? L D G V $
SER
1110 N. Glebe Road, 703-746-9822, serrestau rant.com. Traditional Spanish and Basque dishes in a colorful, friendly space with outstanding service.
O R L D V $$$
Sfoglina Pasta House
1100 Wilson Blvd., sfoglinapasta.com/rosslyn. Fabio Trabocchi’s urbane trattoria serves housemade pasta (you can watch it being made), a “mozzarella bar” and Italian cocktails. Closed Sundays.
O L D V $$$
Silver Diner
4400 Wilson Blvd., 703-812-8600, silverdiner. com. The kitchen cooks with organic ingredients,
■ places to eat
many of which are sourced from local suppliers. Low-calorie and gluten-free menu choices are available. O C B R L D A G V $$
The Simple Greek
1731 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-1800, thesimplegreek. com. Find gyros, spanakopita, dolmades and other Greek favorites at this café and catering operation in Colonial Village. O C B L D V $
Skydome
300 Army Navy Drive, 703-416-3862. Savor craft cocktails, Mediterranean-influenced dishes and views of the D.C. skyline in this revolving restaurant atop the DoubleTree Hilton in Crystal City. Closed Sunday and Monday. D G V $$$
Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque
5731 Langston Blvd., 703-269-2718, sloppyma mas.com. Joe and Mandy Neuman’s barbecue joint offers wood-smoked meats galore, plus pimento cheese, hearty sides and banana pudding for dessert. O B R L D V $$
Smokecraft Modern Barbecue
1051 N. Highland St., 571-312-8791, smokecraft bbq.com. Every menu item here is kissed by smoke, from ribs, crabcakes and spaghetti squash to the chocolate cherry bread pudding on the dessert list. O L D G V $$
Snouts & Stouts
2709 S. Oakland St., 571-317-2239, snouts nstouts.com. Grab a beer and some pulled-pork pretzel bites with beer cheese while your pup runs around this indoor dog park and bar. L D $
Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar
6035 Wilson Blvd., 703-300-9655, soulthaikitchen andbar.com. Find curries, noodle dishes and other Thai classics. L D G V $
South Block
3011 11th St. N., 703-741-0266; 1550 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-8423; 4150 Wilson Blvd., 703-4658423; 2121 N. Westmoreland St., 703-534-1542; 1350 S. Eads St., 703-465-8423; southblock.com. Cold-pressed juices, smoothies and acai bowls. O B L V $
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
1135 N. Highland St., 703-527-5666, spicekraft va.com. This contemporary concept by restaurateurs Anthony Sankar and Premnath Durairaj gives Indian classics a modern spin. O L D $$
Spider Kelly’s 3181 Wilson Blvd., 703-312-8888, spiderkellys.com. The “come as you are” bar offers a sizable beer list, creative cocktails, salads, burgers, snacks and breakfast at all hours. C D A G V $$
Stellina Pizzeria
2800 S. Randolph St., 703-962-7884, stellina pizzeria.com. Pay a visit for Neapolitan pies, fried artichokes and a deli counter with house-made pastas, sauces and dolci to take home. O R L D $$
Supreme Hot Pot
2301 Columbia Pike, 571-666-1801, supreme hotpot.kwickmenu.com. This Pike eatery specializes in Szechuan hot pot, skewered meats and a few Cajun seafood dishes. D G $$
Surreal
2117 Crystal Drive, surrealpark.com. Find playful dishes like a foot-long Boomdog, “swirl” pancakes and old-fashioneds made with cornflake-infused whiskey at chef Enrique Limardo’s all-day diner in National Landing. O B L D $$
SushiJip
3000 Washington Blvd., 703-243-7799, sushijip. com. Occupying the former Endo Sushi space, it’s still a neighborhood spot for sushi, plus poke bowls, hibachi and ramen. Closed Mondays. L D G V $$
Sushi Rock
1900 Clarendon Blvd., 571-312-8027, sushirockva. com. Play a little air guitar while sampling sushi rolls
and beverages named after your favorite bands, from Zeppelin to Ozzy to Oasis. D A G V $$
Sushi-Zen Japanese Restaurant s 2457 N. Harrison St., 703-534-6000, sushizen. com. An amicable, light-filled neighborhood stop for sushi, donburi, tempura and udon. C L D V $$
Sweetgreen
4075 Wilson Blvd., 703-522-2016; 3100 Clarendon Blvd., 571-290-3956; 575 12th Road S., 703-8881025; 2200 Crystal Drive, 703-685-9089; sweet green.com. Locally grown ingredients and compostable cutlery make this salad and yogurt chain a hub for the green-minded. O C L D G V $
Sweet Leaf
2200 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-5100; 800 N. Glebe Road, 703-522-5000; 650 N. Quincy St., 703527-0807; sweetleafcafe.com. Build your own sandwiches and salads. O C B L D $$
Taco Bamba s
4000 Wilson Blvd., 571-777-1477; 4041 Campbell Ave., 571-257-3030; tacobamba.com. Taco options range from classic carnitas to cheffy creations like the El Rico Pollo, stuffed with chicken, green chili, aji Amarillo aioli and crispy potato. B L D V $
Taco Rock
1501 Wilson Blvd., 571-775-1800, thetacorock. com. This rock-themed watering hole keeps the Micheladas flowing alongside tacos on housemade blue-corn tortillas. B L D V $$
Taqueria el Poblano
2503-A N. Harrison St., 703-237-8250, taqueria poblano.com. Fresh guacamole, fish tacos, margaritas and mole verde transport patrons to the Yucatan. C L D G V $$
Taqueria Xochi
1450 S. Eads St., 571-444-6722, taqueriaxochi. com. Dig into beef birria tacos, crispy stuff mulitas and other Mexican street foods. D A V $$
Tatte Bakery and Café
2805 Clarendon Blvd., 571-312-8691; 269 19th Court S., 571-357-1470; tattebakery.com. Grab a breakfast sandwich, tartine, panini or grain bowl from the all-day menu, or keep it simple with a coffee and pastry. O B R L D G V $
Ted’s Bulletin & Sidekick Bakery
4238 Wilson Blvd. #1130 (Ballston Quarter), 703848-7580, tedsbulletin.com. The retro comfort food and all-day breakfast place has healthier fare, too—
Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co.
which you can undo with a visit to its tantalizing bakery next door. C B R L D G V $$
Texas Jack’s Barbecue
2761 Washington Blvd., 703-875-0477, txjacks.com.
Brisket, ribs and pulled pork, plus sides like raw carrot salad and smashed cucumbers. O L D A $$
T.H.A.I. in Shirlington
4209 Campbell Ave., 703-931-3203, thaiinshirling ton.com. Pretty dishes include lemongrass salmon with black sticky rice. O L D G V $$$
Thai Noy
5880 Washington Blvd., 703-534-7474, thainoy.com. Shimmering tapestries and golden Buddhas are the backdrop in this destination for Thai noodles, curries and rice dishes. L D $$
Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, 703-685-7040, thaisquarerestaurant.com. Enjoy options ranging from crispy squid with basil and roasted duck curry to pig knuckle stew. O L D G V $$
Tiger Dumplings
3225 Washington Blvd., 571-970-4512, tiger dumplings.com. There are dumplings, of course, plus five-spice beef, roast duck and vegan options like tofu skin with peanuts. L D G V $$
Timber Pizza
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 703-5676463, timberpizza.com. Popular pies include the Green Monster (pesto, feta, zucchini, kale) and the Worthy (chicken, barbecue sauce, red onions, apples and cilantro). L D V $$
TNR Cafe
2049 Wilson Blvd., 571-217-0766, tnrcafe.com.
When you have a hankering for Peking duck, moo shu chicken, Szechuan beef or bubble tea. L D G V $$
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream
5849-A Washington Blvd., 703-536-7000; 510 14th St. S.; tobysicecream.com. Stop in for cups, cones, floats and sundaes. Coffee, pastries and bagels available in the morning. B L D V $ Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita
2911 Columbia Pike, 571-970-2824; 3811 Fairfax Drive, 703-512-4137; tortasytacoslachiquital.com.
The beloved eatery that started as a food truck does tacos, alambres, huarache platters, flautas and more. B L D A $
Trade Roots
5852 Washington Blvd., 571-335-4274, fairtrade roots.com. The Westover gift shop and cafe serves fair-trade coffee, tea, pastries, salads, organic wine and snackable small plates. O B L $
Troy’s Italian Kitchen
2710 Washington Blvd., 703-528-2828, troysitalian kitchen.com. Palak and Neel Vaidya’s mom-andpop serves pizza, pasta and calzones, including a lengthy vegan menu with options like “chicken” tikka masala pizza. L D G V $
True Food Kitchen s
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 703-5270930, truefoodkitchen.com. Emphasizing “anti-inflammatory” fare, the menu will convince you that healthy tastes good. O L D G V $$
Tupelo Honey Café
1616 N. Troy St., 703-253-8140, tupelohoneycafe. com. The Southern fusion menu includes dishes like roasted snapper with sweet potato and farro. C R L D $$
Upside on Moore
1700 N. Moore St., upsideonmoore.com. This food hall above the Rosslyn metro includes DMV concepts Ghostburger, Stellina Pizzeria, Lucky Danger, Laoban Dumplings and a rotating roster of pop-ups. L D G V $$
Urban Tandoor
801 N. Quincy St., 703-567-1432, utandoorva.com. Sate your appetite with Indian and Nepalese fare,
from tandoori lamb to Himalayan momos (dumplings). Lunch buffet daily. L D V $$
Variedades Catrachas Restaurant
3709 Columbia Pike, 703-888-0906, variedades catrachas.com. The nearly 24-hour homey Honduran eatery serves up huevos rancheros, pupusas, carne asada, fried fish with plantains, cervezas, tequila drinks and horchata. B L D A G V $
Wagamama
2950 Clarendon Blvd., 571-901-9242, waga mama.us. Feast on ramen, teppanyaki, rice bowls, bao buns, boba tea and sake cocktails at this wildly popular pan-Asian concept that originated in the U.K. O L D G V $$
Water Bar
1601 Crystal Drive, nlwaterbar.com. The succinct menu at this sleek oyster and cocktail bar overlooking National Landing’s Water Park includes salads, sandwiches and sharable seafood dishes.
O L D G V $$
Weenie Beenie
2680 Shirlington Road, 703-671-6661, weenie beenie.net. The hot dog stand founded in 1954 is still serving half smokes, bologna-and-egg sandwiches and pancakes. B L D $
Westover Market & Beer Garden 5863 N. Washington Blvd., 703-536-5040, westo vermarketbeergarden.com. It’s a hive for burgers, draft microbrews and live music. O C L D A $$
Westover Taco
5849 Washington Blvd., 703-297-3030, westover taco.com. Tacos, guac, margs and beer keep things casual at this neighborhood hangout. L D V A $
Whino
4238 Wilson Blvd., 571-290-3958, whinova.com. Part restaurant/bar and part art gallery, this vibey spot features cocktails, shareable plates, brunch, street-art murals and “low brow” art exhibits.
R L D A $$
William Jeffrey’s Tavern
2301 Columbia Pike, 703-746-6333, william jeffreystavern.com. The pub on the Pike features Prohibition-era wall murals and mixes a mean martini. O C R L D A G V $$
Wilson Hardware
2915 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-4200, wilson hardwareva.com. Order a boozy slushy and head to the whimsical covered patio. The menu includes small plates, burgers and entrées like steak frites and duck confit. O R L D A G V $$$
Yayla Bistro
2201 N. Westmoreland St., 703-533-5600, yayla bistro.com. A cozy little spot for Turkish small plates, flatbreads and seafood. Pita wraps available for lunch only. O C L D $$
Yume Sushi
2121 N. Westmoreland St., 703-269-5064, yume sushiva.com. East Falls Church has a destination for sushi, omakase and a sake bar with craft cocktails. L D V G $$$
FALLS CHURCH
2941 Restaurant 2941 Fairview Park Drive, 703-270-1500, 2941. com. French chef Bertrand Chemel’s sanctuary-like spot offers beautifully composed seasonal dishes and expert wine pairings. C L D V $$$$
Al Jazeera
3813-D S. George Mason Drive, 703-379-2733. The top seller at this Yemeni cafe is oven-roasted lamb with yellow rice. L D $$
Alta Strada
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-2800000, altastrada.com. Chef Michael Schlow’s
■ places to eat
menu includes house-made pastas, pizza and modern Italian small plates. R L D $$$
Anthony’s Restaurant
3000 Annandale Road, 703-532-0100, anthonys restaurantva.com. The family-owned diner serves standbys like spaghetti, pizza, gyros and subs, plus breakfast on weekends. R L D V $$ B Side
8298 Glass Alley (Mosaic District), 703-676-3550, bsidecuts.com. Nathan Anda’s charcuterie, smashburgers and beef-fat fries steal the show at this cozy bar. L D $$
Badd Pizza
346 W. Broad St., 703-237-2233, baddpizza.com. Order a Buffalo-style “cup-and-char” pepperoni pie and a “baddbeer” IPA, locally brewed by Lost Rhino Brewing Co. L D $$
Bakeshop
100 E. Fairfax St., 703-533-0002, bakeshopva.com. See Arlington listing. B V $
Balqees Restaurant
5820 Seminary Road, 703-379-0188, balqeesres taurant.com. Lebanese and Yemeni specialties include lamb in saffron rice, saltah (a vegetarian stew) and saffron cake with crème anglaise. O L D V $$
Bamian
5634 Leesburg Pike, 703-820-7880, bamianres taurant.com. Try Afghan standards like palau (seasoned lamb with saffron rice) and aushak (scallion dumpling topped with yogurt, meat sauce and mint). C L D V $$
Bartaco
2920 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-549-8226, bartaco.com. See Arlington listing. L D V A $$
Caboose Commons
2918 Eskridge Road (Mosaic District), 703-6638833, caboosebrewing.com. The microbrewery has a hopping patio. Order house brews and creative eats, from wings and fried pickles to plant-based buddha bowls. O L D V A $$
Café Kindred
450 N. Washington St., 571-327-2215, cafe kindred.com. Pop in for a yogurt parfait, avocado toast, grilled eggplant sandwich, or an espresso fizz. B R L V $$
Casa Mariachi
133 E. Annandale Road, casamariachirestaurante. com. All the Tex-Mex favorites—tacos, burritos, fajitas, saltado, guac and margs. B L D $$
Celebrity Delly s
7263-A Arlington Blvd., 703-573-9002, celebrity deliva.com. Matzo-ball soup, massive corned beef sandwiches and tuna melts satisfy at this New York-style deli founded in 1975. Brunch served all day Saturday and Sunday. C B L D G V $
Chasin’ Tails
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9596, chasintailsss. com. The Viet-Cajun menu includes crawfish boils, char-broiled kimchi oysters and scallop crudo with citrus vinaigrette. L D $$
Chay Restaurant
6531 Columbia Pike, 571-378-1771, chayrestau rant.com. A destination for vegetarian hot pot, spring rolls, noodles and other plant-based Vietnamese specialties. L D G V $
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
130 N. Washington St., 703-532-9283, clareand dons.com. Go coastal with fish tacos, coconut chicken or one of the many meatless options, and maybe catch some live outdoor music. Closed Mondays. O C L D A G V $$
Colada Shop
2920 District Ave., 703-962-3002, coladashop. com. See Arlington listing. O B R L D V $$
District Dumplings
2985 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-884-7080,
districtdumplings.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
District Taco
5275-C Leesburg Pike, 571-699-0660, district taco.com. See Arlington listing. C B L D G V $
Dogwood Tavern
132 W. Broad St., 703-237-8333, dogwoodtav ern.com. The menu in this Falls Church meetup spot has something for everyone, from ancient grain bowls to jambalaya, burgers and coconutcurry salmon. O C R L D A V $$
Dolan Uyghur
400 S. Maple Ave., 833-693-6526, dolanuyghur. com. Order noodles, kebabs and Uyghur and Dolan specialties such as kawa manta (steamed dumplings stuffed with pumpkin and peppers) and stirfried crispy shrimp. O B R L D G V $$
Dominion Wine & Beer
107 Rowell Court, 703-533-3030, dominionwine andbeer.com. Pairings come easy when a café shares its space with a wine and beer shop. Order up a plate of sliders, a cheese board or some Dragon shrimp to snack on while you imbibe.
O R L D V $$
Duangrat’s
5878 Leesburg Pike, 703-820-5775, duangrats. com. Servers in traditional silk dresses glide through the dining room bearing fragrant curries and grilled meats at this revered destination for Thai cuisine. O R L D V $$
El Tio Tex-Mex Grill
7630 Lee Highway, 703-204-0233, eltiogrill.com. A family-friendly spot for fajitas, enchiladas, lomo saltado, combo plates and margaritas. O L D $$
Elephant Jumps Thai Restaurant
8110-A Arlington Blvd., 703-942-6600, elephant jumps.com. Creative and comforting Thai food in an intimate strip-mall storefront. L D G V $$ Elevation Burger
442 S. Washington St., 703-237-4343, elevation burger.com. See Arlington listing. O L D V $
Ellie Bird s
125 Founders Ave., 703-454-8894, elliebirdva. com. Discover the wonders of chef Yuan Tang’s kimchi bouillabaisse, fennel rigatoni and other award-winning dishes at this award-winning Little City gem. c o R D G V $$$
The Falls Restaurant & Bar
370 W. Broad St., 703-237-8227, thefallsva.com. Dig into crabcakes, brisket and fish stew, or build your own “blue plate” of creatively delicious sides. O R L D G V $$$
Fava Pot
7393 Lee Highway, 703-204-0609, favapot.com. The Egyptian eats include stewed fava beans with yogurt and lamb shanks with okra. And oh the bread! B L D G V $$
First Watch
5880 Leesburg Pike, 571-977-1096, firstwatch. com. A breakfast and lunch destination for eggs Benedict, lemon-ricotta pancakes, power bowls and avocado toast. O C B R L V $$
Godfrey’s Bakery & Café
421 W. Broad St., 571-378-1144, godfreysbakery cafe.com. Pop in for pastries, grazing boards, Roman-style pizza and coffee drinks. B R L D V $$
Haandi Indian Cuisine
1222 W. Broad St., 703-533-3501, haandi.com. The perfumed kebabs, curries and biryani incorporate northern and southern Indian flavors. L D V G $$
Harvey’s 513 W. Broad St., 540-268-6100, harveysva.com. Chef Thomas Harvey’s casual café does roasted chicken, cheesesteaks, banana splits and other comfort fare with flair. O C B R L D V $$
Hong Kong Palace
6387 Seven Corners Center, 703-532-0940, hong kongpalacedelivery.com. This kitchen caters to both ex-pat and American tastes with an enormous menu of options. C L D $$
Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant 6286 Arlington Blvd., 703-237-1388. Two words: dim sum. L D A V $$
Huong Viet 6785 Wilson Blvd., 703-538-7110. Spring rolls, roasted quail and shaky beef are faves at this cash-only Eden Center eatery. C L D G V $$
Ireland’s Four Provinces
105 W. Broad St., 703-534-8999, 4psva.com. The family-friendly tavern in the heart of Falls Church City serves pub food and Irish specialties, and hosts occasional Irish music sessions. O C B R L D $$
Jinya Ramen Bar
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-3272256, jinyaramenbar.com. Embellish your tonkotsu or umami-miso broth with more than a dozen toppings and add-ins. O L D A g V $$
JV’s Restaurant
6666 Arlington Blvd., 703-241-9504, jvsrestaurant. com. A dive bar (the best kind) known for its live music, cold beer and home-cooked meatloaf, lasagna and chili. L D A V $$
Kirby Club
2911 District Ave., 571-430-3650, kirbyclub. com. From the owners of D.C.’s Michelin-starred Mayd¯an, a lively kebab concept (with a great bar) that allows diners to mix-and-match proteins, dips and sauces. R D V $$
Koi Koi Sushi & Roll
450 W. Broad St., 703-237-0101, koikoisushi. com. The sushi is fresh and the vibe is fun. Teriyaki, tempura and bento boxes round out the menu.
O L D $$
Lantern House Viet Bistro
1067 West Broad St., 703-268-2878, lantern houseva.com. Head out for pho, noodles and banh mi at this family-owned Vietnamese eatery. L D G V $$
Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen
7049 Leesburg Pike, 703-532-5299, lazymikes deli.com. A Falls Church institution churning out homemade ice cream, packed deli sandwiches and breakfast faves. O C B R L D G V $
La Tingeria
626 S. Washington St., 571-316-6715. A popular food truck in Arlington since 2012, David Peña’s concept also has a brick-and-mortar location in Falls Church. The queso birria tacos are a must. Open Wednesday-Sunday. L D $
Little Saigon Restaurant
6218-B Wilson Blvd., 703-536-2633, littlesaigon restaurant.us. Authentic Vietnamese in comfortable setting with captivating retro photo collages on the walls. O L D $$
Loving Hut
2842 Rogers Drive, 703-942-5622; lovinghut fallschurch.com. The Vietnamese-inspired vegan eatery offers dishes like rice vermicelli with barbecued soy protein and clay pot rice with vegan “ham.” L D G V $$
MacMillan Whisky Room
2920 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 240-9943905, themacmillan.com. Contemplate more than 200 kinds of spirits lining the bar and a menu of U.K. and American pub standards. O R L D $$ Mark’s Duck House
6184-A Arlington Blvd., 703-532-2125. Though named for its specialty—Peking duck—it also offers plenty of other tantalizing options, such as
short ribs, roasted pork and dim sum. R L D A V $$
Meaza Restaurant
5700 Columbia Pike, 703-820-2870, meazares taurant.com. Well-seasoned legumes and marinated beef served with spongy injera bread are signatures in this vivid Ethiopian banquet hall. O C L D G V $$
Met Khao
6395 Seven Corners Center, 703-533-9480, padaekdc.com. Chef Seng Luangrath has transformed the former Padaek space into a fast-casual eatery serving Thai and Laotian fare. L D G V $
Miu Kee
6653 Arlington Blvd., 703-237-8884. Open late, this strip-mall hideaway offers Cantonese, Sichuan and Hunan dishes. L D A $$
Moby Dick House of Kabob 444 W. Broad St., 703-992-7500, mobyskabob.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Mom & Pop
2909 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-9920050, dolcezzagelato.com. The little glass cafe serves light fare, snacks, gelato, coffee, beer and wine. O B R L D A $$
MQR Cafe
6343 Columbia Pike, 571-378-1012, mqrcafe. com. Find cardamom lattes, kunafa French toast, harissa burgers and chicken shawarma sandwiches at this halal café and coffee shop.
B R L D G V $
Nhu Lan Sandwich
6763 Wilson Blvd., 703-532-9009, nhulancafe. com. This tiny Vietnamese deli at Eden Center is a favorite for banh mi sandwiches. L D V $
Northside Social Falls Church s 205 Park Ave., 703-992-8650, northsidesocial va.com. Come by in the morning for breakfast and a latte. Return in the evening for wine and a plate of charcuterie, or a full dinner. O B L D V $$
Nue
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9599, nuevietnamese. com. The Viet-modern menu (think coconut-curry risotto, crispy whole fish and dazzling cocktails) has a stunning space to match. R L D G v $$$
Open Road
8100 Lee Highway, 571-395-4400, openroadmerri field.com. See Arlington listing. O C R L D $$
The Original Pancake House
7395-M Lee Highway, 703-698-6292, ophrestau rants.com. Answer those breakfast cravings with pancakes, crepes, waffles, French toast and more. C B R G V $
Our Mom Eugenia
2985 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 434-3394019, ourmomeugenia.com. See Arlington listing. O L D $$
Panjshir Restaurant
114 E. Fairfax St., 703-536-4566, panjshirrestau rant.com. Carnivores go for the kebabs, but the vegetarian chalows elevate pumpkin, eggplant and spinach to new levels. O L D V $$
Parc de Ville
8926 Glass Alley (Mosaic District), 703-663-8931, parcdeville.com. Say “oui” to duck confit and steak frites at this spacious Parisian-style brasserie. Hit the rooftop lounge for cocktails. O R L D $$$
Peking Gourmet Inn
6029 Leesburg Pike, 703-671-8088, pekinggour met.com. It’s all about the crispy Peking duck at this famed institution, a destination for presidents, ambassadors and celebrities for more than three decades. C L D G V $$
Pho 88
232 W. Broad St., 703-533-8233, pho88va.com. Vietnamese pho is the main attraction, but the
menu also includes other noodle and rice dishes. Closed Tuesdays. L D $$
Pho Ga Vang
6767 Wilson Blvd., 571-375-8281, phogavang. com. Find more than 12 kinds of pho, plus other Vietnamese homestyle dishes at this Eden Center café. L D G $$
Plaka Grill
1216 W. Broad St., 703-639-0161, plakagrill.com. Pop in for super satisfying Greek eats—dolmas, souvlaki, moussaka, spanakopita and roasted chicken. C L D V $$
Preservation Biscuit
102 E. Fairfax St., 571-378-1757, preservation biscuit.com. Order the signature carb with housemade jams, or as a sandwich with fillers ranging from fried chicken to guac and egg. O C B L V $
Pupuseria La Familiar
308 S. Washington St., 703-995-2528, pupuseria lafamiliar.com. Salvadoran pupusas, fried yucca, chicharron, carne asada and horchata. L D $$
Puzukan Tan
8114 Arlington Blvd., 571-395-4727, puzukantan. com. From brothers Sam and Kibum Kim comes this Korean barbecue destination featuring dryaged meats, banchan and ramen. O L D $$$
Raaga Restaurant
5872 Leesburg Pike, 703-998-7000, raagarestau rant.com. Go out for chicken tikka, lamb rogan josh, toothsome samosas and cardamom-infused desserts. O L D G V $$
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters
230 W. Broad St., 571-314-1711, rarebirdcoffee. com. This charming Little City café roasts its own beans and makes an artful latte. The cafe space features rotating exhibits by local artists. L D $
Rasa
2905 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-3780670, rasa.co. See Arlington listing. L D G V $
Rice Paper/Taste of Vietnam
6775 Wilson Blvd., 703-538-3888, ricepapertasteofvietnam.com. Settle into one of the mod booths in this Eden Center mainstay for a combo platter of pork, seafood and ground beef with ricepaper wraps and fresh herbs. L D G V $$
Roll Play
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9983, rollplaygrill. com. Grab Viet street foods such as banh mi, pho and build-your-own rice paper rolls from this fastcasual sibling of Nue and Chasin’ Tails.
L D G V $$
Seoul Prime Korean Steakhouse 106 Founders Ave., 703-563-1168, seoulprime. com. The temptations here include galbi-jjim risotto with braised short ribs, Korean wheat noodles, soju cocktails and prime cuts of beef cooked on a tabletop grill. R D $$$
Settle Down Easy Brewing 2822 Fallfax Drive, 703-573-2011, settledowneasy brewing.com. Pair a pint from the rotating beer list with tacos from neighboring El Tio Tex-Mex Grill. Live music, trivia contests and open mic nights are also part of the fun. Closed Mondays. O L D $
Sfizi Café
800 W. Broad St., 703-533-1191, sfizi.com. A family-owned trattoria, deli and wine shop serving classic Italian fare—pasta, pizza, parm. L D $$
Silver Diner
8150 Porter Road, 703-204-0812, silverdiner.com. See Arlington listing. C B R L D A G V $$
Sisters Thai
2985 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-280-0429, sistersthai.com. The menu is traditionally Thai, but the vibe feels like you’re dining in your cool friend’s eclectic living room. L D G V $$
Tastings
Pickup Parties
Brunch Full Menu for Sharing & Pairing
Patio
■ places to eat
Solace Outpost s
444 W. Broad St., 571-378-1469, solaceoutpost. com. This Little City microbrewery serves housebrewed suds, plus fried chicken, five kinds of fries and wood-fired pizza. D A V $$
Spacebar
709 W. Broad St., 703-992-0777, spcbr.com. This diminutive and funky bar, a sister to Galaxy Hut in Arlington, offers 24 craft beers on tap and 18 variations on the grilled cheese sandwich. D A V $$
Sweetgreen
2905 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-9927892, sweetgreen.com. See Arlington listing. O C L D G V $
Sweetwater Tavern
3066 Gatehouse Plaza, 703-645-8100, great americanrestaurants.com. A modern alehouse serving seafood, chicken, ribs, microbrews and growlers to go. C L D G $$$
Taco Bamba s
2190 Pimmit Drive, 703-639-0505, tacobamba. com. Tacos range from traditional carne asada to the vegan “Iron Mike,” stuffed with cauliflower, salsa macha and mole verde. B L D $
Taco Rock
1116 W. Broad St., 703-760-3141, thetacorock. com. See Arlington listing. o B L D V $$
Taco Zocalo
6343 Columbia Pike, 571-376-3859, zocalotaco. com. Chow down on tacos, chimichangas, quesadillas and burrito bowls. O L D $
Takumi Sushi
310-B S. Washington St., 703-241-1128, takumi va.com. The sushi and sashimi in this snug little izakaya go beyond basic. Think tuna nigiri with Italian black truffle, or salmon with mango purée. Closed Sundays and Mondays. L D V $$
Ted’s Bulletin
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-830-6680, tedsbulletinmerrifield.com. See Arlington listing. C B R L D $$
Thompson Italian 124 N. Washington St., 703-269-0893, thompson italian.com. Gabe and Katherine Thompson’s celebrated kitchen turns out house-made pastas, inspiring small plates and some of the best desserts around. O C D $$$
Trio Grill
8100 Lee Highway, 703-992-9200, triomerrifield. com. Treat yourself to steaks, seafood, raw bar, craft cocktails and live piano music in this handsome hideaway in Merrifield. O D $$$
True Food Kitchen s 2910 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-3261616, truefoodkitchen.com. See Arlington listing. O C R L D $$$
MCLEAN
Agora Tysons
7911 Westpark Drive, 703-663-8737, agoratysons. com. The Dupont Circle mezze restaurant brings its Turkish, Greek and Lebanese small plates to a second outpost in Tysons. It’s a hoppin’ spot for bottomless brunch. R L D G V $$$
Amoo’s Restaurant
6271 Old Dominion Drive, 703-448-8500, amoos restaurant.com. The flavorful kebabs and stews are crowd pleasers at this hospitable Persian establishment. O C L D G V $$
Aracosia s
1381 Beverly Road, 703-269-3820, aracosia mclean.com. Fall in love with Afghan specialties such as braised lamb shank and roasted eggplant with saffron rice. O L D V $$
ArTeA
6635 Old Dominion Drive, 703-469-9898, artea mclean.com. Stop in for bubble tea, artisanal openface sandwiches, pretty desserts or a “high tea dinner” with cocktails. Closed Mondays. R L D $$
Badd Pizza
6263 Old Dominion Drive, 703-356-2233, badd pizza.com. See Falls Church listing. L D $$ Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co. s 1340 Chain Bridge Road, 571-456-1640, eatbig buns.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Café Tatti French Bistro
6627 Old Dominion Drive, 703-790-5164, cafe tatti.com. Open since 1981, this romantic little bistro whips up classic French and continental fare. Closed Sundays. L D G V $$$
Call Your Mother Lil’ Deli
6216 Old Dominion Drive, 571-395-9097, call yourmotherdeli.com. The wildly popular “Jew-ish” deli serves bagel sandwiches and babka muffins from a pink trailer. o b R L V $
Capri Ristorante Italiano
6825-K Redmond Drive, 703-288-4601, capri mcleanva.com. Known for tried-and-true dishes like spaghetti carbonara and veal Marsala.
O C L D G V $$$
Circa
1675 Silver Hill Drive, 571-419-6272, circabistros. com. See Arlington listing. O L D V $$$
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
7900 Tysons One Place, 703-442-4523, eddiev. com. Total steakhouse vibe, except with an emphasis on seafood (and steaks, too). L D G $$$$
Él Bebe
8354 Broad St., 571-378-0171, el-bebe.com. Spice things up with tamales, tacos, street corn, mole and tequila-based cocktails. C O L D V $$
El Tio Tex-Mex Grill
1433 Center St., 703-790-1910, eltiogrill.com. See Falls Church listing. L D $$
Esaan Tumbar
1307 Old Chain Bridge Road, 703-288-3901, esaanmclean.com. This tiny, trendy haunt specializes in northern Thai dishes—papaya salad, larb, nam tok. A good bet for those who like heat.
L D $$
Fahrenheit Asian
1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., 703-646-8968, fahren heitasian.com. A destination for Sichuan spicy noodles, dumplings, mapo tofu and other Asian comfort foods, plus cocktails such as an Asian pear mojito. Closed Sundays. L D V $$
Founding Farmers
1800 Tysons Blvd., wearefoundingfarmers.com. The spacious farm-to-table restaurant features Virginia-sourced dishes and drinks, plus an on-site cafe serving grab-and-go breakfast items.
B R L D $$$
Han Palace
7900 Westpark Drive, 571-378-0162, hanpalace dimsum.com. Pay a visit to this all-day dim-sum emporium for made-to-order buns, dumplings, crepes, roast duck and noodles. L D $$
J. Gilbert’s
6930 Old Dominion Drive, 703-893-1034, jgil berts.com. Everything you’d expect in a steakhouse and lots of it—prime cuts of beef, lobster, wedge salad, steak-cut fries and cheesecake.
C R L D G V $$$
Joon/MayBar
8045 Leesburg Pike, 571-378-1390, eatjoon.com. Savor refined Persian dishes such as lamb-pistachio meatballs with pomegranate glaze and duck with sour-cherry rice. Hit the casual bar area for more affordably priced small plates, sandwiches and clever cocktails. O L D G V $$$$
Kazan Restaurant
6813 Redmond Drive, 703-734-1960, kazanrestau rant.com. A McLean fixture since 1980, it’s a go-to for kebabs, baklava and Turkish coffee. L D V $$
The Kitchen Collective
8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite L160, 571-378-0209, tkcfoodhall.com. The takeout-only “virtual food hall” has pizza, kebabs, acai bowls, cookies and much more, amassing multiple food concepts under one umbrella. C L D G V $$
Kura Sushi
8461 Leesburg Pike, 571-544-7122, kurasushi. com. Choose maki and nigiri from a revolving conveyor belt at this Tysons sushi bar, where drinks are served by a robot. L D G V $$
Lebanese Taverna
1840 International Drive, 703-847-5244, lebanesetaverna.com. See Arlington listing. O C L D G V $$
Lost Dog Café
1690-A Anderson Road, 703-356-5678, lostdog cafe.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Maman Joon
1408 Chain Bridge Road, 571-342-4838, maman joonkitchen.com. Find dolmeh, falafel, lamb shank and kebabs (plus a built-in Z Burger with shakes in 75 flavors) at this Persian eatery. L D V $$
Masala Indian Cuisine
1394 Chain Bridge Road,703-462-9699, masa lava.com. A specialty here are “momos,” Nepalese dumplings with meat or vegetable fillings. The menu also includes tandoori biryani and Indian curries. L D V $$
McLean Family Restaurant
1321 Chain Bridge Road, 703-356-9883, themcleanfamilyrestaurant.com. Pancakes, gyros and big plates of lasagna hit the spot. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m. daily. C B L D V $$
Miyagi Restaurant
6719 Curran St., 703-893-0116. The diminutive sushi bar gets high marks for its friendly service and fresh maki and nigiri. L D $$
Moby Dick House of Kabob
6854 Old Dominion Drive, 703-448-8448; 1500 Cornerside Blvd., 703-734-7000; mobyskabob.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Modan
1788 Chain Bridge Road, 703-743-6600, modan restaurant.com. Special occasion? Splurge on a 15-course omakase experience, Wagyu beef or caviar service at this Japanese izakaya helmed by executive chef Micheole “Chico” Dator, formerly of Nobu DC. DG $$$$
Mylo’s Grill
6238 Old Dominion Drive, 703-533-5880, mylos grill.com. Enjoy spanakopita, souvlaki and American classics like burgers and cheesesteaks. Friday is prime-rib night. O R L D $$
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
6641 Old Dominion Drive, 703-992-9095, neutral groundbarandkitchen.com. Chef David Guas is serving up whole branzino, fried quail, bone-in pork chops and “social hour” specials in a beautiful new space. Weekend brunch brings a roving cocktail cart. O r D G V $$$
Ometeo
1640 Capital One Drive N., 703-748-7170, ometeo texmex.com. An upscale “texmexeria” with Mexican renditions of duck, venison, beef and a wide variety of sea creatures, from the owners of The Salt Line. O L D G $$$
Pasa-Thai Restaurant
1315 Old Chain Bridge Road, 703-442-0090, pasa thaimclean.com. Tuck into a classic Bangkok curry, or a chef’s special such as spicy fried rockfish with chili-basil-garlic sauce. O L D $$
Patsy’s American
8051 Leesburg Pike (Tysons), 703-552-5100, pat sysamerican.com. The menu features greatesthits from other Great American Restaurants, and the dining room resembles an old-fashioned train station. O C R L D A G V $$
Peter Chang McLean
6715 Lowell Ave., 571-405-6686, peterchang mclean.com. See Arlington listing. L D G V $$
Pikoteo
6811 Elm St., 703-891-0123, pikoteo-usa.com. Escape to warmer climes with ceviche, arepas, mofongo and fruity drinks at this Caribbean-infused cafe.
O R L D $$
Pulcinella Italian Kitchen
1310 Chain Bridge Road, 703-893-7777, pulcinellarestaurant.com. A stop for classic spaghetti and meatballs, linguine and clams and wood-fired pizza since 1985. L D $$
Randy’s Prime Seafood & Steaks
8051 Leesburg Pike (Tysons), 703-552-5110, randysprime.com. Treat yourself to prime cuts, duck-fat fries, seafood towers and massive slabs of chocolate cake. L D G $$$$
Rocco’s Italian 1357 Chain Bridge Road, 703-821-3736, roccos italian.com. The Juliano family makes everything in-house from family recipes, including minestrone, pizza, calzones, subs, pasta and cannoli.
O C L D G $$
Roots Kitchen & Bar
8100 Old Dominion Drive, 703-712-7850, roots kitchenandbar.com. Find sandwiches, smoothies, salads, espresso drinks, pie, cocktails and graband-go snacks and pantry staples. B L G V $
Silver Diner
8101 Fletcher St., 703-821-5666, silverdiner.com. See Arlington listing. C B R L D A G V $$
Simply Fresh
6811 Elm St., 703-821-1869, simplyfreshva. com. A local favorite for pulled pork, chicken and brisket, Greek diner fare, family-style takeout meals and breakfast. O C B L D G V $
Sisters Thai
7735 Capital One Tower Road, sistersthai.com. See Falls Church listing. L D G V $$
Starr Hill Biergarten
1805 Capital One Drive, starrhill.com. Anchoring The Perch, an 11-story-high sky park, this indooroutdoor beer garden offers more than 20 brews on tap, and snacks like soft pretzels with beer cheese. Grab a brew and a seat by the adjacent outdoor amphitheater to watch a game or live music.
O C L D V $
Stellina Pizzeria
1610 Capital One Drive, stellinapizzeria.com. See Arlington listing. R d V $$
Sushi Umi
7599 Colshire Drive, 571-378-0903, sushiumiva. com. In addition to sushi, contemplate menu items such as whole broiled unagi with a house omelet,
Wagyu beef served over fried rice, and colorful chirashi bowls. Closed Sundays. L D $$
Tachibana
6715 Lowell Ave., 703-847-1771, tachibana.us. Stellar sushi, teriyaki and tempura notwithstanding, the chef’s specials here include options such as miso-marinated black cod and scallop donburi with salmon roe. C L D $$
Timber Pizza
8100 Old Dominion Drive, 703-564-0023, timberpizza.com. See Arlington listing. L D V $$
Umai Ramen and Donburi
1500 Cornerside Blvd., 703-546-2465, umai tysonsva.com. Blending Japanese and Thai flavors, the kitchen serves 10 types of ramen and six versions of curry rice, plus Asian-inspired cocktails and a dozen kinds of sake. L D G V $$
The Union
1379 Beverly Road, 703-356-0129, theunionbarandgrill.com. The eclectic menu from Giridhar Sastry, former executive chef of the Mayflower Hotel in D.C., features bites ranging from sliders, lamb chops or Pibil chicken to a beet carpaccio salad. o C L D $$
Wren
1825 Capitol One Drive S., thewatermarkhotel. com. Helmed by chef Yo Matsuzaki, this sleek restaurants is known for creative Japanese American fare, stupendous cocktails and sweeping skyline views. O D G V $$$
Wagamama
SUMMER CAMPS
Arlington, VA mocaarlington.org/education 703-248-6800
St. John's College High School Summer Camps Day Coed6-18 Washington, D.C. stjohnschs.org/athletics/summer-camps202-363-2316
24
Essential Information on Summer Camps
SPECIALTIES
● Little Ambassadors’ Academy is so excited to continue summer camp for school age children (K-5th) with Ambassadors Adventure Camp. We look forward to spending the summer learning, playing and exploring!
Creative Cauldron’s Spring & Summer Camps incorporate drama, music, movement and visual art following designated themes, including musical theater.
Unleash your child’s imagination this summer! Art Camp provides children an excellent introduction to drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and more!
●● A leading provider of outdoor adventure camps in the DMV, Calleva offers paddle sports, sailing, rock climbing & more at our McLean location!
● Pre-K- Rising Eighth Grade Campers welcome. Early and Extended Care available. Field trips. Specialty options: Adventure, History, STEAM, Sports, Cooking, French, Water fun & more! EXPERIENCE~EXPLORE~CREATE
● Join our vibrant MSNV community, where children ages 3-12 explore, grow, and thrive! This summer, Camp MSNV: S’mores & More offers exciting weekly themes and optional Extended Day for an additional fee.
●●● With over 30 diverse activities, from swimming & horseback riding to drama, tubing, zipline & more, we keep our campers engaged and excited. We foster a community where lasting friendships are formed.
Engaging, hands-on STEAM day camps for ages 4 to 15. Themes include Astronomy, Chemistry, Engineering, Robotics, Emergency Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Video Game Design, Character-Based Fun, and more!
●●● We are located on a beautiful, 40-acre campus in Falls Church, Virginia at Congressional School. Our diverse programs includeday camp, travel camps, and specialty camps which offer summers of new challenges.
Cookology offers hands-on cooking classes on a variety of recipes. Our goal is to teach adult-level cooking skills and techniques in a fun and approachable manner, in order for children to expand their palate.
Doodle Dynamo offers unique and adventurous art camps for ages 6-15. Themes include Animal Explorer, Magical Wonderland, and Mixed Media Fun!
● Knights of Adventure offers week-long, half day sessions with activities that promote community, joy and friendship, while keeping campers engaged and learning new skills.
This program is designed to create a fun, yet challenging experience through individual and group instruction. Players learn to develop the skills needed to play soccer correctly and at a competitive level.
● Fun-paced learning. Campers of all ages are sure to increase their edge in reading, writing, math, science, and beyond.
Ice skating, team sports, figure skating and hockey.
Inspire your child’s creativity at MoCA Arlington's summer art camps! Kids 5–18 will explore 2D & 3D projects, learn fun techniques, and discover amazing contemporary artists. Full & half-day options available!
St. John’s hosts a variety of sports camps and a new this year, a theatre camp. To learn more, visit our Summer Camps page.
Create new shows and learn new skills: acting, dance, mime, stage combat and design come together in a summer to remember!
● Come join us for a summer of fun and learning! For our rising juniors and seniors, we have camps including Young Writer's Retreat, High School Drama Institute, 3D Game Design, STEM camps, and so much more!
● With 450,000 square feet to play, The St. James is the ultimate day camp destination where kids can explore their passions, build confidence, and enjoy non-stop action.
●● A brand new all-inclusive summer camp experience taking advantage of Episcopal High School’s unmatched 130-acre campus in the heart of Alexandria.
For over 40 years, TIC campers enjoy our unique model of exercising both their mind and body with equal half days of technology program and athletic activities!
Welcome to YMCA Arlington Summer Camp 2025! We look forward to providing your child with the Best. Summer. Ever.
●● We are located on the Chesapeake Bay which provides our campers with the unique opportunity to enjoy both land and water activities while at camp.
From venturing into the great outdoors to conducting eye-opening experiments, SummerEdge offers something fun and exciting for everyone. Kindergarten through grade 12, campers of all ages are sure to increase their edge in reading, writing, math, science, and beyond.
Coming Summer 2025
local ■ by Jenny Sullivan
Good Nature
Put some spring in your step with these gorgeous goods for house and garden.
Wing Man
Jeff Jacobs’ delicate “fan birds” become even more stunning with the revelation that each one is carved from a single block of wood—no glue or assembly required. A carpenter by trade, the Arlington resident says he learned the technique back in 1987 from master folk artist Glen Van Antwerp, who was giving a demo that year at the Smithsonian Craft Festival. Jacobs’ intricate process involves carving, sanding, soaking, splitting and burning a piece of yellow Alaskan cedar, eventually coaxing waferthin slices of wood into the form of a bird in flight. You’ll find him demonstrating his craft most Saturdays at Eastern Market in D.C., where he sells these winged beauties for $150 each. jeffsfanbirds.com
Now and Zen
Lovers of Japandi—a minimalist style blending elements of Japanese and Scandinavian design— will find it hard to resist Christina Foy’s orbital kokedama ($25 and up), houseplants with mosswrapped root balls that can hang suspended in the air or happily perch in mini metal “plant hammocks” ($15). Foy’s repertoire also includes air plants, macrame hangers and “living wall art” creations that tuck live flora into bits of salvaged driftwood. Shop her Arlington business, Plants & What Knot, at the Art Blooms at Mosaic pop-up market April 5-6, and at plantsandwhatknot.com.
Stem Subject
Wondering what to do with those early spring blossoms you accidentally chopped while doing yardwork? Turn them into a pretty arrangement with a porcelain topped flower frog ($30) from Persimmon Street Ceramics . Artist Heather Lezla’s hand-hewn home goods also include speckled flowerpots, plant markers for herb gardens and ceramic wall hangers for dried flower arrangements. Discover her latest creations at The Urban Farmhouse, Botanologica, Shop Made in VA, the Freeman Store Museum and online at etsy.com/shop/persimmonstreet.
Deep Breath
Liven up your living space with some leafy new friends and enjoy the oxygen boost. At Botanologica in Falls Church, proprietor Sarah Orrison will happily pot whatever greenery strikes your fancy, from lush ferns and perky succulents to the ever durable marble queen pothos. Live plants in her charming boutique start at $10, while ceramic pots are $22 and up. The merch also includes gardening essentials such as watering cans, seed packets, spritzers, pruning shears and plant food. botanologica.com
Choose Your Own Adventure
Tiny Thomas, West Virginia, is an ideal launchpad for all kinds of outdoor fun—with or without kids.
BY SUSAN ANSPACH
YOU’LL KNOW THOMAS , West Virginia, when you see it. The trick is to see it.
It’s unlikely you’d ever just stumble upon the blink-andyou-miss-it historic downtown, a sequestered row of multistory masonry units with expansive glass storefronts— although you could say the boutiques, eateries and art galleries along that strip have put the former coal town (population just north of 600) back on the map. Since the early 2000s, various homespun businesses have joined pillar music venue the Purple Fiddle in making this Tucker County hamlet a true “mountain arts town.”
The three-hour drive from D.C. to Thomas is a getaway unto itself. Head west and the traffic snarls of the Capital Beltway slowly give way to scenic views as you gain altitude. The journey invites a similarly elevated state of mind, whether your itinerary upon arrival includes an action-packed thrill ride on roiling river rapids or a quiet trek through otherworldly terrain. (You can safely expect the town, with its Allegheny elevation of just over 3,000 feet, to be about 10 degrees cooler than home, so plan accordingly when you pack.)
Seated on the North Fork of the Blackwater River with nature providing a spectacular backdrop, Thomas offers proximity to an abundance of outdoor adventures, from mountain biking, hiking, tubing and river rafting to rock climbing the imposing edifice of nearby Seneca Rocks.
My husband and I visited most recently with our three kids in tow—ages 6, 8 and 10—and were delighted to discover that Thomas stands at the ready to receive families. On sunny days, follow the trail of bubbles floating in the breeze to Ranger Jane’s, a Front Street toy store whose owners glory
n driving range
not just in their inventory of screen-free games, but also in recommending fun excursions for parents and kids.
We had a time pulling our youngest away from that enchanting shop, but he was soon mesmerized by the billowing mist from the very nearby and quite dramatic Blackwater Falls. A short, well-maintained trek leads to multiple overlooks. When the falls are gushing after a heavy rainfall, you can choose just how wet you want to get and position yourself accordingly.
Our children were met with open arms everywhere we went about town, including the aforementioned Purple Fiddle, which sets a tone that is adamantly kid-friendly (look for a banjowielding Kermit the Frog perched over the stage). Business hours are for “all ages ALL the time,” and visiting bands and musicians must agree to a strictly enforced pro-family booking policy.
We popped in for what turned out to be a pre-show sound check for Jeremy
Short and his Appalachian Space Funk band, but our kids were perfectly happy to get the party started early. (As far as they are concerned, any music, plus an open floor, is an invitation to dance.)
Acoustic, bluegrass and Americana acts are the venue’s bread and butter— fans will recognize past headliners such as The Avett Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass and Sierra Ferrell—though the range of genres has expanded with the club’s growing reputation for great music. Tucked inside a converted general store with capacity for about 150, the Purple Fiddle celebrates its vintage building’s 100-year history with the original counters, shelves, ceiling and storefront still intact.
Summer is high season in Tucker County, but even then, there’s plenty of room to breathe, and it’s easy to escape the masses. A conspicuous riverfront trail with historic markers invites visitors to connect with visible remnants of the town’s past, such as the crumbling
remains of the beehive coke ovens that operated along the 1.5-mile stretch between Thomas and neighboring Davis during the region’s coal-mining heyday.
For the remainder of our stay, we chose outings that could accommodate a range of ages, including horseback riding, a petting zoo and gemstone mining. Our 10-year-old was ready to test his mettle hiking the strenuous Seneca Rocks, while our younger two were content collecting pebbles along the landmark formation’s lower trail.
Should your explorations require a guide or equipment, the town’s small businesses are happy to dole out expertise, gear and a healthy dose of infectious enthusiasm. ■
Susan Anspach lives in Vienna, where she raises her kids and teaches music to many additional raucous young children. She wears a lot of hats; the best one is probably a giant felt Christmas tree headband with jingle bells.
Downtown Thomas
If You Go Where to Stay
Stay overnight at Dandy Flats (dandyflats.com), a pair of uniquely renovated small apartments in a historic building smack in the middle of town. (Book on their website instead of Airbnb to save some cash.) Featuring 10-foot ceilings, rain showers and original woodwork, the sister flats are central to the town’s immediate offerings. Their exterior fuchsia staircase is easy to spot.
Five minutes further afield in Davis, the retro boutique Billy Motel & Bar (thebillymotel.com) is prized for its mod furnishings. A groovy midcentury-style lounge serves clever cocktails with a complimentary first round for motel guests—a welcome perk after a full day of outdoor exertion. (Try the pepper root margarita with house-made beet grenadine.) Open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday, the motel’s Ish Kitchen parlays locally sourced ingredients into globally inspired dishes ranging from Irish-style slow-roasted pork with glazed carrots to a Japanese tofu noodle bowl with pickled vegetables.
For more rustic accommodations, camping at one of the well-kept tent and trailer sites at Blackwater Falls State Park (wvstateparks.com/park/ blackwater-falls-state-park) is an option
from April through October. Park cabins are available to rent year-round. Select from “classic” or “vacation” styles, depending on your feelings about A/C.
Where to Eat
Don’t dream of passing through Thomas without stopping at state-famous TipTop Coffee (@tiptopcoffeeco on Instagram),
which offers a menu’s worth of antidotes to the midafternoon slump, including a standout nitro cold brew, plus funky mushroom wallpaper in the restroom. Locals come for the coffee, but stay for the rotating selection of baked goods, bagel sandwiches and smoothies. The chamomile-lavender chocolate bars and vast selection of canned beers from West
The Purple Fiddle
n driving range
Virginia craft breweries are also tip top.
Nearby Mountain State Brewery (mountainstatebrewing.com) has what you need in the way of draft hops, flatbread pizza (from a simple Margherita to a pepper ring-topped “Fire on the Mountain”) and the official state food of West Virginia: pepperoni rolls. The homey, come-as-youare taproom boasts a roaring fireplace in the colder months, and sliding doors that open to picnic tables and sunny skies when weather permits. Mason-jar drinking glasses and sawhorse bar stools supply a stamp of rusticity that’s one part practicality, two parts charm.
While the Purple Fiddle (purplefiddle. com) needs no introduction as a live
music venue—bluegrass and mountain music acts book months in advance for a coveted weekend evening slot—the kitchen’s deli-style menu is nothing to snub. The food here is prepared simply, and well. Order the Montreal grilled cheese on rye.
Where to Shop
Thomas’ intimate downtown has plenty of art to admire and acquire. Browse Santangelo (@hellosantangelo) for locally made paintings, ceramics and tongue-in-cheek prints—to say nothing of the gallery’s jaw-dropping ceiling mural and cozy book nook. Nearby Nellie Rose (nellierosetextiles.com) is the place for handmade, Japanese-
inspired clothing made from boiled wool, raw silk and organic cotton. Art house Bloom (thosewhobloom.com) prides itself on affordable art prints by Appalachian artists. And just a few doors down, lifestyle apparel brand McClumsy (mcclumsy.com) offers up hats, hoodies, water bottles and laid-back vibes.
At home goods shop Ella and Co. (ellaandcompany.co), the thoughtfully curated wares include antiques and new furnishings infused with nostalgia— think blown glass, hand-dipped taper candles and rustic flower arrangements tied with velvet ribbon. Thomasyard (@thomasyardwv) peddles fresh flowers, local crafts, snacks, honey, jam and wine.
Blackwater Falls
Fly fishing on the Blackwater River
Santangelo
Where to Play
Situated at the northern end of the Monongahela National Forest, Thomas is a perfect home base for all kinds of outdoor excursions. Blackwater Falls State Park is a must, especially after a soaking rain. (The so-called “black” water actually runs amber, owing to the tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce tree needles.) Drive to the main overlook to access the park’s 57-foot namesake waterfall via a short walk that’s doable even for very young visitors. Then explore the surrounding trails—particularly in early spring before the forest’s leaf canopy fills in and obscures the views. Those casting for a fishing excursion will find the park’s Pendleton Lake and Blackwater River stocked with trout in the spring. Anglers 15 and older can snag a required license at wvhunt.com.
For a more action-packed outing, try whitewater rafting in nearby St. George, where Blackwater Outdoor Adventures (blackwateroutdooradventures.com) provides guided trips and rents gear, including wet suits and splash jackets for chilly days, for participants ages 7 and up. Or, book a horseback ride 20 minutes south of Thomas with cash-only Mountain Trail Rides (mountaintrailrides.com) and saddle up for a guided jaunt through the forests and meadows of Canaan Valley State Park and Resort (wvstateparks. com/park/canaan-valley-resort-state-park). Note that anything more than a brief spin
on a pony requires an age minimum of 6.
A popular ski destination in winter, Canaan Valley enjoys a bit of an offseason in spring. That’s when travelers have much of the well-maintained 18-mile trail system—which includes portions of the Allegheny Trail, West Virginia’s longest footpath—to themselves.
Summer brings clay shooting (for participants 12 and up) and mountainbiking with rentals from the park’s rec center. A ski lift that runs in the warmer months offers sweeping, bird’s-eye views of the wilderness, with a good chance of spying black bears and hang gliders.
Seneca Rocks, a popular rock-climbing spot about 40 minutes from Thomas, is known for its foreboding, 900-foot wall of quartzite. Book a guided excursion with Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides (senecarocks.com). Not quite ready for ropes and rappelling that kind of vertical? The outfitter also offers no-age-minimum packages that invite newbies to tackle the indoor training facility and camp at its creekside campgrounds, including use of an outdoor kitchen. For non-climbers, a 1.3-mile hiking trail that starts behind the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center offers breathtaking valley views as a reward— but keep in mind that this two-hour trek is strenuous and not suitable for little ones.
Yet another worthwhile nature excursion is Dolly Sods Wilderness, located about an hour from Thomas and accessed
only by a dirt road. Dolly Sods is an expanse of terrain resembling that of Eastern Canada, with 47 miles of trails and fields of wild blueberries that you can pick starting in midsummer. On summer weekends, stop at Eagleview Lavender Farm in Maysville (facebook. com/EagleviewLavenderFarm) to pick your own bundle of fragrant stems. The farm’s owner decided to follow her dream of growing lavender at age 72.
Ski lifts at Canaan Valley
Mountain biking the HooDoo Rocks Trail near Davis
Life is a Byway
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Maryland Scenic Byways program. The Maryland Office of Tourism offers maps with estimated drive times, photos, videos and other highlights of each of the state’s 18 scenic byways. Six have earned National Scenic Byways or AllAmerican Road designations. The Horses & Hounds route traverses the state’s “Hunt Country,” named for its fox hunts and steeplechase races. Fans of horse racing’s Triple Crown take note: This relaxing drive passes farms and countryside famous for producing thoroughbreds that have raced on major American tracks.
For water-oriented explorations, fish, paddle and bike along scenic trails once navigated by Native Americans on the Cape to Cape route, which extends from the Atlantic Ocean to Chincoteague, Sinepuxent and Assawoman bays. The 193-mile Mountain Maryland route offers hiking, fishing and boating opportunities as you explore western Maryland countryside, forests, rambling rivers and Deep Creek Lake, the state’s largest freshwater lake. Or discover the roots of American religious history along the Religious Freedom byway in southern Maryland. Keep an eye on the Maryland Office of Tourism social media feeds for a variety of themed posts and suggestions beginning April 5—National Read a Road Map Day. visitmaryland.org/scenic-byways
Stroll About Staunton
Opened in 2024, The Historic Inn at Oakdene is an 1893 Queen Anne mansion in Staunton, Virginia’s historic Gospel Hill neighborhood. This stunning eight-suite property has a rooftop owl finial that is lighted at night, plus landscaped grounds and patios to enjoy an evening fire. Originally built for Edward Echols, former lieutenant governor of Virginia (1892-1902), Oakdene is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Managed by Be Still Getaways group, the inn can feel like a classy Airbnb with no innkeeper on-site. (A check-in code is sent to you on the day of your arrival.) The elegant space boasts a parlor with a pool table, a sunroom with an indoor porch swing, and a living room with complimentary coffee, tea, snacks and treats in a mini fridge.
The Commonwealth Suite on the second floor (once the home’s primary bedroom) has a king bed, a separate living room with a comfortable queen sleeper sofa, rain shower and covered porch with seating that overlooks the backyard’s sloping gardens. Book the Echols Suite for its claw-foot tub, plus an all-weather sunroom with mountain views. All suites feature luxury linens, a microwave, refrigerator and Keurig coffee maker.
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse, wine bars, restaurants and coffee shops are all a few blocks’ stroll from the inn. The Historic Berkeley Place, which has a U-shaped wraparound porch and similarly elegant rooms, is a sister property that opened in 2023. Oakdene rates begin at $189 per night per night. The Historic Inn at Oakdene, 605 E. Beverley St., Staunton, Virginia, 434-2182553, oakdeneinn.com
Wild ponies along the Cape to Cape Scenic Byway
The Historic Inn at Oakdene
Blossom in the City
The Royal Sonesta hotels are known for their commissioned art collections, and a thought-provoking homage to D.C. history is on display at The Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill, which opened in September 2023. Swoops of goldtoned metal—inspired by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s collar—hang behind the front desk, light fixtures evoke cherry blossom branches, and a piece of word art is inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Explore the hotel’s common spaces for much more.
Once home to government offices,
the building was taken down to the studs and transformed into a 274room hotel, with spacious standard guest rooms ranging from about 400 to 550 square feet. (Suites are even larger.) Each room includes a pillowtop mattress (or two), 65-inch highdefinition TV, bathroom with rainfall shower, robe and slippers, mini fridge, L’or coffee and espresso maker, and handheld garment steamer.
Cheerful elements, such as a hair dryer bag with the words “have a good hair day” and a pillow depicting The Knight of Capitol Hill—the hotel’s dapper beaver mascot—also grace each room. (The
Knight’s large-scale image hangs in the lobby, too.)
Walk the rooftop terrace alongside pollinator-friendly plantings for beautiful views of the city. Off the lobby, Bistro du Jour, a Parisian bistro from Knead Hospitality + Design, serves traditional French fare, from croque madame and salade nicoise to steak frites. The National Postal Museum is a short walk down the street. Hotel rates begin at $275. Valet parking is available. The Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill, 20 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-888-1850, sonesta.com
A guest room with a view at The Royal Sonesta
back
Kim O’Connell
Dialed In
For decades, this AM station was a hit with Arlingtonians.
GROWING UP IN Arlington in the 1950s and ’60s, David Swerdloff enjoyed his local radio station so much that he would sometimes put on an exaggerated DJ voice and answer the telephone with one of its slogans: “Listen to the new WEAM!”
Later, during a long broadcast career that included stints at WTOP and Voice of America, Swerdloff found himself
working as an actual WEAM DJ, spinning records under his adopted radio name, “Dave Arlington.”
“If you were in Arlington in the 1960s, you listened to WEAM,” recalls Swerdloff, who now lives in Florida. “It might have been a weak signal everywhere else, but in Arlington you could pick it up on your braces, as the saying went.” (He’s referring to the days when orthodontia involved so much metal that kids joked they could transmit radio signals.)
In the early to mid-20th century, AM radio was the best available broadcast technology, and the only way for most listeners to hear their favorite tunes. No single AM radio station could cover the entire D.C. metro area, which gave rise to numerous local stations with loyal followings. WPGC and WINX broadcast out of Maryland, and Fairfax County had WEEL. But in Arlington and its immediate surroundings, it was all about WEAM, located at 1390 on the AM dial.
Based first in Courthouse and later in Falls Church, the station was founded in 1947 by an Arlington businessman named J. Maynard Magruder. The “WEAM team”—as the station called its DJs—reached broad
Promos for Arlington’s favorite AM radio station, back in the day
popularity by the 1960s, when many teenagers listened to pop music on their transistor radios. The station regularly released its own list of Top 40 requested songs (one 1966 list put a regional band, The Hangmen, at No. 1 with their song “What a Girl Can’t Do” over the Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out” at No. 2).
Popular WEAM disc jockeys, many using pseudonyms, included Johnny Rogue, Little Jack Little, Russ Wheeler, Jack Alix and Johnny Dark. The station had a strong community presence; for a time, listeners could even make song requests at the former Tops Drive Inn on what was then Lee Highway (now Langston Boulevard).
“We always had a contest going,” says Jack Lynn, who sold ads and helped with promotions for the station. “One time we were in a convertible getting ready for Shirlington Day. I reached in the back for a stack of 45 [rpm] records and started throwing them out of the car [at the crowd]. We were mobbed.”
Even as FM radio took over the airwaves, WEAM soldiered on in various formats until 1984. “I worked at some really good stations after WEAM,” Swerdloff says. “But it was extra special to work at that hometown station.” ■
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