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CON TENTS
■ FEATURES
FOOD & DRINK
84 Long Live Brunch
Where to find live jazz, bottomless tapas, dim sum, breakfast poutine, decadent French toast and eggs every which way.
96 Pick Your Poison
Booze consumption is on the decline, but the urge to unwind is not. Is weed the new alcohol?
104 Vegetable Forward
Chef Rob Rubba won the nation’s most prestigious culinary award for his cooking at D.C.’s Oyster Oyster. His menu just so happens to be meatless.
HOME
118 Lighten Up
A dark family kitchen in Waverly Hills gets a modern-day glow up and sees the light.
REAL ESTATE
126 Getting Out of DOGE
Some predicted the Trump administration’s slash-and-burn cuts to federal jobs and contracts would tank the local housing market. Did they?
ON THE COVER: Brunch at Smokecraft Modern Barbecue. Photo by Deb Lindsey.
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CON TENTS
143 Great Spaces
You know what pairs beautifully with fantastic food? A showstopping dining room.
166 Driving Range
Charm City comes alive during Baltimore’s annual Artscape festival, a visual and performing arts feast for the senses.
Spring is in full swing with outdoor music,
20 Big Picture
and
Futbol meets fashion in a NoVA club team whose players dream of going pro.
22 Familiar Faces
A life-changing literary program for incarcerated people underscores the power of the pen.
28 My Life
A humble reminder on the patio that life goes on.
144 Prime Numbers
The area’s most expensive home sales, plus real estate trends in 16 ZIP codes.
148 Home Plate
Easygoing wine bars, a resident restaurant fixer and a milestone anniversary for a homegrown burger empire.
152 Places to Eat
Our dining guide includes bite-size writeups on more than 250 area restaurants and watering holes.
172 Get Away
Skip the Bay Bridge traffic and hop on a direct flight to a Caribbean paradise.
176 Back Story
Back in the day, this local drive-in movie theater was all the rage.
SECTIONS
MOMENTS. STYLED.
From special occasions to life’s biggest milestones, it all comes together here. Find a thoughtful gift, define your perfect look, and celebrate in style.
RALPH LAUREN / ST.
JOHN /
TORY
BURCH
letter from the publisher
DOGE’d
LAST SPRING, AS ELON MUSK and DOGE were taking a chainsaw to federal departments and agencies, local residents and media outlets predicted the DMV’s housing market was going to crash. For many of us, our homes are our biggest asset. So, when the government enacts policies that adversely affect the housing market, people get agitated and upset. We decided to wait a year to see how things played out and then write a story about it.
In “Getting Out of DOGE,” writer Eliza Tebo examines the data and offers insights from a number of experts about the state of the region’s housing market, specifically in Arlington, McLean and Falls Church. It’s a complex, illuminating story with a lot of variables. You can find it on p. 126.
Shifting to a more intoxicating topic, you’ve probably read about or know people who’ve gone “California Sober.” We decided to find out how that trend is playing out locally. In “Pick Your Poison,” Gabe Hiatt looks at the increasing number of people who are ditching booze in favor of cannabis. Alcohol consumption is at its lowest point since the Gallup poll started tracking it. People still love getting a buzz and many now view weed as a more desirable alternative.
You know what else is desirable? A weekend tradition that holds a special place in our society and one of the most popular topics we write about on ArlingtonMagazine.com. What is this
topic, you ask? Why, it’s brunch. We love this leisurely meal because it’s fun and informal. It allows you to sleep in. It encourages the consumption of morning cocktails. It’s sweet and savory and delicious. In “Long Live Brunch,” Adele Chapin shares the skinny on 11 great brunch spots that offer live jazz, bottomless tapas, endless dim sum, breakfast poutine, and of course, mimosas and bloodies.
People often ask, “How’s business?” To quote a friend and fellow business owner, it’s lumpy. Some months are better than others. When companies are feeling a high degree of uncertainty, they are less likely to invest in people, technology and marketing. That affects many businesses, including ours. So, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our many clients who continue to advertise with us, both in the magazine and online. We provide a terrific homegrown option for branding and direct marketing. If you’d like to learn more, please email me directly at greg.hamilton@arlingtonmagazine.com or visit arlingtonmagazine.com/advertise/.
Thanks for reading our May/June Food & Drink issue. I hope you find it informative and helpful. Please reach out to me with any feedback, story ideas or questions. We appreciate you. Have a great spring!
Greg Hamilton Publisher & Owner
DON’T JUST THINK BIG, THINK GREAT.
At Evermay, we believe greatness isn’t just about achieving your goals—it’s about setting yourself up for lasting success. Whether you’re building wealth, preparing for retirement, or growing your business, we’re here to help you unlock your full financial potential.
Gabe Hiatt
LIVES IN: Logan Circle in Northwest D.C.
IN THIS ISSUE: Investigates the rise of cannabis as an alternative to alcohol
GO-TO EATS: “In the city you can find me at Baan Mae, El Sol, Cucina Morini and Yellow. Republic Cantina is my spot for breakfast tacos, and we like Snappy’s for country music on Tuesday nights. In Virginia, I have sentimental ties to Pho 75, Duangrat’s, Peking Gourmet and Ravi Kabob. I’m also partial to any restaurants in the Peter Chang family and A&J for takeout.”
HOME COOKING: “I’m a grill guy. I love to host, even for hot dogs and economy beers, but often that means making my own fire-roasted salsa for tacos or fajitas.”
CAN’T DO: Black licorice
CAREER JOURNEY: “As a journalist, I’ve had a winding path from sports to food to travel. After leading the Travel section at The Washington Post, I’m looking for my next stop.”
THE COOLER: “I worked in digital media for three NFL teams—and covered nine head coaches. Everywhere I went, the team had a losing record and the coach got fired midseason.”
SOCIAL: @gabehiatt on Instagram
Lisa Lednicer
LIVES IN: Dominion Hills
IN THIS ISSUE: Writes about losing a parent amid spring’s season of renewal
HOME COOKING: “I recently made a roast chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts, wild rice and a chocolate silk pie sprinkled with Cape Henlopen sea salt on top.”
CAN’T DO: “Liver and onions. Or beer. I’m a wine and liquor gal.”
CAREER JOURNEY: “I’ve worked as an editor at The Washington Post and Arlington Magazine. I’ve also been published in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal and Glamour magazine, and was an adjunct journalism professor at the University of Maryland.”
FUN FACTS: “I’ve lived in Africa twice (I was a volunteer teacher in Namibia two years after it won independence from South Africa) and co-authored a food book called Extreme Barbecue.”
Photography, Lisa Helfert, Jason Herman, Yaseen Jones, Cindy Kane, Christy Kosnic, Deb Lindsey, Rey Lopez, Mollye Miller, Donna Owens, Hilary Schwab, Jared Soares, Rochalle Stewart, Michael Ventura, Stephanie Williams
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Phone: 703-534-0519
AROUND TOWN
by Stephanie Kanowitz
MAY 29-JUNE 7
Dare to Dream Jr.
This Disney musical follows trainees headed to their first day at the Walt Disney Imagineering Studio, featuring songs from The Princess and the Frog, Coco, Encanto and Frozen II. The show is best for children 4 and older. Tickets are $16 for adults; $13 for children, students, military and seniors. Encore Stage & Studio, Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington, encorestage.org
PERFORMING ARTS
MAY 12-JULY 26
Pippin
Signature Theatre
Stephen Schwartz’s allegorical musical finds Pippin, son of King Charlemagne, committing acts of war, lust, depravity and murder in his search for purpose and a meaningful life. The score sizzles with iconic songs such as “Corner of the Sky” and “Morning Glow.” Performance times
vary. Tickets begin at $47. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org
MAY 14-JUNE 7
Little Women: The Musical Creative Cauldron
Set in Civil War-era New England, Louisa May Alcott’s beloved coming-of-age tale chronicles the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—as they navigate the tribulations of adolescence and the societal constraints of womanhood in the 19th century. Tickets are $40-$50; $25 for students. See website for performance dates and times. 127 W. Broad St., Falls Church, creativecauldron.org
STING MAY 21–23 LAUREN DAIGLE JUNE 11 RIVERDANCE 30
HARRY CONNICK JR.
JULY 3
THE RESET
An Immersive Sound Healing Experience with Davin Youngs MAY 29
GARY CLARK JR.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
JUNE 6
THE BEACH BOYS
JUNE 7
Songwriters Celebrate JOHN PRINE
Ft. Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Patty Griffin, and many more!
JUNE 9
SARAH McLACHLAN
Allison Russell
JULY 5
YOUNG THE GIANT
Cold War Kids almost monday
JUNE 12
ORVILLE PECK
JUNE 14
WILCO
JUNE 18
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
WYNONNA JUDD
Maggie Rose
JUNE 24
The New Generation JUNE 26–28
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
FEATURING LIZZO
JULY 7
ST. VINCENT
National Symphony Orchestra
JUNE 25
THE HUMAN LEAGUE with Very Special Guests
Soft Cell & Alison Moyet
JUNE 30
DANIEL DONATO’S COSMIC COUNTRY & MOLLY TUTTLE
JULY 1
…AND MANY MORE!
■ around town
MAY 21-23, 7 AND 9:30 P.M.
Dulcé Sloan
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
The comedian, actress and former Daily Show correspondent brings her straighttalking hilarity to Arlington for three nights. Tickets begin at $30. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, arlingtondrafthouse.com
MAY 29-31
The Music Man
Capital One Hall
It seems the town librarian is no match for a smooth-talking salesman who scams River City residents into buying instruments and uniforms for a fake boys’ band—until she steals his heart. See website for show times. Tickets are $54-$178. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
JUNE 4-21
Indecent
1st Stage
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, Indecent was inspired by the controversy surrounding the 1923 Broadway debut of God of Vengeance—a
play some saw as a seminal work of Jewish culture, while others deemed it an act of traitorous libel. See website for performance dates and times. Tickets begin at $25; $15 for students, teachers and military. 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, 1ststage.org
JUNE 5, 2 AND 6 P.M.
Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s
Got the Moves
Capital One Hall
Everyone’s favorite red Muppet will get little ones moving and grooving with upbeat songs and dancing during this interactive show for the whole family. Tickets begin at $47.80. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
JUNE 16-JULY 26
What Became of Us
Signature Theatre
Two siblings—one born in the Old Country and the other born in the U.S.—share major milestones and small moments over the course of a lifetime, revealing experiences and perspectives that are startlingly different and yet also similar.
VOTE FOR PEDRO
JUNE 6, 7 P.M.
Napoleon Dynamite Live!
A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren
Ramirez and Jon Gries
Bring your pocket tots and don a side ponytail for an evening with the actors who played the cult classic’s three main characters: Napoleon Dynamite, Uncle Rico and Pedro. Tickets are $45; $35 for seniors; $25 for McLean Community Center district residents. The Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, mcleancenter.org
See website for show times. Tickets begin at $47. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org
JUNE 18-20, 7 AND 9:30 P.M.
Tim Meadows
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
The former SNL cast member embarks on a stand-up tour with observations about dating, family and being Black in America. Tickets begin at $36. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, arlingtondrafthouse.com
ART
THROUGH MAY 31
250 & Counting
Falls Church Arts
Staged to coincide with America’s sesquicentennial, this exhibit features depictions of American life in the 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, exploring history, culture, ideals, struggles and visions of the future. Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church, fallschurcharts.org
MAY 9, 9 A.M.-3 P.M.
Del Ray Artisans
Spring Art Market
Browse ceramics, fiber, jewelry, mixed media, paper and photography at this outdoor street fair on the grounds of the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. Admission is free. 2701 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria, delrayartisans.org
JUNE 19-SEPT. 6
2026 SOLOS Exhibit
Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington MoCA Arlington’s 2026 solo exhibitions showcase contemporary works by Crasis, Rowena Federico Finn and Lou Haney. Free. 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, mocaarlington.org
MUSIC
MAY 7, 14, 21 AND 28, 6 P.M.
Music by the Metro
Clarendon Alliance
The beloved al fresco concert series returns at Clarendon Metro Park. Bring a blanket or
chair (or stop to decompress on your way home from work) and jam out to tunes by local musicians. Free. 3100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, clarendon.org
MAY 9, 5 P.M.
Reply
Arlington Chorale
“This will be our reply to violence,” composer Leonard Bernstein said, “to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” This choral program does just that, exploring how various artists have responded to cruelty with creativity. Tickets are $30; free for attendees 17 and younger. Westover Baptist Church, 1125 Patrick Henry Drive, Arlington, arlingtonchorale.org
MAY 21-23, 8 P.M.
Sting 3.0
Filene Center at Wolf Trap
The Grammy-winning Englishman brings his smooth pop-rock and global sounds to the outdoor stage. Tickets begin at $65.50. 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org
JUNE 2-3, 7:30 P.M.
Happy Together Tour 2026
Birchmere Music Hall
Catch The Association, The Troggs, Gary Puckett and other artists during this 17th annual tour highlighting chart-topping hits from the 1960s and ’70s. Tickets begin at $109.50. 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, birchmere.com
JUNE 24, 7:30 P.M.
Melissa Etheridge and Wynonna Judd
Filene Center at Wolf Trap
The rock singer and country star—aka “Girls with Guitars”—team up for a onenight-only show titled Maggie Rose
Tickets begin at $53.50. 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org
JUNE 24, 8 P.M.
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers
The State Theatre
The high-energy band out of Tempe, Arizona, blends elements of punk rock, Americana, indie-pop and mariachi to
MAY 30-31, 8 P.M.
Ari Lennox
The Grammy-nominated R&B singer’s North American tour touts her newest album, Vacancy
See website for ticket prices. The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Maryland, mgmnationalharbor. mgmresorts.com
create a unique sound. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 the day of the show. 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, thestatetheatre.com
AUTHORS & BOOKS
MAY 6 AND 13, 10:30-11:15 A.M.
Storytime on the Plaza
George Mason University
This all-ages event includes outdoor play time and a read-aloud by a storyteller. Free. 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, gmu.edu
JUNE 10, 7-8 P.M.
Author Talk: Jeffrey Bennett
One More Page Books
The local author discusses his debut nonfiction book, The Black Belt of Virginia: Untold Stories of African American History Free. 220 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington, onemorepagebooks.com
JUNE 13, 2 P.M.
Author Talk: Melanie McCabe
Mary Riley Styles Public Library and Bards Alley Bookshop
Arlington author Melanie McCabe will discuss Road Longer Than Memory, a novel about memory, reckoning and coming to terms with things left unsaid. Free. 120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church, mrspl.org
JUNE 24, 6:30-9 P.M.
Arlington Reads: Antoni Porowski
Mason Square Library
Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh will engage the author of Antoni in the Kitchen and Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner in a conversation about food, culture and community. Free. 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, library.arlingtonva.us
SEASONAL
MAY 1, 5 P.M.
Portfolio in Motion
Marymount University
The university’s annual spring fashion event features student models strutting the runway in original looks created by Marymount fashion design students. 2807 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, Marymount.edu
MAY 2-3, 9 A.M.-5 P.M.
Revolutionary War Weekend
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Travel back in time as a 12-acre field fills with Continentals, Redcoats and Hessians conducting military drills using 18th-century tactics. Learn from General Washington himself, and from the civilians who traveled with the army. Tickets are $35; $22 for kids 6-11. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, mountvernon.org
MAY 2, 1-6 P.M.
Cinco De Mayo Festival
Shipgarten
Raise a glass to Mexico’s 1862 victory over France with margarita and tequila specials, live music, tacos and dancing. Free. 7581 Colshire Drive, Tysons, shipgarten.com
MAY 9, 10 A.M.-5 P.M.
Arlington HistoryFest 250
Arlington Historical Society
The Arlington VA250 Committee celebrates America’s 250th birthday with Revolutionary War re-enactments, musical performances, live demos, crafts and storytelling at Kenmore Middle School. Free. 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington, arlhist.org/Arlington-va250
MAY 10, 2-4 P.M.
Mother’s Day Tea
Cherry Hill Farmhouse
Treat Mom to a traditional high tea with sandwiches, sweets and scones. A costumed historian will discuss the roles played by mothers in mid-19th century Virginia. $48. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, cherryhillfallschurch.org
MAY 15-16
McLean Day 2026
McLean Community Center
A local rite of spring since 1915, this beloved event brings carnival rides, live performances and other fun to Lewinsville
Park. Admission is free. Ride tickets will be available for purchase. 1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, mcleancenter.org
MAY 25, 9 A.M.-5 P.M.
44th Annual Memorial Day
Parade and Festival
City of Falls Church
Honor our nation’s fallen heroes and mark its 250th birthday with a 3K fun run, local vendors, rides and a visit from the VA250 Mobile Museum. Free. 300 Park Ave., Falls Church
MAY 26, 11 A.M.
National Memorial Day Observance
Arlington National Cemetery
The 157th National Memorial Day Observance commemorates members of the armed forces with live military band performances, a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and remarks by dignitaries. Free. 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington, arlingtoncemetery.mil
JUNE 6, 11 A.M.-5 P.M.
Vietnamese Heritage Day
City of Falls Church
Explore Vietnamese culture through antiques, food, music, dance, martial arts demos and a flag ceremony. This event is staged in partnership with the Vietnamese Literary and Culture Club. Free. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, fallschurchva.gov
JUNE 6, 3-9 P.M.
Pride at Mosaic
Mosaic District
Mosaic’s fifth annual Pride celebration promises drag performances, a parade, live music and other joyful fun. Free. 2905 District Ave., Fairfax, mosaicdistrict.com
JUNE 12, 7-10 P.M.
Pride Senior Prom
Arlington Public Library
Want a second chance at the prom you never had, or an excuse to relive a great high school experience? Put on your fanciest attire and head to the Arlington Central Library for a night of rainbow revelry, music and community. Free. Open to attendees ages 21 and up. 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, library.arlingtonva.us
JUNE 13, 1-8 P.M.
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
Penrose Square
Now celebrating its 29th year, this outdoor street party brings live music, local food
vendors, kids’ activities and storytelling to Arlington’s most diverse corridor. The 2026 musical lineup includes The Curb Feelers, Guy Bouchie & Bobby Thompson, Stacy Brooks, Amani Burnham and Joslyn & The Sweet Compression. Admission is free. 2597 Columbia Pike., Arlington, columbia-pike.org/bluesfest
JUNE 12-21
Capital Pride
Capital Pride Alliance
This year’s theme, a cry against injustice, is Exist. Resist. Have the Audacity! D.C.-area events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community include a parade from noon to 5 p.m. on June 21, and a same-day festival extending to 10 p.m. Both events are free. See website for details and locations. capitalpride.org
Got a calendar event we should know about? Submit it to editorial@arlingtonmagazine.com
Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic
Cyclists of all abilities can test their mettle on a closed course with multiple race options. The weekend lineup includes a noncompetitive Challenge Ride, a Kids Race for youngsters and the Clarendon Cup Pro/Am Races. See website for race times, locations and registration fees. cyclingclassic.org
JASON
Make Your Next Move
big
picture ■ By Pat Padua | Photo by Jared Soares
Dream Team
This hometown soccer club is packed with talent—and style.
A BLUR OF PINK, Angel Chavez is making his inevitable sprint toward the goalposts on his team’s home field at Meridian High School in Falls Church. He finds the back of the net, and his teammates converge on him like a swirl of human cherry blossoms.
These are the moments Lucas Mendes dreamed of when he founded Virginia Dream FC, a men’s club team that competes in the MidAtlantic Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, in 2022.
Mendes isn’t just the majority owner. He’s a veteran of the pitch. A 2016 graduate of Washington-Liberty High School, he was named the Gatorade Virginia Boys Soccer Player of the Year at 18 after training with the D.C. United Academy. He turned pro soon after, joining the New York Cosmos and then the Richmond Kickers.
After a few years on that circuit, he found himself wondering how he could keep a foot in the game while taking “that next step into my creative career.” His vision was to introduce an element of art and fashion to the sport known worldwide as “the beautiful game.”
Mendes designs the Dream’s colorful kits and merch in tandem with designer Casey Peckio and photographer Jared Soares, with whom he runs a creative studio called Saudade House. He and Soares hand-dyed the eye-catching pink unis for the 2023 season in their kitchens using the Japanese Shibori Itajime tie-dye technique, choosing pastel hues inspired by Portuguese azulejo tiles. Tile motifs also form the ornamental stripes on the “pink quartz” kits that debuted the following year.
This summer, Saudade House is launching a print magazine featuring fashion shoots with players like Austin FC center back Jon Bell.
Mendes says their hope is to turn fashionistas into football fans, and vice versa: “For a lot of people, their first step into the club may not be with soccer—it may be with art or fashion.”
But soccer remains at the heart of the enterprise, which was created to give aspiring footballers a forum for competitive play. Sponsors help cover the cost of equipment, and the team has become a farm system of sorts. “It doesn’t matter what your financial situation is,” says Mendes, whose parents are both personal trainers in Arlington. (His father, Paulo, is also the team’s VP.) “We want to give you the chance to progress to the next level.”
Some players already have. The team’s success stories include Ivorian midfielder JeanChristophe Koffi, who now plays professionally for Puerto Rico’s Ponce FC, and winger Manzi Shalita, who recently joined the roster of Texas’s Corpus Christi FC. Annandale native Bill Hamid, a former Dream player and goalkeeping coach, now tends the net for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
This spring, the Dream once again qualified for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, an annual tournament in which qualifying amateur clubs earn the right to compete against professional teams—and sometimes beat them. In late March, the Dream bested Carolina Core, a pro team from High Point, North Carolina, in a surprise upset during the first round of play. They logged a similar Cinderella win against the Richmond Kickers in 2025.
“The big thing with Arlington is how many different cultures there are,” Mendes says. “That’s kind of the goal with the club—to unify people and give people a safe place to play the game and grow.”
With dope uniforms. ■
Virginia FC winger Angel Chavez on the pitch in Falls Church
Winning Words
A life-changing literary program for incarcerated people underscores the power of the pen.
KELLI TAYLOR REMEMBERS the first time she walked into the D.C. jail in 2002. She and her friend Tara Libert were there to determine if their idea for a book club could flourish in a place that wasn’t known for nurturing and growth. What they did know, having both worked in journalism, was that words had meaning and power. So they sat down in a room and waited. Soon, a group of incarcerated youth walked in, and they all began to talk— about books and writing, but also about life. With that one conversation, the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop was born. “Some of them were just kids,” recalls Taylor, who lives in Westover with her husband, Rich. It wasn’t the first time Taylor had exchanged ideas with someone on the inside. In 1996, she was working as a D.C.-based television producer for an Australian broadcasting company when she received an unsolicited letter from a man named Glen McGinnis who was
Kelli Taylor at Arlington’s Westover branch library
■ familiar faces
on death row in Texas. Imprisoned for a crime he committed when he was 17, he’d reached out to several journalists, hoping someone might be interested in his story. Taylor was the only one who responded. She produced a documentary film about him and continued to correspond with him in prison.
McGinnis was an avid reader, and books became their common language. One bestseller they discussed was Into Thin Air , Jon Krakauer’s famous account of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. “Glen was very skeptical,” she recalls. “He was like, ‘Life’s hard enough. Why are you going to try to climb Mount Everest?’ But it’s a story about survival, and that’s a universal human experience.”
Inspired by their exchanges, Taylor teamed up with Libert and laid the groundwork for a program to bring literature into the D.C. criminal justice system. What began as a single book club soon grew into a nonprofit that facilitates in-person book discussions inside jails, as well as a correspondence-based book club for people in prison. (Because D.C. does not have a long-term prison, jailed individuals often end up serving out their sentences elsewhere.)
Operating with a staff of about 17, including formerly incarcerated book club members, Free Minds has served some 1,500 people since its inception. The group publishes a literary magazine written by and for incarcerated authors, and offers a re-entry book club for formerly incarcerated people returning to their communities, as well as workforce and leadership development programs. Taylor served as executive director for the first eight years and then stepped into the role of book club manager. Libert, a D.C. resident, is now the executive director.
Today, the nonprofit has dedicated book clubs for juveniles, adults, women and Spanish speakers. Reading selections are chosen by staff or suggested
by participants. Recent books include The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised by Carmelo Anthony (with D. Watkins), The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Numerous authors have come to speak, including Jonathan Franzen, George Pelecanos and Kenji Jasper.
“We try to present a diverse ballot of books for members to vote on, which is harder than you’d think,” Taylor says. “If you and I were to gather a bunch of friends for a book club, we presumably would have a lot in common.” Often, the only thing Free Minds members have in common is that they’re incarcerated.
Some participants don’t want to read stories about people in jail. Others struggle to relate to stories centering on lives of privilege. “We tell people, even if you don’t like it, read it and tell us why you don’t like it,” Taylor says. “We do a lot of memoirs. The goal is to show transformation, and memoirs are awesome for that. I’m always surprised by what they like or don’t like.”
Equally important are the writing opportunities that Free Minds provides. Through its ongoing writing workshops, incarcerated youth and adults are offered time and space to write poetry, essays and spoken-word pieces. They receive structured feedback from staff and their peers, and work on submissions for the literary magazine.
In March 2025, several Free Minds members who are no longer incarcerated participated in an evening of poetry and visual art at the Kennedy Center’s REACH facility, reading their own work as well as works by writers who are still serving out sentences. The event, titled “Poetry & Art as Liberation: Stories of Hope and Resilience in the Prison System,” was co-sponsored by the Second Look Project, a nonprofit working to end mass incarceration and severe sentencing in the D.C. justice system.
Taylor says the act of writing allows participants to envision themselves in new ways that can be a catalyst for change. “When somebody reads, and people are snapping [the preferred form of applause in the poetry slam tradition]—it sounds really cliche, but you just see people light up. It goes back to just being seen and heard.”
Writing also helps participants overcome feelings of worthlessness that feed into cycles of crime or violence. “I don’t want to generalize, but…a lot of them feel that they are the thing that they did or may have done,” Taylor shares. “When they write something and we hand them back their poem and it’s typed up, they’re like, ‘I’m a writer.’ They suddenly have a new identity.”
This was true for Rafael Douglas, who first encountered Free Minds in juvenile detention and became more active as an incarcerated adult. Released in 2021, Douglas now lives in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he owns an epoxy flooring business.
“I started writing poems in jail. It was a great relief to put my feelings on paper,” he says. “Kelli would write me letters and postcards. It really made me feel connected and human, especially coming from someone from a different walk of life. Free Minds helped me stay on the route I wanted to be on, to not ease back into violence and criminality. They gave me a place to be comfortable trying to be a new person. It changed my life.”
In addition to the literary magazine, Free Minds has published several anthologies of collected works by members. The public can engage with poets’ writing, offering feedback through inperson events, like one recently held at the Westover library, and on the Free Minds website.
At “On the Same Page: Write Nights,” listeners are handed copies of poets’ work and are invited to annotate them—underlining, adding stars or smiley faces, and making comments—
which Taylor says is highly validating. Many poems posted on the website reveal beauty and lyricism, along with depth, frankness and clear-eyed realism. A poem titled “While I was Sleeping,” by a writer with the initials RL, ends with these words: and like any soul who Morpheus claims I will find freedom tonight with hope and a sweet whisper of peace in my mind’s eye and dream of going home
Some might question whether the nonprofit’s work excuses or ignores the damage and pain inflicted by crime. Taylor says accountability is essential, and she acknowledges that some
“Each
book club members do go on to commit other crimes.
“Our work isn’t about excusing behavior; it’s about creating space for reflection, responsibility and growth,” she clarifies. “Our members are encouraged to face the past honestly, take ownership and decide who they
want to become. Some of our most powerful moments involve individuals confronting and working to repair the harm they’ve caused.”
She’s apt to quote Bryan Stevenson, author of the acclaimed book Just Mercy: “Proximity has taught me some basic and humbling truths, including this vital lesson: Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
It’s emotional work—particularly when members land back in jail or are killed. “Every time it happens, I think, I don’t know if I can keep doing this,” Taylor says. “It’s really hard.”
At one point, she hit pause. “By the time my [own] kids were in high school…I just didn’t feel like I was giving my best—that I could do my best for both—so I stepped down completely. Then, around 2011, I agreed to
come back to help with the book club, and it was like I had never left.”
Currently, Free Minds is advocating against efforts to repeal the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) and the related Second Chance Amendment Act. Both are D.C. laws stipulating that people who were under 25 at the time of their arrest and who have served at least 15 years of their sentence can petition a judge for resentencing. In February, the organization released a booklet of stories from formerly incarcerated youth and young adults about how IRAA allowed them to get back on their feet.
“Beyond the books and writing, what’s so powerful is the sense of belonging,” Taylor says. “So much of what people do wrong is because they don’t feel like they belong,” whether
that’s joining a gang or thinking a certain status symbol will bring them the validation they seek.
This makes the re-entry book club especially important. “Our goal is for when they come home, they have a landing place where they can have a chance to succeed,” she says. “By offering positive programming and opportunities for growth, we contribute to their healing, and, in turn, to the healing of the communities they rejoin. We believe this work helps interrupt cycles of violence and supports people in returning safer, more thoughtful and more whole.”
Consider a poem titled “Seeds,” by a writer whose initials are ER: I spread my roots. I reach right For the sky.
I break the ground. I grow right before your eye. The future.
What a surprise.
Glen McGinnis never had the chance to come home. In one of his last letters to Taylor before his execution in 2000, he shared that he wanted to establish a prison book club and poetry society. Although he wouldn’t live to see it, Free Minds is part of his legacy. Taylor says they’ve always considered McGinnis the book club’s first member. “He wrote to me and said, ‘If I had had this growing up, being able to read and write with somebody, I don’t think any of this would have happened.’ ” ■
Kim O’Connell is an avid reader and writer based in Aurora Highlands.
Lednicer | Illustration by Addison Green
Spring Sentinels
On the patio, a parable of life, death and leaving the nest.
MY SISTER WAS the first to notice the nest—a seemingly disorganized bunch of twigs and grass that looked abandoned, as if someone had dumped a pile of yard refuse on the patio table and left.
I wasn’t paying much attention,
even though the little bundle of sticks was squarely in my line of sight. It sat just outside the basement window of my parents’ house, where I was sleeping on a pull-out couch amid shelves lined with books and my mother’s old sewing machine.
My mom, 83, was ill and receiving round-the-clock assistance from live-in caregivers. My 88-year-old father was in the hospital. I had come up to New York after a radiation oncologist noticed two spots on Dad’s brain that looked like cancer and recommended surgery.
The procedure, called gamma knife radiation, was aimed at freezing the lesions with hopes that Dad could return to his regular routine—swimming and walking every day, lunching with neighbors, talking with me for hours during my monthly visits. He regularly asked how my job was going, what my daughter was doing, what I thought about world events.
But his first priority was always my mother’s well-being. From the time they were married, he was completely and utterly devoted to her. He’d been heartbroken to witness her deterioration, frustrated by his inability to stop it and jealous of friends who were healthy and able to travel together.
Dad didn’t get better after his operation. He kept returning to the hospital for various ailments, staying overnight, or in some cases longer, before finally announcing he did not want any more medical interventions. He was ready to die and wanted to be near his wife of nearly 60 years. So, we brought him home.
A few days later, my sister spotted the nest, and then, a robin perched among the twigs. My first inclination was to walk toward it, but she warned me to stay away, explaining that my gaze might prompt the bird to abandon its home and never return.
From that point on, whenever I went down to the basement, I stood just out of view of the window, glancing at the nest from the corner of my eye. Sometimes there were two birds, sometimes none. My fixation on their instinctive rituals became a relief— something quiet and wondrous to hold my attention as I tried not to fall apart dealing with my parents’ financial adviser, their concerned friends, the ever-present caregivers.
Dad, confined to a hospital bed in the library, was determined to remain
For a while I felt bereft. But then I realized that the birds had comforted me during one of the worst times of my life.
in control, dictating emails to family overseas, saying he wanted to visit them but now wasn’t a good time.
After one particularly trying day, I went downstairs to sneak a peek at the nest and saw that it cradled three turquoise eggs, so perfectly oval they didn’t seem real. The robins were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they were out hunting for food.
I worried the eggs were too exposed, that something might happen to them while their parents were gone. Realizing there was nothing I could do, I busied myself keeping Dad comfortable, stooping down to hug him or hold his hand as he lay with his eyes closed. “You’re a good daughter,” he said.
I couldn’t overlook the irony that as life was ending upstairs, new life would soon appear downstairs.
I was back in Arlington a short time later when my sister called. “He’s gone,” she said quietly.
During his last days, Dad had reached for my mother’s hand, singing the French song “Frere Jacques” to her. They were both born overseas, so perhaps it was a reminder of their native Belgium. Maybe it was a sweet tribute to the tune my mom sang to me and my sister when we were little. I never got the chance to ask.
My return to New York was a fog of funeral arrangements, a memorial service, canceling credit cards, crying in front of people, collapsing on the pullout couch in the basement.
That’s when I finally noticed the
robin was back, and she wasn’t alone. I texted my sister in all-caps: THE MOMMY ROBIN IS TEACHING HER BABIES HOW TO FLY!!!
For the next few days, I stole glimpses of the family unfolding in front of me. I watched the bird tending to her fledglings, their tiny beaks open wide, and something inside me shifted. My father was gone, but another creature had made its home in the place he’d left.
That was three years ago. Now, whenever I visit my mom, I check the table out back for robins. None have returned. Eventually the nest disappeared—perhaps a victim of a rainstorm or a maintenance crew tidying up.
For a while I felt bereft. But then I realized that the birds had comforted me during one of the worst times of my life. They’d given me something to look forward to as I learned to live without my dad.
These days, I look for cardinals outside my home in Arlington. Virginia’s state bird is a year-round neighbor, but I really notice them in the spring when the maple tree in front of our garage starts greening and I remember that my dad died in the spring.
A friend once told me that cardinals are a sign of hope, a way for our loved ones to say they’re still watching over us. And I believe her. ■
Lisa Lednicer is an editor, writer and Arlington parent whose own daughter is soon to leave the nest for college.
FACES 2026
| MCLEAN
Behind every great business are great people—from doctors, dentists and attorneys to builders, bankers and real estate agents (and more). Faces highlights the amazing professionals who help make our area special and a wonderful place to do business.
ARLINGTON | FALLS CHURCH
From left: Nathan W. Seidel, Esq.; Bridget A. Alzheimer, Esq.; Anthony N. Hernandez; Ryan A. Brown, Esq.; Eric M. Lemmer, Esq.; Rachel A. Shaw; James F. Anderson, Esq.
The Face of
Academic Success
Tutoring Club of McLean
For more than 16 years, Tutoring Club of McLean has helped students across McLean, Arlington and Falls Church build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
Michelle Scott and her award-winning team believe academic success is more than grades. Through individualized tutoring, academic coaching and college readiness support, students develop stronger academic foundations, effective study habits and the confidence to reach their goals.
Michelle carefully hires and mentors smart, engaging tutors who serve as positive role models and create an encouraging environment where students feel supported and motivated to do their best work.
Families consistently see both progress and renewed enthusiasm for learning. As one parent shared, “My son said that today was his best study hour ever!” With personalized instruction and measurable results, Tutoring Club continues to inspire confident, self-motivated learners for life.
703-237-TUTOR (8886) | McLeanVA@TutoringClub.com
Some of the TCM Team: (Seated, from left) Ms. Laura, Lead Instructor & Enrollment Coordinator; Ms. Anne and Ms. Elle, Instructors. (Standing, from left) Ms. Michelle and Mr. Michael, Instructors; Michelle, Owner/Director
The Face of
Aesthetic Medicine
Megan Francis, NP, MSN, AGPCNP-BC
Megan Francis is the founder of NM Aesthetics & Wellness in Arlington, a practice known for its refined, natural approach to aesthetic medicine. Designed to feel intentionally different from high-volume, chain-style med spas, NM prioritizes thoughtful consultations, education and subtle, confidence-building results. The team’s philosophy is simple: enhance what’s already there—never overcorrect. As Francis often says, “You come to us because you don’t want anyone to know you come to us™.” Francis is also the exclusive U.S. trainer for the Fern Pattern
Technique™, an advanced injection method that strengthens skin by stimulating collagen and elastin while using less filler for longer-lasting, natural results. Between treating patients, mentoring her team and continuing her education, Francis remains driven by the most meaningful outcome of all: helping clients feel confident in their own skin.
571-310-3223 nmaesthetics.com
The Face of
Arlington Homes and Lifestyle
Blake and Leah Davenport | TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Blake and Leah are founders of The Davenport Group and Discover Arlington, one of the area’s most followed real estate and lifestyle social media platforms. With more than 60,000 followers and over one million monthly views, they connect residents to the homes, restaurants and experiences that make Arlington special. That audience creates a powerful advantage for their real estate clients. When a Davenport Group listing is featured on Discover Arlington, it reaches thousands of potential buyers across the region, helping their clients’ homes
stand out, generate strong interest and often attract multiple offers. Through this platform and their client-first approach, The Davenport Group achieved the highest sales volume of any real estate team in Arlington in 2025.
Follow @DiscoverArlington to explore the best homes, places to eat, and things to do.
The Face of BBQ
Hal & Al’s BBQ | Mohsin Rehman, Owner & Pitmaster
True barbecue isn’t about competition, it’s about bringing people together. Every culture shares one thing in common: food cooked over fire. At Hal & Al’s, our menu is inspired by the places that shaped us—Texas brisket smoked low and slow, Pakistani spices layered with depth, and a Welsh cheddar discovered while road-tripping through Scotland, now folded into our mac & cheese. Each dish reflects the journeys, people, and traditions that brought us here—and the responsibility that comes with it.
Through our partnership with the Human Development Fund, 5% of every sale helps us run our orphanage in Namanga, Kenya. We’re also committed to sustainability—planting a tree for every 20 pounds of wood we smoke and using only compostable packaging.
Hal & Al’s is BBQ that feeds the soul.
703-647-9705 halandalsbbq.com
Christopher
EVP,
Ted
C&I / Government Contract
Betty Crump, VP, Portfolio Assistant; Ahad Azhar, VP, Treasury Management; Huma Onorato, SVP, Director of Deposit Operations; Cindy Lee, VP, Deposit Operations Manager; Stephen Birbalsingh, AVP, Assistant Branch Manager; Sara Eidi, Bank Officer, Deposit Operations Specialist; Martin McCarthy, CEO; Matt Boyce, VP, Portfolio Manager; Jonathan Higgins, President and Chief Banking Officer; Robert Skonberg, VP, Portfolio Manager
The Face of
Business Banking Founders
Bank
Founders Bank is a technology-driven community bank dedicated to empowering the Greater Washington region by supporting strong businesses and the leaders who drive local growth. Since 2020, the bank has combined advanced financial tools with highly personalized service to meet the evolving needs of its clients. With locations throughout Greater Washington, Founders Bank delivers tailored banking solutions designed to support each client’s unique goals. Its comprehensive offerings include business lending for operating companies, professional firms
and government contractors, as well as real estate financing, covering owner-occupied, investment and construction loans, deposit and treasury management services, business credit cards and consumer lending.
Whether helping businesses expand, investing in real estate or managing daily finances, Founders Bank is dedicated to building a stronger community, one partnership at a time.
703-683-1205 | founders.bank
From left:
J. Lipscomb,
Chief Lending Officer;
Johnson, SVP,
Lending;
The Face of Business Law
Arlington
Law Group
For the last 19 years, Arlington Law Group has worked with local business and non-profit leaders to help their businesses and organizations thrive. The long-term relationships we have with our clients allow us to be an efficient, responsive and trusted partner.
Arlington Law Group forms new companies, prepares governing documents, handles mergers and acquisitions, negotiates commercial leases and real estate transactions, and obtains 501(c)(3) tax exemptions for non-profits. As clients grow, the firm works to manage risk by advising on
insurance, taxes, contracts and employment law. Our attorneys also volunteer in community organizations and bring their connections and experience to bear for all of the firm’s clients, whether your business is just starting out, or you are planning for a sale or your retirement.
From left: Nathan W. Seidel, Esq., Eric M. Lemmer, Esq., Ryan A. Brown, Esq.
2026 FACES
The Face of
Catholic Education
Jennifer Kuzdzal, Principal | Saint Agnes Catholic School
For over 75 years, Saint Agnes School has educated students so that they become loving Christians, inspired learners, outstanding achievers, natural communicators and strong servants of God. Located in the Cherrydale neighborhood of Arlington, the school offers two classes per grade and small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1. Saint Agnes is more than a school; it is a community.
Saint Agnes is proud of the new elevated turf field and looks
forward to the installation of a new playground this summer. Led by award-winning Principal Jen Kuzdzal, the future is bright at Saint Agnes School. Featuring after school athletics, fine arts, a hot lunch program and a full-time school nurse, this Blue Ribbon School (2022) is a unique experience for students and families.
703-527-5423
www.saintagnes.org
The Face of Community Banking
Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
At Arlington Community Federal Credit Union, we believe that when all our neighbors are empowered to pursue their financial goals, the entire community thrives.
The ACFCU team is committed to making a difference in the community we love, whether we’re providing remarkable service to our members, supporting financial education programs with community partners or supporting the great businesses in our neighborhood.
With a 70+ year history of providing tools and programs that
help people and businesses make smarter decisions and use money wisely, ACFCU is proud to serve Arlington and beyond. As we grow and deepen our reach across the region, our commitment to this community stays the same.
Join us for a local banking experience that helps bring positive change to the community we love.
703-526-0200 ArlingtonCU.org
From left: Kevin Sheffield, Kenricka Gardner, Karen Rosales, Mary Spellman and Jim Wilmot
The Face of Cosmetic Dentistry
Michael Paesani, DMD | NOVA Dental Studio
Dr. Paesani has been caring for families in the Arlington community for more than 14 years, providing comprehensive dental care in a welcoming, modern environment. The practice offers a wide range of services designed to fit busy lifestyles, including fillings, implants, root canal therapy, same-day crowns and professional teeth whitening.
For patients interested in improving their smile, they provide advanced cosmetic treatments such as veneers, Invisalign and Botox. Every cosmetic case begins with a
personalized smile design, allowing patients to preview a mock-up of their future smile before committing to treatment.
Dr. Paesani emphasizes individualized care, carefully tailoring techniques to each patient to avoid “cookie-cutter” results and instead create natural, lifelike smiles.
NOVA Dental Studio welcomes new patients of all ages and looks forward to helping the community smile with confidence.
MICHAEL VENTURA
The Face
of
Country Club Hills Real Estate
Gabrielle Witkin, Vice President, Real Estate Advisor Sotheby’s International Realty ®
In Country Club Hills, not every agent is equipped to lead at the highest level. Gabrielle Witkin sets a different standard. She has become the trusted advisor for homeowners who want more than just a sale; they want a result that reflects the full value of what they own.
Known for clarity and candor, Gabrielle works with sellers and buyers who value expertise, discretion and a process that is both thoughtful and highly strategic. The result is a reputation for creating momentum, navigating complex decisions with confidence
and delivering outcomes that outperform expectations.
Having moved her own family from Washington, D.C. to Arlington, Gabrielle brings both personal insight and market expertise to every client. She understands what draws people to Country Club Hills—and how to make a home stand out. 202-480-1435
The Face of
Design Build
Michael and Deborah Sauri TriVistaUSA Design + Build
Michael and Deborah Sauri, the husband and wife visionary duo of TriVistaUSA Design + Build, have built their home remodeling company around connection and commitment. “We want to get to know your family and what isn’t working in your home. Then, our project teams of architects, designers, project managers and carpenters work together to provide resource-efficient creative solutions. Our deep understanding of the Arlington community informs our projects,” Michael says. “We love building cool projects for cool people!”
They have gained recognition for their individual work and leadership in the design/build community. Michael is President of the National Professional Remodeling Organization and a steering committee member for the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. The TriVistaUSA team has won 70+ awards, including Best Remodeler 2026 by the readers of Arlington Magazine.
703-243-3171 | www.TriVistaUSA.com
The Face of Divorce Law
Hicks Crandall Juhl, P.C.
The attorneys at Hicks Crandall Juhl, P.C. (HCJ) know that family law issues can be emotional, complicated and even frightening. HCJ’s attorneys provide sound guidance to help clients navigate all the difficult decisions that arise during this stressful time. Hicks Crandall Juhl, P.C. routinely helps clients reach reasonable and amicable settlements, but when negotiations fail, the HCJ attorneys are prepared to vigorously advocate for their clients in litigation—
appearing in all Northern Virginia courts. Known for experienced, trusted and respected representation, attorneys Susan Hicks, Camille Crandall, Kelly Juhl, Dana Wolfson and Sarah Piper are honored to assist in resolving family law disputes.
703-691-4848 | www.hcj-law.com
From left: Sarah Piper, Susan Hicks, Camille Crandall, Dana Wolfson, Kelly Juhl
The Face of
Downsizing
Anna Novak, CEO/Owner | Simply Downsized
Whether an adult child is helping a parent move, a family is managing an estate closeout, or an empty nester is ready to leave their lawn behind, Anna Novak brings organization and the right experts to the table. She founded Simply Downsized in 2018 after recognizing that families need more than a real estate agent to navigate the complexities of downsizing. Anna guides clients through each stage of the process, managing details with care, precision and calm expertise. She
coordinates everything from the first downsizing conversation to unpacking in a new home. Need to sell a silverware collection, clear out a shed or preserve family photos? She knows who to call. A certified downsizing specialist, she has guided more than 100 families through home transitions.
703-237-1493 simplydownsized.com
The Face of Engaged Living Westminster at Lake Ridge
Nestled on 64 acres, Westminster at Lake Ridge offers a maintenance-free lifestyle where engaged living and connection come naturally. The not-for-profit, life plan community offers the independence you want and the lifestyle you deserve. Enjoy engaging programs, wellness opportunities and vibrant social events—with a continuum of care always within reach. Whether joining neighbors for a fitness class, enjoying a meal in the bistro or taking a stroll to Historic Occoquan, life here is designed to inspire. With
24 brand-new apartments on the horizon, Westminster at Lake Ridge is expanding your opportunities to experience the best in Northern Virginia living, where spacious floorplans, modern finishes and unmatched surroundings come together. There’s never been a better time to discover what moves you— schedule a visit today!
703-496-3440 www.wlrva.org
The Face of
Esthetics & Family Dentistry
Diane Pham, DMD | Capital Esthetics & Family Dentistry
One of my many patient success stories: “A woman with severe dental anxiety who avoided the dentist for decades finally came to me, ready to reclaim her smile. Together, we restored her teeth—and her confidence. She told me it changed her life: she felt healthier, smiled freely and no longer hid in photos. Compliments poured in and she felt like herself again, at work, with friends and at home. For the first time in years, she was proud of her reflection. Seeing her transformation reminded me why I love what I do.”
Dental offices can feel intimidating. We provide compassionate, personalized care to ensure visits are comfortable and stress-free. We create a relaxed, welcoming space by building genuine trust and customizing treatment for each patient.
The Face of Executive Function and Neurodiverse Coaching
Wendy Weinberger Founder and President
Illuminos Academic Coaching
Wendy is passionate about helping students with executive function challenges. Founder and president of Illuminos Academic Coaching, she leads a team of experts who work with students in third grade through college and young adults. Her team helps them develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in school and life.
Therapists, psychiatrists and learning specialists regularly refer families to Illuminos for coaching that helps students master executive function skills, gain confidence and become independent in less than 12 months.
Illuminos specializes in supporting neurodivergent learners and students struggling with organization, planning, time management and follow-through. NeuroComplex™ Coaching supports students with overlapping learning and emotional challenges, helping them develop strategies to navigate school and everyday life more effectively.
“Illuminos … can be a true game changer… .” Psychiatrist, McLean, VA
571-313-5163 | illuminos.co
The Face of
Family Law
Mullett Dove & Bradley Family Law, PLLC
MDB offers award-winning counsel for divorce and family law. With an emphasis on comprehensive service, firm attorneys are dedicated to assisting clients in a wide variety of family related matters. The attorneys of MDB have significant experience handling complex divorce and custody issues, and they also efficiently resolve many routine and straightforward uncontested matters.
Firm services are tailored to the unique circumstances of each client. The attorneys make every effort to reach resolution
through amicable negotiations, mediation or the collaborative divorce process, but they are also well known for producing positive results in the courtroom and zealously advocating for clients when litigation is necessary.
The practice is focused primarily in the trial courts of Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well as the appellate courts of the Commonwealth.
The Face of Global & Local Relocation
Veronica Seva-Gonzalez, Vice President | Compass | VSG Homes
Let Veronica help you in Arlington, Falls Church and McLean. She will connect you with her local and international network, which she has been building for 21 years. She delivers extensive expertise, creativity and dedication. See what her clients say:
“Our family moved to Arlington in 2023. Veronica helped us navigate the market and find a perfect home. As a resident in the community, her inside knowledge of neighborhoods, the market and the area were instrumental in helping us decide where to settle.
She helped us buy a home and move into the community. And then, surprisingly, we were reassigned and moved in August 2025. We asked Veronica for help again. Her steady professionalism, sound advice, keen insights and dedication helped us successfully navigate another stressful housing transaction.
The Face of Global Banking State Department Federal Credit Union
State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) is a trusted financial partner for members living, working and traveling around the world. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Foreign Service professionals, government employees and Americans living abroad, SDFCU delivers secure and reliable banking that travels effortlessly across borders.
Through quick digital card issuance, an intuitive Digital Banking platform and Wise integration for fast and affordable
international transfers and bill payments, SDFCU’s solutions are built to meet the needs of a global lifestyle. By combining worldwide reach with personalized support, SDFCU empowers you to manage your finances with ease, no matter where life takes you. To learn more about how SDFCU is reshaping banking and to join today, visit SDFCU.org.
703-706-5000 SDFCU.org
MICHAEL VENTURA
From left: Sam Salmon, Jim Hayes, Tim Mihill, Josh Barrett, Rachel Rust, Marella Nardotti, Jimmie Dobbs, Nate Robertson and Jeff Margeson
The Face of HVAC
Arlington Heating and Air Conditioning
For Arlington Heating and Air Conditioning, the mission has remained the same since 1944: treat every customer like a neighbor and every home like your own.
Family-owned and operated for over 80 years, the company stands apart in an industry that is increasingly dominated by corporate ownership. Instead of answering to investors, Arlington Heating and Air Conditioning answers to the community it has served for generations.
Their technicians combine decades of experience with a
commitment to honest recommendations and dependable workmanship. It’s a philosophy that has earned the trust of thousands of Arlington homeowners.
The result is something rare in today’s marketplace: a local company that still believes relationships matter. For families across Arlington, that difference is felt every time they call.
2026 FACES
MICHAEL VENTURA
The Face of Health
Care
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine is excited to bring its exceptional care to Northern Virginia communities with locations in McLean and Arlington, and West Falls Church coming soon. These new, state-ofthe-art locations and experienced care teams offer primary and specialty care, including internal medicine, gynecology and obstetrics, cardiology, ophthalmology, sub-specialties, and more. With convenience in mind, patients have access to on-site lab services and virtual care options. Both locations provide easy, on-site parking. The Arlington location is easily accessible by Metro via the Ballston Station sky bridge.
Johns Hopkins Medicine’s integrated network of community-based practices and hospitals in the region includes Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. and Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD.
From left: Neha Chavali, M.D.; Mariam Gomaa, M.D.; Charlotte Gopinath, M.D.; Gabriel Ivey, M.D.; Maria Kiely, M.D.; Isabel Deakins, O.D.; Maryam Mohammadi, M.D.; Emerson Que, M.D.; Eunice Hwang, O.D.; Erika Pashai, M.D.; Rachael Miller Levy, M.D. and Rihab Sayed, D.P.T.
2026 FACES
MICHAEL VENTURA
The Face of Implants & Veneers
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP Siranli Dental
As a Board-Certified Prosthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology, Dr. Siranli holds the highest distinction in the field.
Dr. Siranli is renowned for crafting transformative smiles that enhance her patient’s natural beauty and compliment their unique facial features. She combines expertise and artistry with advanced technology to achieve stunning results.
Dr. Siranli’s state-of-the-art, in-house lab is unique. Technicians craft veneers and crowns onsite, collaborating directly with doctors and patients to achieve the best aesthetic and functional results. With patients often traveling across the country for her care, Dr. Siranli has become the trusted name for veneers, implants and full-mouth rehabilitations.
Siranli Dental has locations in Clarendon, Crystal City, McLean, Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom.
Founded in 1889, Rust Insurance Agency is proud to be recognized as the nation’s oldest continuously operating insurance broker. For more than 135 years, Rust has advised organizations, associations, businesses and families with a steady focus on expertise, integrity and long-term relationships. Today, the firm is led by President Billy Simons, who continues the agency’s tradition of hands-on leadership and client advocacy. Rust’s dedicated team brings deep experience across professional liability, management liability, cyber and specialized commercial coverages with particular strength in serving nonprofit and association clients, while also providing personal insurance solutions for individuals and families. While the firm embraces modern risk strategies and evolving market dynamics, its foundation remains the same: trusted counsel, personalized service and a commitment to protecting clients for generations.
MICHAEL VENTURA
The Face of Investment Management
Campus Private Wealth
At CPW, your portfolio will be handmade. Crafted to match your individual goals and timeframe. No cookie-cutter or roboportfolios, period. Volatility of the markets in 2026 is a reminder that expertise and experience in all types of markets is where we add the most value.
Portfolio construction is different for every investor. We prefer utilizing mostly individual companies, relying less on mutual or exchange-traded funds. CPW was built by Arlington residents for Arlington residents. In a world with AI everywhere, we think
personal service and getting to know you and your family faceto-face is paramount. Our mandate:
• Develop, grow and protect your net worth.
• Distribute after-tax income as needed in retirement or other phases of your life.
• Legacy planning to guide families through wealth transitions.
2026 FACES
The Face of
Invisalign
Dr. Stephanie Simmonett | Siranli Dental
For patients considering Invisalign, Dr. Stephanie Simmonett is the popular choice due to her impressive skills and friendly chairside manner. With nearly a decade of cosmetic and general dentistry experience, Dr. Simmonett ensures every Invisalign treatment is tailored for precision, comfort and efficiency. Siranli Dental is a Diamond Invisalign Provider, a distinction earned through demonstrated expertise and outstanding patient results. Whether guiding patients through Invisalign or providing comprehensive dental services, Dr. Simmonett believes that
great dental care starts with listening. She takes time to understand each patient’s needs, answer all their questions and create customized treatment plans that align with their goals. With a reputation for innovation and a commitment to excellence, Dr. Simmonett is a trusted provider to those seeking straighter teeth, healthier smiles and personalized dental care.
Erik Boone and Morgan Boone Aschenbach | Boone & Sons Jewelers
The Boone family offers decades of intimate, long‑lasting relationships with Northern Virginians and customers across the region. From engagements and weddings to anniversaries and other life milestones, families have trusted Boone & Sons to help mark their most meaningful moments. That sense of connection is rooted in the warm, familial atmosphere that has defined the business since its founding, creating a tradition that continues from one generation to the next.
Today, the legacy lives on through David Boone’s children:
graduate gemologist Erik Boone, Amanda Flood and Morgan Aschenbach, who bring family experience and a deep love for their work. Their commitment to exceptional care, expert guidance and a wide range of invaluable services ensures that every customer feels supported, understood and part of a longstanding community tradition.
703-734-3997
www.booneandsons.com
The Face of
Ken Nysmith | Nysmith School
Nysmith School redefines what education can be, blending advanced academics with a joyful, inspiring environment where students love to learn. Designed for curious, motivated learners, Nysmith encourages children to think deeply, ask questions, and approach challenges with creativity and confidence. Students are immersed in hands-on, learning experiences across science, technology, engineering and math, including robotics and coding. With academic programs that can advance students up to four
grade levels ahead in reading and math, Nysmith nurtures both exceptional growth and enthusiasm for learning. It is this balance of challenge, innovation and excitement that has helped earn Nysmith national recognition as a Top Private School in the U.S. Families from across the region and beyond are drawn to a school experience that feels both exceptional and joyful.
703-713-3332 | www.nysmith.com
The Face of
Kindergarten Reimagined
Lauren Harris, Director | Little Ambassadors’ Academy
Little Ambassadors’ Academy (LAA) is redefining what kindergarten looks like by blending academic excellence with curiosity, creativity and confidence-building experiences. At LAA, children learn through exploration, hands-on discovery and meaningful social interactions that prepare them not only for school, but for lifelong learning.
The kindergarten classroom emphasizes strong literacy and math foundations while nurturing critical thinking, collaboration and emotional intelligence. “Our goal is to build confident learners
who love asking questions and discovering the world around them,” says Lauren Harris. Through small class sizes, experienced educators and a thoughtfully designed curriculum, LAA provides an environment where children thrive academically and socially. By focusing on the whole child, Little Ambassadors’ Academy is truly reimagining the kindergarten experience for today’s families.
703-650-1155
www.littleaacademy.com
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From top left:
Robert D. Brant, Shareholder
Timothy J. Clewell, Shareholder
Thomas J. Colucci, Shareholder
Nicholas V. Cumings, Shareholder
Zachary M. Fountain, Land Use Planner
Emma Goetzman, Associate
H. Mark Goetzman, Managing Shareholder
Michael R. Kieffer, Shareholder
Jessica E. Kraus, Associate
Antonia E. Miller, Shareholder
Bailey E. Morris-Rondeau, Associate
Andrew A. Painter, Shareholder
M. Catharine Puskar, Shareholder
Allison Reynolds, Shareholder
Katherine L. Schlinke, Associate
Peyton Smetana, Associate
Kathleen Harney Smith, Shareholder
Lynne J. Strobel, Shareholder
Bernard S. Suchicital, Land Use Planner
Kathryn R. Taylor, Shareholder
Susan L. Truskey, Shareholder
Jessica T. Washington, Associate
Elliott M. Young, Land Use Planner
The Face of Land Use & Zoning Law
Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, PC
The Planning Team
For four decades, this team has been at the forefront of land use and zoning law in Northern Virginia, guiding clients through complex approvals across Arlington, Prince William, Loudoun, Winchester and surrounding counties. With deep roots in local governments and communities, they ensure a seamless process from concept to completion.
Their experience spans projects of all scales, from drive-thru restaurants to Fortune 500 headquarters. They address critical issues such as community impact, environmental sustainability, historic preservation and affordable housing.
Backed by top legal and planning talent, many of whom are active in civic and political organizations, the firm combines trusted relationships with local authorities and an unparalleled understanding of the region to help clients add significant value to their assets, benefiting not only their organizations but the communities in which they operate.
Arlington homeowners expect more. More beauty. More function. More intention. Amanda McNiff delivers all of it. She brings a rare combination of horticultural expertise and design instinct to every project. A Virginia Tech Horticulture graduate with over a decade of experience, she has transformed ordinary yards into extraordinary outdoor environments.
“Arlington families are busy, and their outdoor spaces should work as hard as they do and look just as polished,” says Amanda. “I design with the way people actually live in mind: spaces that are beautiful enough to impress guests and relaxing enough to make you forget the workday.”
Whether you’re envisioning a refined garden retreat, a custom stone patio or a complete backyard transformation, Amanda and the Kingstowne team are ready to bring it to life.
703-921-9200 | www.KingstowneLawn.com
The Face of Luxury Real Estate
Diane Lewis
With deep roots in Arlington and a lifelong connection to the community, Diane Lewis is a trusted name in luxury real estate across North Arlington and McLean. As a leading agent with Washington Fine Properties and a consistent Arlington Magazine Top Producer, she delivers exceptional results with discretion, strategy and integrity.
Her expertise encompasses homes of all price points in Arlington and McLean, where thoughtful marketing, strong
negotiation and refined presentation define every listing. Clients value her honest guidance, deep market insight and unwavering commitment to protecting their interests.
Having grown up in Arlington, Diane brings unmatched local knowledge and long-standing relationships to every transaction, insight that is both professional and personalized.
703-973-7001 | LewisTeam.com
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The Face of
Luxury Travel
Cindy and Danny Toukan | Toukan International Travels
As a husband-and-wife team, their path into luxury travel design was shaped by years of living abroad in Europe during Danny’s federal government career. That chapter of their lives immersed them in different cultures, languages and ways of life, fostering a deep understanding of travel as more than a destination—it’s an experience.
“Today, we bring that global perspective to every journey we design,” says Cindy. From refined luxury escapes and immersive cultural adventures to unforgettable expedition travel, Toukan
Travels creates seamless, highly personalized itineraries with exceptional attention to detail. Through trusted global partnerships, exclusive access and expert insight, the company transforms their clients’ travel aspirations into extraordinary, tailor-made experiences for those who seek the exceptional.
Cindy: 813-624-8099
Danny: 813-625-9951
ToukanTravels.com
The Face of
McLean Real Estate
Nikki Nabi | RLAH Real Estate
For Nikki Nabi, real estate has always been about people, community and trust. A Vienna native and longtime McLean area resident, Nikki leads the NNTeam at RLAH @properties with a relationshipdriven approach that places clients at the center of every transaction. Her work throughout McLean, Arlington, Great Falls, Vienna and the greater Washington region reflects a deep understanding of the neighborhoods she knows so well.
Nikki is known for her thoughtful guidance, strategic marketing and commitment to delivering a seamless experience from start to finish. Beyond her work with clients, she remains actively involved in the local community and schools, strengthening the connections that have shaped her career. Nikki’s dedication to both her clients and the community continues to make her a trusted presence in the luxury real estate market.
703-725-6981 nikki@nikkinabi.com | nikkinabi.com
The Face of Military PCS Expertise
Heidi Robbins, Realtor
Heidi Robbins is a military spouse and Realtor who personally navigated 12 moves during her husband’s military career. She understands the uncertainty of waiting on orders, pressure of tight timelines and what it means to house hunt from across the world.
After PCS’ing to Arlington twice, her children graduated from Arlington Public Schools, giving her firsthand knowledge of the community military families step into. With more than 500 transactions, Heidi specializes in helping service members and their families transition smoothly to the region. She’s highly experienced with VA financing, including complex VA loan assumptions that can give military buyers a powerful edge. From sight-unseen purchases to strategic rental searches, she blends lived PCS experience with deep local expertise to help military families land well and feel at home quickly.
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The Face of Northern
Virginia Real Estate
Eli Tucker RLAH Real Estate
Eli’s commitment to advising, not selling, his clients is highlighted by his weekly real estate column “Ask Eli” for Arlington’s ARLnow local news publication. Since 2015, he has authored 550+ articles offering valuable advice and data analysis on a wide range of local and national real estate topics. He is considered to be one of Arlington’s leading experts in residential real estate, and he is currently expanding his expertise by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Real Estate at George Mason University’s Arlington campus.
Eli preaches a client-first approach in everything Eli Residential Group does, with experience ranging from new construction, home sale services, first-time home buyers and investors. Clients receive a highly personalized level of service through every step of the transaction, no matter their budget or timeline.
703-539-2529
Eli@eliresidential.com
Eliresidential.com
The Face of Outdoor Living
For years, area homeowners have turned to Groff Landscapes for useable, custom, livable outdoor spaces. Family-owned and operated, the company designs and builds all elements essential to outdoor living and entertainment, including patios, pools, decks, walkways, retaining walls and landscaping. Led by Robert Groff, the expert team creates a low-stress experience with outstanding craftsmanship, clear communication and meticulous management of every aspect of your project. The
company has earned client kudos and awards from Houzz, Arlington Magazine and Angie’s List.
“We create outdoor spaces our clients love! As part of our service, we guarantee both our timeline and pricing. Life is busy and our goal is to ensure an easy process, so you can stay focused on what’s important in your day,” says Groff.
The Face of
Personal Injury Law
Sher, Cummings & Ellis
Our firm is committed to securing just outcomes for individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted. We handle complex matters, including car and bicycle collisions, and have achieved multimillion-dollar results. We recently resolved a wrongful death case, obtaining a $4 million settlement for the decedent’s family. We handle criminal and civil matters as well, consistently delivering strong results. With experience across criminal, civil and personal injury law, we focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for every client.
Mr. Cummings has served for over 25 years as an adjunct professor at Scalia Law School, guiding future lawyers in ethics and excellence. He also serves as president of the George Mason Inns of Court, an organization of local judges and lawyers mentoring aspiring attorneys.
From left: (on bench) Solomon Sefera, Shelby Crahan, Alexa Grech and Grace Cummings; (standing) Attorney Mark D. Cummings, Nadia Butaal and Attorney David E. Sher
The Face of Pizza
pie-tanza
For more than two decades, pie-tanza has been a beloved neighborhood gathering spot in the Lee Harrison Center, serving authentic wood-fired pizza; fresh, made-to-order salads; and classic Italian dishes. The restaurant blends traditional flavors with a warm welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual lunch, a family dinner or takeout, pie-tanza continues to be a destination for locals. We’re proud to continue serving our neighbors and celebrating
2026 FACES
the community that has supported us for so many years. Open 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. seven days a week for dine-in, carry-out, curbside and catering. Come visit to see why pie-tanza remains an Arlington favorite.
703-237-0200 | www.pie-tanza.com A local tradition celebrating 20+ years in Arlington.
The Face of Professional Painting Tech Painting Company, Inc.
Your Vision, Our Craftsmanship—Since 1987, Tech Painting Co. has redefined service excellence in the painting industry, delivering superior results and customer experiences. Specialized divisions for residential, commercial and school facility services showcase deep expertise and commitment to client needs.
With over 10,000 satisfied customers—more than 90 percent from repeat business or referrals—the company is known for reliable service, long-term relationships and top-tier craftsmanship. Skilled professionals, many with over a decade
of experience, specialize in interior and exterior painting, wallpaper services and carpentry.
Every project is approached with care and precision to bring each client’s vision to life. Beyond the work, Tech Painting Co. is deeply community-focused, contributing over $750,000 in donations and volunteer support. Excellence, reliability and community define this trusted industry leader.
The Face of Rethinking Education
One Student at a Time
Casey Pina, Head of School | Fusion Academy Alexandria
At Fusion Academy Alexandria, education is intentionally designed—one student at a time. Their one-to-one model allows for precise, individualized instruction, while the team operates with a high level of collaboration and professional rigor. The teachers and administrative team work in close coordination, sharing insights and data to ensure each student’s academic plan and social-emotional growth are approached with depth, consistency and expertise.
The school is both thoughtful and exacting in its work—
balancing care with accountability and personalization with proven practice. “We are your community education partner, remaining accessible, responsive and welcoming of conversations with all families. Because for students who have yet to find where they truly belong, Fusion is the place to fit in,” says Pina.
703-535-3130 www.fusionacademy.com
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The Face of
Roofing
Pond Roofing | Pat and Cindy Readyhough
Pond Roofing has been serving Northern Virginia homeowners since 1964, building its reputation on craftsmanship, communication and customer care. Founded by Bob Pond, the locally owned company has grown through decades of trusted service and referrals from generations of residents.
Today, owners Pat Readyhough and Cindy Readyhough lead a team of skilled professionals specializing in roofing, windows, doors and siding. While the company has expanded, its mission remains the same: deliver quality work and a
smooth, peaceful experience for every homeowner. The Pond Roofing team takes pride in professionalism, attention to detail and standing behind every project. “We’re proud of the reputation we’ve built with our community,” says Pat. Cindy adds, “Our longevity comes from doing the right thing for the building and taking care of our customers.”
703-573-8000 www.pondroofing.com
The Face of
Therapy
& Sleep Apnea
Jeffrey L. Brown, DDS, MBA | Sleep & TMJ Therapy
Dr. Brown spent many years practicing as a general dentist before realizing just how much remained unclear about conditions like TMJ and sleep disorders. He found that these two complex issues appear to be increasingly common and often require solutions beyond conventional dentistry or surgical interventions.
Over the course of his career, he has provided relief to countless individuals experiencing chronic pain in the head and neck, as well as those struggling with c-pap intolerance.
This experience has granted him a unique understanding and approach, setting him apart from many who focus solely on routine dental care. Dr. Brown has gained expertise in advanced methods designed to improve airway function, helping both children and adults achieve better breathing and overall painfree health.
703-821-1103 www.SleepandTMJTherapy.com
The Face of True Partnership in Real Estate
Candee Currie, Realtor and Associate Broker
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
What do you want in a real estate partner? Someone to help you make that next move in an ever-changing Northern Virginia housing market. Who can partner with you every step of the way.
Someone you trust. With experience and integrity. With a track record of success. Someone who takes care of the details, large and small.
That’s what Candee Currie offers. Why? “Real estate is a people business,” she says. “It’s not just a bricks and mortar
transaction. It’s about people’s lives.”
Candee is a problem solver. She’s creative. An innovator. You and Candee will work together, start to finish, to get the right outcome for you. To bring your hopes and dreams within reach.
With Candee it’s a true partnership—with excellence start to finish—like no other.
703-203-6005 | sothebysrealty.com/candee currie
The Face of Trusted Financial Advice
Wealth Enhancement Group | Washington Wealth Team
This group serves clients who seek a sophisticated, elevated approach to managing their wealth. The team provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management designed to bring clarity, structure and intention to those with complex financial lives.
“As fiduciaries, we’re committed to placing your goals and best interests at the center of every decision. Our independent advice is tailored to help you make informed, confident choices as your needs, priorities and opportunities evolve,” says Todd Youngdahl.
The team delivers a refined experience—combining deep
knowledge with a longterm perspective. They help streamline complexity, coordinate key financial priorities and offer thoughtful guidance through each transition. With a trusted partner by your side, you can move forward with greater confidence and a clearer sense of control over your financial future.
From left: Joshua Graham Nina Lansky Falci Maura Schauss, CFP®
Todd Youngdahl, CFP®
Lynne Celia, CFP® Nichel Mitchell
Robert Schneider, CFP®
The Face of
Trusted Real Estate Guidance
John Mentis, Realtor | Long & Foster Real Estate
Most real estate agents focus on the transaction. I focus on the transition.
A home purchase or sale sits at the intersection of finances, timing, family and long-term goals. My role is to understand the full picture and guide clients with clarity, discretion and sound judgment. Every recommendation is grounded in data, experience and a clear view of how today’s decision will age over time.
I work deliberately and selectively, allowing me to provide a high level of personal attention and strategic thinking. My
counsel is candid, my process structured and my standards exacting. In a market often driven by urgency and noise, I provide perspective and calm.
I don’t simply help clients move property. I help them move forward—confidently and well advised.
Start your day off on the right foot! When we begin our morning with a walk and grab coffee at the Colada Shop in Clarendon, our brains can get a dopamine rush before the day even begins. Meanwhile, driving can register as stress as we sit in traffic and circle for parking.
Arlington’s most walkable neighborhoods, with easy access to errands, groceries, gift shops and restaurants, make daily living easier and healthier. That’s the lifestyle Alyssa helps her clients find.
Known for her compassionate approach and full concierge service, Alyssa pairs smart strategy with thoughtful guidance for her clients.
Our neighborhood shapes our daily rhythm and sense of community. Finding the right home and healthy lifestyle you’re seeking starts with Alyssa’s signature blend of local expertise and genuine care.
703-585-8167
alyssacannon.com
The Face of Wealth Management
Evermay Wealth Management | Wealth Beyond Numbers
At Evermay, we believe wealth is more than a number. It’s about the freedom to live fully, give generously, and shape the legacy you want to leave.
Through our Family Office approach, you have an integrated team coordinating your wealth management, proactive tax planning, preparation and filing, and estate planning services, so every moving piece of your financial life works together—not in silos.
As a fee-only fiduciary, we offer year-round outreach and
thoughtful guidance with only your best interests in mind. That’s how we help you live A Richer Life.
Let’s start the conversation.
| evermay.com
The Face of
Young Learners
Congressional School | Falls Church, VA
At Congressional School, each child’s journey begins in a community designed just for them, from infancy through 8th grade. Specializing in the formative years, Congressional’s facilities and programs are tailored specifically to meet the needs of young learners. In its “early-childhood-throughmiddle-school” model, 8th graders aren’t stuck in the middle; they are the leaders of the pack. This senior status provides students with a unique platform to discover their strengths, ensuring they enter high school with a clear sense of self
and the conviction to succeed. Navigating the high school selection process with expert mentorship, students experience a valuable “dry run” for their future college search, building self-awareness and confidence that will serve them well as they pursue their future ambitions.
From bottomless tapas to pancakes and waffles, these menus are stacked.
BY ADELE CHAPIN
Bottomless brunch at Sabores Tapas Bar
Cafe Kindred
The pork sausage gravy that accompanies the scratch-made cheddar chive biscuits at this casual Falls Church eatery is so good that the team held a brainstorming session to figure out how else they could use it. The answer: a hit breakfast poutine that finds the same toothsome, housemade gravy smothering French fries, breakfast potatoes or tater tots gilded with cheese and sunny-side-up eggs. On weekends, the cafe becomes a laptop-free zone where conversation flows easily. Brunch is a come-as-youare affair, even if that means the kids show up in their PJs to enjoy pancakes, scrambled eggs, muffins and banana bread. A Britpop theme finds guitars mounted on the walls, Oasis on the speakers, Heinz English Beans on the menu and English Premier League soccer on the flat screen telly at the bar. Thanks to the time difference, the games are often perfectly timed to the brunch hour. 450 N. Washington St., Falls Church, cafekindred.com
Pancakes, pastries, yogurt
parfaits and poutine at Cafe Kindred
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
The live jazz at this congenial spot owned by Louisiana natives David Guas and Simone Rathle is as much of a draw as the pillowy beignets that arrive in a flurry of powdered sugar. On Sundays, local quartet Les Quatre Boulevardiers plays upbeat swing and ’50s jazz standards while a rattan cocktail cart roams the dining room, offering seasonal spritzers (think pear-ginger or elderflower-grapefruit) with or without booze. Chef Guas demonstrates his mastery of Southern comfort foods with dishes such as blue crab-topped deviled eggs and buttermilk pancakes served with Chantilly cream and banana-rum caramel. Classic shrimp and grits get a local twist in the form of white corn grits that are custom ground for the restaurant at the historic George Washington’s Gristmill near Mount Vernon. 6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, neutralgroundbarandkitchen.com
Jazz brunch with cocktails at Neutral Ground
Les Quatres Boulevardiers
Smokecraft Modern Barbecue
Pitmaster Andrew Darneille aims to push the limits of what barbecue can be, and he’s getting creative with a newly reimagined brunch menu at his handsome ’cue joint in Clarendon. Case in point: a gigantic cinnamon roll baked in a smoker using cinnamon sticks as wood. Every menu item is “kissed” with smoke—from the Monte Cristo sandwich on Texas toast to the mimosas and bellinis incorporating grilled or smoked fruit. Tempted to try a little of everything? A $40 bottomless brunch brings two hours of unlimited small plates, including new additions such as smoked cauliflower quiche, mini chicken and waffles, grilled portobello flatbread and bagels with house-smoked salmon. The kitchen also turns out eight kinds of Benedicts topped with your choice of protein—from pork belly to crab cakes—plus a poached egg and chipotle hollandaise sauce. 1051 N. Highland St., Arlington, smokecraftbbq.com
House-smoked salmon, pork belly Benedict and smoked avocado toast at Smokecraft DEB
Godfrey’s Bakery Cafe
Godfrey McKenzie has the magic touch of a pastry chef, and his namesake bakery in Falls Church is a testament to his talents. Visitors pass by stylish shelves of coconut macarons and brioche loaves en route to ordering at a massive marble-topped case filled with even more goodies, from flaky kouign-amann to strawberry-custard Danish. The daily morning menu is decadent enough, with choices like Bananas Foster French toast with white chocolate mousse and caramelized walnuts. But the place becomes even more tantalizing on weekends, when diners can tuck into dulce de leche pancakes with snickerdoodle cookie crumbles, or a savory breakfast pizza topped with Brussels sprouts and smoked applewood bacon. A dog-friendly covered patio is where you’ll find a special pup menu touting selections such as a “Barkin’ Good Chicken Bowl,” and blueberry and brown rice waffles for dogs (known as “Blueberry Woofles”). 421 W. Broad St., Falls Church, godfreysbakerycafe.com
Eat dessert first: Bananas Foster French toast at Godfrey's
Little Falls Cafe
On the outside, this Little City creperie looks like a gingerbread house, and that’s just the icing on its cottagecore aesthetic. Inside, it’s a visual feast of fancy and filigree, with Delft tiles, still life paintings, Tyrolean farmhouse chairs and Old World knickknacks rounding out the decor. Waitresses swan around in lace kerchiefs and flowing aprons, delivering sweet, fruit-topped crepes and savory buckwheat galettes stuffed with ham, Gruyere and a sunny side up egg or smoked salmon and herbed crème fraîche. The overall effect is “adorable,” the diners next to me declared, as they sat down to a table set with mismatched enamelware cups and vintage plates. Lovingly curated by owners Enzo and Anastasiya Algarme (the power duo behind Pupatella pizzeria), the café serves brunchtime drinks ranging from pistachio lattes to cherry mimosas. And the experience is sweet from start to finish. My bill arrived alongside Italian candies and a tiny pair of Dutch wooden shoes. 106 Little Falls St., Falls Church, littlefallscafe.us
Crepes and galettes at Little Falls Cafe
A croissant sandwich at Godfrey's
Harvey’s
There’s no missing the DIY Bloody Mary bar with its plethora of pickles, accoutrements and hot sauces (including a house-made honey-butter scorcher) at this neighborhood haunt in Falls Church City. It’s set up near the host stand, where the host who greets you may well be chef-owner Thomas Harvey himself. The pancakes here are the size of dinner plates, but a quick scan of the dining room confirms the popularity of Harvey’s supremely customizable breakfast sandwich platter. Go with a preset combo such as the “Forager” (fluffy scrambled eggs, charred mushrooms, Swiss and “IPA-ioli”), or build your own masterpiece with your choice of bread, protein, cheese and spreads. Brunch service begins at 9 a.m.—perfect for early risers and families with young kids. A bartender tossed a toy to my fussy baby in her highchair, while my 5-year-old loved looking at the restaurant’s chalk art and hunting for drawings of its unofficial mascot—a little cartoon of a strawberry bonbon. Speaking of which, you can grab a couple of those fruity candies on your way out. 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church, harveysva.com
Harvey's Dirty Bird sandwich with pimento cheese and Frito-crusted fried green tomato
COURTESY
Maison Cheryl
Chef Robert Maher loves brunch so much that he thought it a shame to limit it to the weekends. That’s why, seven days a week, you can pop by this cute Clarendon bistro and dig into a Dutch baby pancake doused in chocolate; French toast that’s torched creme brûlée-style and served with berries and creme Anglaise; or a Swiss burger au poivre with frites. The restaurant feels Parisian, with a big marble bar, painted brick walls and cane-backed seating. But Maher, who trained at the French Culinary Institute, likes to get creative in the kitchen, blending elements of new American cuisine with traditional French fare. One of his brunch originals is a beautiful rolled omelet stuffed with the elements of a Philly cheesesteak and finished with a drizzle of truffle oil. 2900 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, maisoncheryl.com
Mark’s Duck House
Stainless steel carts laden with Cantonese delights careen through the dining room of this no-frills dim sum destination, a Falls Church institution since 1986. On weekends, come early or be prepared to wait around for your number to be called over a loudspeaker. Once seated, pour yourself some tea, crane your neck for a peek at whatever has landed on neighboring tables, and prepare for temptations such as roast pork with crispy skin, Chinese broccoli, and myriad varieties of dumplings, spring rolls and buns. For adventurous palates, the specialties also include options like snails and chicken feet. On the sweet side, discover fried dough balls studded with sesame seeds, silky egg custard tarts and bowls of tofu floating in a fragrant ginger broth. Pro tip: Don’t order too much off the first cart that comes by, like I did. The carts will keep on rolling with an everexpanding array of choices. This is a marathon, not a sprint. 6184-a Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Dim sum at Mark's Duck House
Crab Benedict at Maison Cheryl
Makers Union
Looking to feed a hungry bunch? The family-style unlimited brunch ($34 per person; $13.95 for kids under 10) at this National Landing eatery delivers plates upon plates of faves like cornflake-crusted French toast with maple-pecan praline syrup; fried chicken and waffles with honey butter and bourbon maple syrup; and cinnamon roll pancakes. For folks whose preferences lean more savory, the choices include breakfast nachos with bacon and chorizo; smashed avocado toast on focaccia; and smoked salmon lox on sourdough with lemon-parsley cream cheese. A Bloody Mary garnished with celery, bacon, a deviled egg and an everything-bagelspice rim is almost a meal in itself. Espresso martini fans will appreciate the nitropressured machine behind the bar (created in partnership with Gray Goose vodka) that produces a frothy, caffeinated cocktail at the perfect temperature in seconds. 1450 S. Eads St., Arlington, makersunionpub.com
Chicken and waffles at Makers Union
Sabores Tapas Bar
The bottomless brunch at this Columbia Pike establishment is all about tapas, but the small plates aren’t limited to Spanish mainstays like chicken croquettes, gazpacho and patatas bravas. Regulars also flock in for Latin American favorites such as tequenos (Venezuelan fried cheese sticks served with guava sauce), patacones (Colombia’s popular dish of fried green plantains topped with shrimp or shredded chicken) and feijoada, a classic Brazilian stew made with black beans and beef broth. How much can you put away over the course of two hours? For $32.99 per person you can find out, while simultaneously indulging in $1 mimosas (try tropical flavors like passion fruit or tamarind for an extra buck) and $5 margaritas and sangria drinks. On select Sundays, live music performed by a flamenco-style guitarist makes it even more of a party. 2401 Columbia Pike, Arlington, saboresva.com
Ballston Local
If your idea of the perfect brunch includes beer and sports, stop by this Ballston watering hole for a “kegs & eggs” menu, available on weekends from noon to 5 p.m. This is the type of straightforward, easygoing food you can order while watching college football or NFL games—think fried egg-topped burgers, breakfast sandwiches on brioche buns, and a shareable white breakfast pizza loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheddar, bagel spice and a drizzle of maple syrup. The craft beer list highlights Virginia-made suds, and select draft beers are $2 off during brunch. Other boozy bevs include Bloody Mary pints and mimosas (by the glass or bottle) with your choice of orange, pineapple or grapefruit juice. 900 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, ballstonlocal.com ■
Sabores Tapas Bar on Columbia Pike
The Baller egg sandwich at Ballston Local
MICHAEL VENTURA
Beer isn't the only beverage offering at Bronson Bierhall in Ballston.
PickYour
Booze consumption is falling, but the desire to unwind isn’t. Is weed the new alcohol?
BY GABE HIATT
Among the busy suburban moms, alcohol is a release. They gather over drinks in living rooms, on front porches, at school auctions and charity events. They cook and vacation together, opening bottles and spilling their feelings about parenthood, work stress and everyday life. The dads drink, too, of course, but the women have been labeled “wine moms.” Some have the decorative pillows to prove it.
For Carrie, who asked not to use her real name for professional reasons, it all began to feel like too much time at the club—the book club “It just turns into a big party scene,” says Carrie, who owns a small business in Arlington.
Carrie knew she needed to step back, but she still wanted to take the edge off. Then, two things happened: She began taking GLP-1 drugs to manage her weight, and she discovered edible cannabis. She no longer felt a physical desire to drink. And it had never been easier to find gummies.
An occasional weed smoker, Carrie says she took to edibles during a trip to New York with a girlfriend and realized she preferred the “buzz” of cannabis over alcohol. It helped her focus. After averaging two hangovers a week for two decades, she loved waking up without a headache, nausea or the sinking feeling of regret. And if she needed
to perform a menial task like cleaning the garage, weed ensured she’d crush it with a smile.
“I’ve never done anything that I’ve regretted when I’m stoned, but I’ve done stuff I’ve regretted on alcohol,” Carrie says. “Anybody who drinks regularly has woken up like, ‘What did I just say? What did I do last night?’”
ATTITUDES ABOUT ALCOHOL and cannabis are shifting in the U.S., and Northern Virginia is no exception.
In a Gallup poll last year, 54% of Americans said they drink alcohol, the lowest number in the history of a survey that has been conducted since 1939. (Peak consumption occurred from 1976 to 1978, when 71% of respondents said they were inclined to partake.)
A 2025 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General identified alcohol as a leading preventable cause of cancer, responsible for 20,000 deaths nationwide per year.
Meanwhile, marijuana has gone mainstream. Popping a gummy or sipping a THC seltzer has taken away the skunky scent—and some of the stigma—of getting high, with the added benefit of bypassing the lungs.
In hindsight, Carrie says the decision to cut back on drinking and lean into cannabis feels like a no-brainer. A daily dose, sometimes smoked out of onehitter but more often consumed as a gummy, helps her unwind. It allows her to unplug from a news cycle that feels
“I’ve never done anything that I’ve regretted when I’m stoned, but I’ve done stuff I’ve regretted on alcohol.”
relentlessly depressing. “With all the crazy stuff that’s going on, sometimes I feel like I’m slipping into another dimension,” she says.
IN A METRO AREA populated by policy wonks, government workers and hard-driving entrepreneurs, cannabis stories often follow a familiar arc. People who experimented with weed as young adults, then abstained for years or decades, are now rediscovering it for medical or recreational use.
Many dabbled in college, but it became taboo as they applied for jobs requiring drug testing or security clearances. Years later, maybe a friend encouraged them to take a hit or try an edible to soothe their sore muscles and troubled minds. The rules were different. While still illegal under federal law, cannabis is now permitted in 24 states and Washington, D.C.
Jenni Hogan, 40, an Arlington mom and small business owner, has a medical license and uses weed as an alternative to alcohol to help her relax.
The first time she got high was in high school. She says she used cannabis recreationally on and off for years but stopped when her two children were very young. She’s recently become a more regular user. This year she observed “High January,” abstaining from alcohol, but enjoying the occasional gummy.
During the pandemic, Hogan felt her relationship with alcohol was getting unhealthy. She’d have a glass or two of wine or beer every other night, and at least one night of heavy drinking per week.
“I found that having a little bit of a gummy helps to give me that same sense of calm,” she says, “but not lose any sort of control or feel like I couldn’t function.”
She says her kids, now 8 and 10, know that her gummies are for grown-ups, and she keeps them locked away. According to public health data published in The New York Times, poison control centers reported 22,000 cannabis-related incidents in 2024, with more than 75% involving children or teenagers.
Whether she’s drinking or using cannabis, Hogan practices moderation.
She says it’s important that her kids can never tell she’s impaired. But they have seen her take edibles. She emphasizes that it’s a legal, prescribed product, no different than enjoying a glass of wine.
“I tend to be very open about my usage,” she says. “I’m a single mom. I’m taking care of my kids. This is still a choice that I’m making. I’m a responsible business owner. It’s a decision I’m not ashamed about.”
Jane, a therapist from South Arlington who asked not to use her real name for professional reasons, has followed a similar path back to pot. Her first introduction to it was during her student years at a small liberal arts college, when her friends would sometimes pack a bowl for the group.
A few years ago, she and her husband started hanging out with a couple who liked to smoke weed. One day their friends came by with THC-infused drops that could be used to mix drinks.
Jane says it’s been about two years since she decided to go “California sober”—cannabis, but no alcohol. She made the lifestyle change as more data became available about the health risks of drinking. Her family has a history of cancer.
Cannabis comes with its own health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that physical dependency on the drug is on the rise, and some research suggests that it may heighten the risk of stroke and heart disease. Other studies have linked marijuana use to poor classroom performance among children and teens and warned of its negative effects on developing brains.
For Jane, edibles have helped stop a pattern of drinking that began during the pandemic. At first, she and friends would make cocktails together over Zoom. Then they’d have beers outside while standing 10 feet apart and watching their kids play. She found herself socializing with other parents so much she felt like she was back in her 20s.
“It was a way of coping. It made things seem fun,” she says. “Once covid started to subside, the behavior definitely didn’t subside.”
IF
YOU WANT TO get high in Virginia, there are legal and quasi-legal ways to obtain marijuana. Since July 2021, state law has allowed Virginia residents 21 and older to possess and grow their own pot. Medical dispensaries are legal. Recreational sales, also known as adultuse, are not.
But there are loopholes within the 2018 Farm Bill, which lifted restrictions on the cultivation and interstate commerce of hemp, a plant species similar to marijuana. Retailers and restaurants may sell any plant-derived product that contains less than 0.3% of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) is a legal hemp product. So is a seltzer or gummy containing a low ratio of psychoactive THC to weight. (For example, a product with a CBD-to-THC ratio of 10:1 or 20:1.)
Wherever there’s a tobacco and vape shop, you’ll find other forms of THC, including Delta-8, THC-A and THC-P, all of which are technically legal through the Farm Bill—at least until November, when a more restrictive law is scheduled to take effect.
For now, Carrie purchases THC seltzers online from Cycling Frog, a cannabis company based in Seattle.
Jane orders gummies from Austinbased Earlybird. She says Instagram has gotten wise, flooding her feed with ads for edibles. (After I started researching brands for this story, I saw Cycling Frog pedaling through my Instagram Stories, too.)
“My algorithm knows I don’t drink anymore,” Jane says, “and now it’s like, how about this?”
Some Virginians skip mail-order and drive to Maryland, where adultuse dispensaries are legal, or into D.C., where illegal “gift shops” still operate as a holdover from the city’s murky
Initiative 71 era. (The gift shops sell items such as stickers and t-shirts at a significant mark-up, providing cannabis products as a complimentary “gift.” ) Medical dispensaries in the District are accessible to patients who go through a breezy self-certification process online; non-residents can apply for a 90-day registration or show eligibility through a license from their state.
In January alone, the state of Maryland recorded $554 million in total adult-use sales, including nearly $9 million in edibles, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
ARLINGTON’S ONLY medical dispensary is on Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon, across the street from Whole Foods. It occupies a nondescript black building with the name, Beyond Hello, spelled out in big white letters above the front door. This is where Hogan buys her gummies.
Inside, an airy waiting area features a plush sofa, leather-cushioned chairs and a staffed front desk. Visitors of legal age can scan QR codes to initiate
In Virginia, sales of medical cannabis eclipsed
$13 million every month from September 2025 through February 2026.
the process of signing up for a telemedicine appointment to obtain a medical license.
Customers who already have a medical marijuana license can browse a sales floor decorated with blond wood and abstract paintings with cool jazz playing in the background. The vibe isn’t unlike the lobby of a luxury highrise building or a cafe that sells geometric flowerpots for succulents.
I arrive at the dispensary for a tour as soon as it opens on a Saturday morning. Within 15 minutes, I’ve counted four customers.
“You’d be surprised at how many soccer moms or elderly folks are coming in here, whether that’s for chronic pain or looking for opportunities for helping them sleep,” says Trent Woloveck, chief
strategy director for Jushi, the national parent company of Beyond Hello.
Pristine glass cases display every kind of cannabis product imaginable. Turned off by smoking? In addition to flower (the harvested, dried buds of the cannabis plant), prerolls and vapes, there are THC edibles, tinctures and balms.
Most of the products are Jushi brands delivered from the company’s processing and cultivation facility in Manassas. Notable exceptions include Dogwalkers, a line of short, stubby joints from market giant Green Thumb Industries, and Rise and Rest gummies from Shayo, the Virginia cannabis company owned by Real Housewives of Potomac star Stacey Rusch. In one display case, the Shayo gummies are staged next to a sage smudge stick.
Store manager Ryan Milliken is the PIC—the pharmacist in charge. He’s wearing a polo shirt, gray slacks and dad shoes, and reminds me of Ken Jennings from Jeopardy! He doesn’t look like he ever says the word “dank.”
The term “budtender” is out of fashion, Milliken says, explaining that his role is more complex than simply steering people toward indica or sativa, the two main types of cannabis. Indica is distinguished by a sleepy, body high (aka “in da couch”) while sativa produces more of a heady, euphoric buzz. But today’s products aren’t necessarily one or the other. There are complex hybrids promising varying therapeutic effects. Milliken’s job is to help customers find the right match.
Because every product is tested in a state lab, he knows the percentage of chemical compounds called terpenes in each one. He may steer a customer in need of a sleep aid toward a product with a higher percentage of myrcene,
whereas someone seeking anti-inflammatory properties might benefit from one containing beta-caryophyllene.
As the PIC, Milliken also cautions patients about potentially harmful interactions with medicines they may already be taking. CBD shouldn’t be used in combination with the statin family of cholesterol drugs, he says. Some blood thinners should not be used with cannabis.
Beyond Hello fulfills its orders in a pharmacy behind a locked door to the showroom. Wire metal racks hold rows of stocked trays, each tagged with barcode identifying its place in the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority’s seed-to-sale tracking system. The room is clinical in appearance, yet unmistakably pungent.
Woloveck says Fridays are always busy at the dispensary because it’s payday and the start of the weekend. As holidays go, he adds, “Thanksgiving has become bigger than 4/20,” the unofficial national holiday for stoners.
According to data from the Virginia CCA, total sales of medical cannabis eclipsed $13 million every month from September 2025 through February 2026. In February, flower accounted for 41% of sales, with concentrates representing a close second, and infused edibles coming in at 17%.
At one point a notification pings Woloveck’s phone, and I see his screen light up. The background is a cartoon of Mr. Monopoly surrounded by weed plants, all spilling out of a brown sack marked Rx. State testing ensures the products Jushi sells are clear of yeast, mold, fungus and pesticides. He can’t say the same for the unregulated weed, gummies and vapes sold through Farm Bill loopholes at the tobacco shops around the block.
“That’s the beautiful thing about having it be a regulated market,” Woloveck says. “You know exactly what you’re consuming.”
If and when Virginia approves adultuse cannabis, Beyond Hello is prepared to serve medical patients and recreational customers alike. The current
Pharmacist Ryan Milliken (left) and chief strategy director Trent Woloveck at the Beyond Hello dispensary in Clarendon
“I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t feeling good physically the more alcohol I consumed.”
MICHAEL VENTURA
Arlington entrepreneur and bar owner Scott Parker
political climate is making that more probable. Former governor Glenn Youngkin twice vetoed a bill that would have created a framework for recreational sales, but current Gov. Abigail Spanberger has said she supports a legal cannabis market. She may soon get the chance to prove it. State House and Senate bills passed the General Assembly in February.
WEED ISN’T MERELY the drug of choice for former “wine moms” of a certain age. Gen Z’s declining interest in alcohol has been widely reported.
From 2023 to 2025, the percentage of Americans ages 18 to 34 who drink dropped from 59% to 50%, according to Gallup research. An analysis by the Bank of America Institute found that between 2014 and 2024, the total number of people ages 21 to 34 who reported binge drinking decreased by about 4 million.
The 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (the most recent report available) found 35% of people between the ages of 18 and 25 saying they’d used marijuana in the past year, representing a slight decrease from the numbers reported from 2021 to 2023.
Meshelle Armstrong, a restaurateur in Alexandria, attributes some of the drop in alcohol sales to cannabis, but disputes the notion that young adults don’t want to go out.
“This isn’t a stay-at-home generation. Don’t let anyone tell you that,” she says in a text message. “They still want the experience, vibe, conversation. They just arrive a little differently than they used to.”
Armstrong says younger customers are ordering fewer drinks but are more inclined to splurge. She designed her latest venture, the Parlour, with that in mind, serving Champagne, cocktails, top-shelf bourbons and boozy ice creams alongside chocolates and small bites in a space she describes as “Poe meets Parisian confectionary.”
Cannabis “did not kill the cocktail,” Armstrong says. “It just killed ordering the third or fourth one.”
THE DEMISE OF alcohol certainly seems greatly exaggerated during a late February happy hour at Bronson Bierhall in Ballston. It’s 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday and the bar is doing a brisk business in a space marked by communal tables underneath brick archways.
Corporate bros in quarter-zips and leather sneakers belly up to the copper-topped bar to order half-liters of beers from Virginia and Germany. Hardier types sport hats affiliated with one military branch or another. An AI technology company has its own corner reserved for a private event.
No one but me is here to get stoned.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services maintains a list of businesses that register to sell hemp products. Of the 12 listed for Arlington, only three are restaurants: Bronson Bierhall, Westover Taco and Cowboy Cafe.
When I ask about the cans of Higher Realm THC seltzers stored in a fridge full of beer, a nice bartender in a flannel shirt tells me she prefers the blueberry acai flavor over the Orange Crush, plus it has 0 grams of sugar. Each seltzer, produced in Atlanta, contains 2 milligrams of THC, the maximum allowed for sale of an edible product in the state of Virginia. There’s also 2 milligrams of nonpsychoactive CBD.
Over the next hour and a half, I drink three cans at $10 apiece. About 20 minutes in, I notice a tiny head rush, like a tingle behind my eyes. It feels like I’m hydrating. I become keenly aware of the squeak of fried cheese curds under my teeth as I watch spring training baseball and TGL golf on the wall-to-wall screens. I giggle to myself as I consider the idea of “flaming fajitas” in a literal sense.
I observe the crowd while sipping my silly soda and making conversation with a military contractor with an impressive mustache. Aside from one espresso martini, everyone else around me is drinking beer. When it’s time to take the Metro home, I leave with my wits pretty much intact.
Scott Parker is a partner in Bronson and dozens of other area businesses,
including Don Tito, Nighthawk Brewery & Pizza and the Bearded Goat Barber. He says the THC drinks have been selling relatively well in the six months since Bronson brought them on.
With the 2 milligram dose, he says, a customer could feasibly consume as many as four or five cans over the course of an evening. According to Parker, some patrons come to Bronson specifically because they know they can find the THC seltzers. Some may identify as California sober, like he does, and are delighted to find an option for them when they arrive in a group.
For first-timers, he adds, the familiar format of a 12-ounce can be less intimidating than cannabis in other forms.
Given its location two blocks from the Ballston Metro and its popularity for corporate events, Bronson is well positioned to remain a successful bar. Parker sees it as an exception. “Alcohol is facing an absolute reckoning,” he says. “I’ve been warning my bar-owning friends about this.”
For him, the reckoning is also deeply personal. He quit drinking 15 years ago.
“I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t feeling good physically the more alcohol I consumed,” he shares candidly. “I wasn’t the person I wanted to be. I wasn’t the family member I wanted to be. I wasn’t the businessman that I wanted to become. I was violent at times. I was angry. Marijuana on the other hand never really gave me any of those problems.”
The only downside? “Too much ice cream.”
Edibles are his preferred vice, typically sourced from legal dispensaries in Maryland or wherever he may be traveling that’s above board. As a daily user, he says he’s sometimes ingesting up to 40 milligrams when the workday is finished. “It’s been a great way for me to cope…take the edge off. An escape if you will.” ■
Gabe Hiatt is a food and travel writer based in Washington, D.C., who has led teams of reporters for Eater and The Washington Post.
Chef Rob Rubba at Oyster Oyster in D.C.
Vegetable Forward
A
conversation with Oyster Oyster founder and award-winning chef Rob Rubba
It’sbeen 13 years since Rob Rubba landed in Northern Virginia, nine since his last bite of meat, four since his (mostly) vegetarian D.C. restaurant Oyster Oyster earned its first Michelin Star, and three since the trailblazing chef and Arlington resident garnered a prestigious James Beard Foundation award.
These days he lives in Aurora Hills with his wife, Deb, a chess academy program director, and their two kids. It’s a significant change of pace in a career that previously had him crisscrossing the country (New York, Vegas, Chicago, Philly) in service of celebrity chefs such as Gus Savoy, Gordon Ramsay and Charlie Trotter.
In the DMV, Rubba won fans cooking for Neighborhood Restaurant Group properties— first Tallula in Lyon Park (which shuttered in 2014), and later, Hazel in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood (also closed), where the accolades
BY WARREN ROJAS
rolled in for dishes such as tempura-battered sticky pork ribs and duck bao buns. That was before he gave up meat and embraced a plantbased lifestyle.
At Oyster Oyster, his boundary-pushing temple to seasonal dining, the chef’s ingenuity shines in what could be described as the vegan version of nose-to-tail cooking. Vegetable scraps are converted into seasonings, used cooking oil is recycled to make candles, and nothing is wasted. (The name of the place references both oyster mushrooms and the sustainable bivalves representing the only animal protein on the menu.)
It’s a virtuous endeavor, but Rubba’s not one for proselytizing. His creative and flavorful cooking speaks for itself.
We sat down with the chef at Rare Bird Coffee Roasters in Falls Church to chew the fat about, well, everything. Here’s what was on his mind.
Sweet potato mochi at Oyster Oyster
■ vegetable forward
How did you end up moving to Arlington?
I got a job at Azur [now closed] in D.C.’s Penn Quarter in January 2013. At that point, my wife and I had worked in cities for almost 10 years. It was just like, “Let’s try something a little slower.” You know, see a few more trees.
What was it about Aurora Hills that appealed to you?
Having space to garden. I was part of the Lang Street Community Gardens for a number of years, and it was cool to be a part of that community. Now I’ve got beds in my backyard. In spring and summer, I grow tomatoes, peas, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers and a wide variety of herbs. In the cooler months, I grow carrots, kale, lettuce, beets, turnips and winter squash. I try to grow just about everything I can.
What prompted you to become a vegetarian in 2017?
I started reading about environmental waste and the ecological harm and health hazards associated with factory-style livestock farming. I realized how unsustainable restaurants can be. I knew I needed to change how I consumed as a chef if I wanted to change what was on the plate.
Oyster Oyster has some devoted fans. Who makes up your clientele?
It’s pretty diverse. We have guests who are just really interested in great food, great cuisine. Then there are guests who are very environmentally focused, or who are coming in for animal rights reasons. Some people just love the way they feel when they eat there.
Do you ever get any pushback for not serving meat?
If we’re going to support agriculture, if we’re going to talk about seasonality and sustainability, meat gets in the way of that story. If I put beef on the menu, it’s going to taste pretty much the same
year-round. A restaurant like Oyster is all about intention and personality. I feel like being in the nation’s capital, we have an opportunity to make change, to make a statement.
So the menu tells a story?
Yes. I think it just keeps improving. We’re into this kind of lifecycle menu where an ingredient you have in one course, some element of that dish, instead of becoming waste, incorporates into the next one.
Can you give an example?
The welcoming broth we serve when you first sit down is based on dried mushrooms from the summer, plus sugar kelp, and we finish it with a charred onion oil. To make it, we use mushrooms, carrots, onions, etc. and strain off the vegetables to get a delicious, rich broth. But then there’s all that leftover stuff we’ve strained out. We dehydrate it and blend it into a powder. It’s the best seasoning! We do these kohlrabi dumplings filled with pear and radish and root vegetables. There’s a pear sitting on top that we dust with that dried mash from the broth. This is something that would normally get thrown away.
One man's trash, as the saying goes. That’s the idea. Over the winter, we did a sweet potato mochi. We made a puree of sweet potato and sweet potato starch, stuffed it inside marinated collard greens, steamed them and then sliced them into little pieces. And then all the skins from the sweet potatoes, we roasted and smoked them. The resulting seasoning is similar to katsuobushi [bonito flakes] or dashi. You wouldn’t believe the smokiness and the earthiness you can derive from those scraps.
Well, you loved on it quite a while to get it to that state. Yeah, exactly. A lot of love goes into it. And thought. But that’s the thing.
Instead of viewing these ingredients as waste, we talk about them as being parts of a whole and how delicious they all are. We want to show how delicious everything can be—and is.
Are people ever surprised by the experience?
I think there’s still some education to be done. How we operate is very forwardthinking. It’s not so much about telling people to eliminate meat. It’s more of an emphasis on vegetables and local agriculture to build stronger food systems and more circular economies. Our farmers use regenerative farming practices and organics, connecting us to the seasons and nature. We work with local mills for our flour and grains, and local foragers for native plants and mushrooms. Even our sea salt comes from the Delaware shores and West Virginia mountains. Almost everything we cook with comes from the Mid-Atlantic.
So no preaching or diet shaming. No. I don’t want it to feel like we’re being didactic, like this is the only way to do it. It’s more about finding fun ways to weave in our ethos, the creative things we’re doing, the farmers we’re working with, versus taking a superiority approach that’s performative. Frankly, it would be easy, financially, to put animal proteins on the menu. I guarantee if I said, “You know what, we realized we can get this really great, sustainably grown duck or this really good fish,” and I put that on Oyster’s menu, we’d be twice as busy right now. As a businessperson, maybe it’s silly not to. But in terms of standing up for what we believe in, our choices are important.
Does that philosophy extend to your bar program?
We have a wonderful selection of biodynamic, vegan, organic and natural wines. On the beer front, we work only with breweries that use local ingredi-
Golden beets with red cabbage, carraway cracker and dill
ents, which means Mid-Atlantic grains, local yeast and hops. We recently introduced our first cocktail, made with imported Nàdar gin [which is distilled from peas in Scotland], dried lemon verbena and Gold Rush apple trimmings.
Ingredients aside, how are you keeping things fresh?
We’ve recently done some renovations, so the dining room feels more like what the food feels like. We added curtains made from sustainably sourced wool, more intimate lighting, and reclaimed and native wood. There’s a little more escapism now when you walk in. The light pendants above our tables are made from hemp forms covered with mycelium and then baked. It’s just like a mushroom, naturally grown, and is a completely biodegradable material.
One day, when the restaurant is gone and someone comes to clear it out and throw all this stuff away, the lampshades will break down.
Do other chefs ever come to you for advice?
We get tons of questions from our peers and other restaurants. We’re an open book. We don’t want to be doing something novel. We’d love for everybody to adopt similar sustainable practices, whether that’s mitigating waste or composting. At Oyster, we avoid single-use plastics. We consider them non-essential or obsolete. That goes for our purveyors, too. The farmers we work with deliver everything in a crate. We unload the crate, put the food into our reusable storage containers and then they take their crate back. Closed loop systems are really important.
Do you share recipes? Culinary techniques?
Questions about things like fermentation or pickling or preservation, we’re open books about that, too. We’ve had restaurant friends—and some who became friends—send members of their staff to stage and learn from us for a few days.
Any particular type of customer you are trying to win over?
Our doors are open to anyone who wants to dine with us. I feel like we have an opportunity to change minds and inspire people. We’re going to tell you about our ethos when you dine with us—whoever you are. And if one little thing we did inspires you to make a change, great.
Change as in becoming vegetarian?
It doesn’t have to be that dramatic. Around the holidays, we see a lot of stu-
The dining room at Oyster Oyster
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dents or young professionals who live in D.C. and their parents are in town, footing the bill. So you’ve got dad, who’s never had a vegetarian meal in his life, eating at our restaurant, and by the end he’s like, “Holy shit! Wow!” Maybe now, when he goes out, he’s still going to order a meat protein for the entree, but he’s going to look at the vegetable options for the appetizers and say, “You know what? I think I can do that.” Our restaurant is for everyone. Yes, it is vegetarian or vegan when you’re eating here. But at the end of day, it’s just delicious food. If that experience leads someone to eat one less [meat-based] meal a week, if they are making that choice, there’s an impact.
Where do you eat when you’re off the clock?
If we’re getting pizza slices, it’s Andy’s.
Chili Wok in Alexandria has good Sichuan and their veggie options are great. Padaek by Seng Luangrath is right around the corner. We cook a lot at home, too. We do hot pot nights, fresh pasta, kimbap, tacos.
What about downtown dining?
I think what’s happening at Union Market is really interesting—all the food halls and seeing those old buildings being repurposed. Popping into Yellow or La’ Shukran is always solid. For oysters, the Cordelia Fishbar that Clyde’s opened there is really good.
Groovy. What does the rest of your day look like?
Well, I’m going to grab a bag of Rare Bird coffee for my wife—she’s a fan— and then pop into CD Cellar and dig
around in the record stacks for about an hour. My taste in music is very eclectic. I listen to everything from classical and jazz to hip hop, rock, funk and doom metal. A typical purchase might include Ahmad Jamal, Sleep, Grand Puba or The Beatles. Sometimes I will buy whatever the store happens to be playing. Then I’ll head into work by noon, hold a manager meeting, prep and get ready for service.
Do you ever get tired of cooking?
Accolades don’t get me away from the stove. I still like cooking. That’s what I want to do. I’m not really interested in having, like, 30 restaurants. Two or three would be nice. But we’ll get there. ■
Warren Rojas is Arlington Magazine’s dining critic.
Grilled lion's mane mushroom with brown butter-yogurt sauce
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Vinson Hall Retirement Community
Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes to planning for their later years?
A: Waiting until something happens. We see it all the time: a spouse passes away or a health event occurs, and suddenly the surviving partner is forced into an overwhelming move under the worst circumstances. And so much of that chaos is avoidable. The transition to senior living is much smoother and more enjoyable when couples plan and move together. Clearing out the family home and settling in—learning a new community and building friendships—is easier when you’re younger. These things
take energy, and it’s better when you do them on your own terms.
Q: When should someone start thinking seriously about their longterm living situation?
A: Ideally, in your early 70s, because many communities have long waitlists. Those who do discover that maintenance-free community living often surpasses life at home: better fitness, nourishing meals and daily activities that foster socialization and mental stimulation. There’s also a layer of safety and support that living alone simply can’t replicate—neighbors who notice when you haven’t left your apartment, health
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Q: What makes people wait too long?
A: Most people don’t see the value ... until it’s too late. They don’t realize what community living actually looks like—the art classes and book clubs, pool volleyball, trivia nights, dinner and cocktails with friends. The goal isn’t to give up the life you love, it’s to have more of it.
6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101
800-451-5121
www.vinsonhall.org
Inspīr Embassy Row
Q: What distinguishes Inspīr Embassy Row from other senior living communities in the Washington Metropolitan region?
A: Nestled among the prestigious diplomatic residences of historic Embassy Row in the heart of Washington, D.C., Inspīr was thoughtfully reimagined from the distinguished Fairfax at Embassy Row hotel, preserving the grace and prestige of a bygone era while redefining what luxury senior living can be. Residents enjoy sophisticated studio, one- and two-bedroom residences with grand windows, picturesque views of Dupont Circle and exquisite craftsmanship throughout—with unparalleled access to
the District’s finest cultural treasures.
Q: What wellness and lifestyle amenities can residents expect?
A: Life at Inspīr Embassy Row is designed to inspire. Residents can rejuvenate in the saltwater pool, sauna, steam room or salt room, savor gourmet dining in diverse venues, or relax with friends in the rooftop lounge with sweeping city views. Curated intellectual programming, cultural outings and a range of wellness activities create an enriching, purposeful lifestyle that is both elevated and deeply supportive.
Q: How does Inspīr approach care for residents with varying needs?
A: Inspīr’s commitment to holistic
Inspīr Embassy Row redefines senior living in the heart of Washington, D.C., blending the historic prestige of Embassy Row with modern luxury, personalized care and curated experiences that inspire residents to live vibrant, purposeful lives.
wellness permeates every facet of our community. Our Integrated Care Model brings together medical professionals and wellness experts who collaborate to nurture each resident’s physical, intellectual and emotional vitality. Whether a resident requires assisted living, early memory support or memory care, the team tailors its approach to individual needs, empowering residents to live with independence, dignity and genuine peace of mind.
Q: What makes Woodleigh Chase stand out among other retirement communities?
A: Woodleigh Chase is a premier senior living community in the heart of Fairfax. Conveniently located just three miles from George Mason University and close to a wide selection of desirable shopping, dining and entertainment, we also offer easy access to the capital region’s many cultural and recreational activities. At Woodleigh Chase, residents gain so much more than a spacious, stylish, maintenance-free residence. They become part of a vibrant retirement community on 42 beautiful acres packed with resort-style amenities, including a pristine state-of-
Live your best life at Woodleigh Chase, a thriving 62+ community in Fairfax, Virginia. Enjoy maintenance-free living in a beautiful, modern residence with resort-style amenities, and benefit from the convenience of an on-campus medical center with full-time doctors. Woodleigh Chase is managed by Erickson Senior Living, a national leader in senior living and health care.
the-art fitness and aquatics center, bocce court, dog park, walking paths, and a full-service salon and barbershop—activities and services designed to help seniors thrive. Our campus also features multiple restaurants that provide their own unique ambiance and plenty of common spaces for learning, exploring hobbies and socializing. Just steps from your door, our on-site medical center offers a full range of health and well-being services, and security staff trained in emergency response are just moments away.
Q: What living options are available?
A: Residents can choose from various stylish, open-plan residences—lavish
one- and two-bedroom floor plans with abundant square footage—that suit every need and budget. Features include screened patios and balconies, stainless-steel appliances, quartz countertops, crown molding, soft close cabinetry, double vanities in most primary bathrooms, luxury vinyl plank flooring, full-size washer and dryer, and under-building parking. All utilities, including Wi-Fi, cable and telephone, are covered.
9805 Woodleigh Lane Fairfax, VA 22032
1-888-377-2032
www.WoodleighChase.com
Lighten up
Once dated and dark, this renovated Arlington kitchen is fresh and functional.
BY NIGEL F. MAYNARD PHOTOS BY CHRISTY KOSNIC
When Kate and Jon Merrill moved into their Waverly Hills Colonial in 2022, they weren’t crazy about the interior design. Yes, the home had five bedrooms and four bathrooms, a spacious kitchen and hardwood floors, but its dark finishes felt passé. You’d never have guessed it was built as recently as 2010.
“The house had good bones because it’s not that old,” says Kate, who works in education. (Jon, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, is now a government contractor.) “There wasn’t a lot that really needed to be fixed on it; it was just dated. Everything was peach and brown, like lots of peach walls, peach ceilings. The kitchen and all the bathrooms were this very, very dark brown with chrome fixtures.”
White cabinets with brass hardware are complemented by blue Roca ceramic tiles.
They bought the place knowing they would remodel at some point, but in the meantime made a few small upgrades for the sake of livability—painting the walls, repairing the trim, sprucing up the landscaping and replacing an aging HVAC system. “Not a lot of sexy stuff, but just things to polish it up a little bit,” Kate says.
A year later they were contemplating more cosmetic improvements. That’s when they took a step back and considered the bigger picture.
“[We realized] it wouldn’t make sense to paint the cabinets if I knew that eventually I wanted the whole kitchen layout to be different,” Kate explains. “Living in the house for a lit-
tle while, you start to notice things that just don’t work and don’t make sense. So we said, ‘You know what, we’ve been saving. This is our forever home. We should put the money in it now and actually enjoy it.’”
The Merrills wanted a kitchen that was bright, efficient and conducive to entertaining, with an updated pantry and a mudroom. They called Arlington designer Susan Sutter after seeing her work in this magazine. “I looked at a couple of other designers, but I kept going back to this beautiful green and white kitchen that she had done,” Kate says, “and I thought, that’s exactly what I want—only in blue.”
In Sutter’s estimation, the existing
kitchen and pantry were plenty large, but a peninsula impeded the flow between the kitchen and living room. Working in partnership with Design Pro Remodeling, she gutted the space and traded the peninsula for a large island with counter seating.
Out went the dark finishes, replaced with crisp white cabinets and white quartz countertops. “We were looking for something classic and timeless, and I think that’s what led me to the white,” Sutter says. Brass hardware and a brass strip on the range hood provide a touch of elegance.
Color also plays a huge role. In the kitchen, the bright whites are offset by a deep blue tile backsplash spanning
Blue is a unifying element in the open floor plan.
two walls. In the adjoining pantry, Sutter painted the existing cabinets hunter green and introduced a complementary floral wallpaper to create a “dark moody” vibe.
Blue is a recurring motif throughout the home. Prior to the makeover, the Merrills had painted their dining room and Kate’s home office in shades of blue. “[Susan] pulled from that to make the rest of the house feel more like the only two rooms in my house that I liked,” Kate says. “The wallpaper in the living room, the color of the furniture, the curtains—everything kind of builds off that color palette.”
From a functional standpoint, the owners also wanted a mudroom where their 15-year-old son could store his baseball gear and muddy shoes. Eyeing the floor plan, Sutter noted an underused space near an exterior side door that had originally been intended as a dining nook. She asked the contractor to build a wall to create an alcove and painted it a high-gloss blue. Measuring approximately 7 feet by 5 feet, it’s outfitted with custom-built lockers, a bench, coat hooks and a cement tile floor that can withstand abuse.
The wood flooring spanning the rest of the main level presented a slight challenge for the carpentry crew. Sutter’s design plan retained large expanses of the original Brazilian cherry, but there were holes after the demo. That
BEFORE
Fresh paint, glass cabinet doors and a beverage fridge turned the pantry from drab to fab.
Botanical Thibault wallpaper raises the bar.
made integrating sections of old and new flooring rather tricky.
Design Pro Remodeling devised a seamless solution with minimal waste.
“We didn’t actually use very much new wood,” explains Cameron Brent, coowner of the Fairfax-based contractor.
“We ended up strategically harvesting existing wood from a few [hidden] areas—under the new perimeter cabi-
nets and kitchen island, and the flooring in the corner that became a tiled mudroom/storage locker area. This required us to carefully remove each piece, ensuring the existing boards we saved did not splinter during removal.” They then transplanted and reinstalled those planks in new spots.
Kate says the project, completed in the spring of 2025, hits all the right
notes. “It’s beautiful, but it’s also incredibly functional,” she says. “The kitchen is bright and pretty. Every time I sit in there, I can’t believe this is my house.” ■
Nigel F. Maynard is editor of the new magazine Design Vibes. Follow him on Instagram @products_hound and @designvibesmag.
Blues and greens are paired with classic neutrals in the living room.
The mudroom repurposes an underused space in the floor plan.
BY ELIZA TEBO
Getting Out DOGE of
Many predicted the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce and government contracts would tank the local housing market. Have they?
In February of 2025, much of the country was glued to the news, trying to keep up with a flurry of executive orders emanating from the White House. Jane Andelman was glued to her laptop, applying for jobs.
Andelman, a project manager at an Arlington-based international development nonprofit, had been furloughed after President Trump issued a 90-day hold on foreign development assistance, including contracts funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“I was like, ‘Well, clearly, there’s a good chance that this is not going to come back,’” she recalls. “A lot of people felt like the writing was on the wall.”
It was for her. Weeks later she was officially laid off, ending her 24-year career with an organization from which she’d hoped to retire.
“That was one of the most difficult times. No one was even hiring in other industries,” says Andelman who, like 42% of Arlingtonians over the age of 25, has a graduate degree. “Everyone was in this wait-and-see mode because there was so much upheaval.”
Andelman and her husband, Jason, began talking about what to do next and whether they’d even stay in Arlington. One of their daughters was in college and the other was soon to graduate from high school. They had equity in their home in Dominion Hills as well as some savings. Should they sell the house and relocate? They’d already been thinking about moving out West.
“The layoff and the fact that I wasn’t able to immediately find another job gave us the opportunity to ask, ‘All right, well, what’s keeping us here?’” she says.
At the time of this interview, Jane was working part-time as a barista and food delivery driver in Colorado while continuing to look for full-time employment. But they haven’t put their Arling-
ton house on the market—at least not yet. Their future is still in limbo.
LAST
YEAR, MORE THAN 348,000 federal workers voluntarily or involuntarily separated from the government as the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashed and burned its way through one agency after another, gutting the ranks of the nation’s civil service.
In the D.C. region, federal employment fell by more than 54,000 jobs, according to the Brookings Institution. Also swept up in the fray were consulting firms, think tanks, nonprofits and contractors that do business with the government or rely on government grants to fund their programs. Revenue shortfalls left many private sector employers with no choice but to issue their own layoffs.
“These impacts will flow through the region’s economy over the coming months and years including total employment and the housing market,” states a January 2026 report from the
“The Northern Virginia Housing market is not going to fall off the cliff. What we’re seeing right now is basically price stability, probably through this year.”
Stephen S. Fuller Institute for Research on the Washington Region’s Economic Future at George Mason University. The report forecasts another 20,000 job losses in the DMV as a byproduct of reduced household spending. Service businesses such as hair salons, housecleaners and landscapers could feel the effects.
Prior to DOGE, one in 10 workers in the greater D.C. area was employed by the federal government, including some 175,000 Northern Virginia residents.
But the full magnitude of the impacts is still TBD. From late 2024 to the end of 2025, Northern Virginia’s unemployment rate rose from 2.2% to 3.3%— increasing faster than the national average yet still hovering below the 4% threshold that economists consider “the natural rate of unemployment,” says Keith Waters, assistant director of GMU’s Fuller Institute.
On the housing front, active listings in Northern Virginia ticked up faster than in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. “This is very reasonably attributable to the DOGE impacts,” Waters says. But home prices held steady.
The median sale price for a singlefamily home in Arlington was $1.3 million in 2025, up from $1.29 million the year prior, according to real estate listings platform Bright MLS. Falls Church saw its median sale price increase from $949,000 to $1 million over the same time period, while McLean’s fell slightly, from $2.25 million to $2.1 million.
“The Northern Virginia housing market is not going to fall off the cliff,” Waters says. “What we’re seeing right now is basically price stability, probably through this year. Everything just calms down for a little while.”
Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, attributes two distinct spikes in Northern Virginia’s housing inventory to DOGE cuts. In March of 2025, active listings in Arlington, Alex-
Local Home Sales Before and After DOGE
The charts below reflect residential real estate activity over the past five years in the 16 ZIP codes that make up Arlington, McLean and Falls Church. Houses took longer to sell in 2025 as market conditions cooled, but the volume of transactions held steady and home prices remained high.
andria, Falls Church, Fairfax County and Loudoun County were up by 28.3% compared with the year prior. September 2025 saw a year-over-year increase of 13.8%. Both jumps aligned with the timing of Office of Personnel Management deferred-resignation announcements and end-of-fiscal-year resignation dates.
A June 2025 survey conducted by Bright MLS found 37% of real estate agents in the greater D.C. area reporting that they had worked with a client who was buying or selling due to DOGE-related layoffs. Sales prompted by retirements also saw an uptick of 5 percentage points. But because the region had so much “pent-up demand”
for housing, prices didn’t take a hit.
“A lot of people worried prices would fall and demand was going to fall out of the market,” Sturtevant says. So far that hasn’t happened. “Prices remain pretty stable. High-income buyers were still out there. We’ve seen price growth soften as inventory has increased, moving more towards a
market in
Data provided by Bright MLS
the D.C. area, [but] we haven’t seen… year-over-year price declines.”
Industry observers note that many would-be buyers and sellers are currently in a holding pattern, taking a wait-and-see approach. Although mortgage interest rates dipped in late 2025 (down from 7% at the start of that year), they still are hovering around 6%. That’s keeping folks who have a much lower rate on the sidelines. Meanwhile, trade wars, actual wars and civil unrest have created a climate of economic anxiety.
“It’s still a very uncertain time in the Washington area,” Sturtevant says. “There are people who…either lived through DOGE or lived through the longest government shutdown in history, and are like, ‘We would like to make a move, but we’re feeling a little uncertain right now.’ Buyers and sellers are moving with extreme caution in early 2026.”
In February, closings across the MidAtlantic region were down 1.1% over the prior year, according to Bright MLS, while the median number of days on market was 27—more than a week longer than in 2025.
Whether the 2026 spring selling season will mark a turning point remains to be seen. Sturtevant says the U.S. military action in Iran has made the outcome harder to predict.
“If the conflict with Iran is limited, the housing market could rebound quickly,” she says. “However, a prolonged conflict could stall home sales activity this spring. The [potential for] declining seller inventory and cautious buyers creates uncertainty about whether the market will tighten or continue its move toward balance.”
SOME SAY THE PANDEMIC
—even more than the political climate—set the table for the market’s current stasis. At the start of 2021, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage hit a record low of 2.65%. Home prices surged. Inven-
tory was gobbled up by buyers who could afford to overbid. Sellers were receiving multiple offers and closing above list price. Home sales nationwide reached their highest level in 15 years, with some 6.12 million units sold.
In Northern Virginia, a profusion of high-income earners lifted home prices even higher. Arlington’s median household income is about $142,000, according to Census data. That’s roughly 70% higher than the national average of $83,730.
But for the past three consecutive years, home sales nationwide have held steady at about 4 million units annually—the lowest level of activity since the mid-1990s. The D.C. metro region isn’t faring much better, says David Howell, executive vice president and chief information officer for Corcoran McEnearney. “Across the board, it’s just been flat activity.”
American wages haven’t kept up with the rising costs of food, housing, childcare and other expenses. To resume pre-pandemic housing affordability levels, home prices would need to hold steady and household incomes would need a 15% bump, according to a February mortgage report from the Intercontinental Exchange, a multinational financial services company.
“We have never seen circumstances where the affordability equation changed so rapidly,” Howell says. “Home prices went up so fast, and mortgage interest rates went up [as well]. That one-two punch has hurt an awful lot of people who would like to buy a home and right now, in this environment, really can’t.”
Some would-be buyers are Millennials who are delaying purchasing a home while also delaying marriage and children. Homeownership is harder to achieve on a single income.
For Heather Devoto, vice president and branch manager at First Home Mortgage in McLean, the volume of contracts generated in 2025 wasn’t
much different from the year prior. But some of her colleagues along the East Coast offered bleak updates at a recent sales meeting. “Last year was a very difficult year for people,” she says. “People weren’t buying, people were struggling, people’s contracts were falling out.”
SO FAR, THE MASS EXODUS
many feared would be triggered by DOGE is not reflected in leading market indicators. Analysts offer multiple explanations, starting with the fact that the region’s economy is not a monolith.
Federal civilian jobs account for only 12.5% of all jobs in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park, according to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
“Even with private sector employment tied to the federal government, there are still many people employed in other industries who did not feel the impact of the layoffs and budget cuts,” says Sturtevant of Bright MLS.
Many households impacted by layoffs had another income earner to fall back on. “With the high number of twoworker households in the region, when one person loses a job, it is not necessarily true that the whole household has to move,” she adds.
Some federal workers who opted for the deferred resignation program were close to retirement age. Some had already paid off their homes, and can now tap into their pensions.
Others who’ve left the area to find work elsewhere are keeping their homes in the DMV as rental properties.
Statistically, Howell says, the impact on housing metrics of federal layoffs and slashed funding has been modest. But for those directly affected, the fallout feels profound. “If you lost your job, or your spouse lost their job, or your next-door neighbor lost their job, it’s a tragedy,” he says sympathetically. When USAID was gutted, a couple of
buyers with pending transactions in Corcoran McEnearney’s Arlington office pulled their contracts. “It’s really tough, and I’m not exaggerating that.”
Inventory is now inching back up as houses spend more days on market, giving buyers more leverage. Sturtevant says that trend could continue if sellers who’ve been on the fence decide to shed their ambivalence. “There is a lot of pent-up supply, as existing homeowners who want to move for family or financial reasons have been holding back,” she says.
What could quash that momentum is more change in Washington. “The things that could be headwinds or affect the market negatively are if we have continued government shutdowns,” she says—or if the Trump administration continues to relocate substantial portions of the federal workforce outside of the District, as it is doing with the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture.
STEVE WYDLER, co-founder and an associate broker with Wydler Brothers of Compass, will be the first to tell you that jobs are the number-one driver of residential real estate transactions in the suburbs around D.C. But in his experience, people don’t immediately move if they suddenly become unemployed.
Some homeowners who’ve left the area to find work elsewhere are keeping their homes in the DMv as rental properties.
ton Fine Properties, says that at the start of Trump’s second term, some of her clients channeled their feelings of uncertainty into action.
“[Some sellers] decided to actually move sooner rather than later,” she says. “They didn’t really want to deal with this administration, so they ended up listing their houses earlier than planned and moving earlier than planned.”
These days, she’s seeing listing decisions accompanied by feelings of resignation, a reluctance to put life on hold. “Things are moving. Buyers are ready. Interest rates are helping,” she says. “I think people are desensitized to the political climate. Whereas last year it was like whiplash, this year, they’re like, ‘We’ve seen it all…We need to buy a house.’”
Even amid feelings of unease, life marches on. “People are getting married, they’re having babies, they’re getting divorced, they’re getting jobs,” Wydler observes. “Yes, you can sometimes delay those decisions, but eventually people are going to have to move one way or the other.”
The Andelmans may not be calling Arlington home for much longer. In March, they temporarily relocated to Durango, Colorado, while renting out their house in Dominion Hills. As this story went to press, they were discussing whether or when to sell it.
“If someone loses their job, they’re actually much more likely to stay put than move,” he says. “If you don’t have a job, it’s very hard to move because you can’t rent or buy unless you have a lot of savings.”
Mortgage interest rates are also playing into the present inertia. People who purchased a home or refinanced during the pandemic, when borrowing was cheap, may be inclined to stay locked
into those historically low rates, even if it means delaying a move to a more desirable home or location.
“There were an awful lot of peoplewho might have sold, but if they were buying up, if they were going someplace else, they’d be giving up a very low mortgage payment,” Howell says.
The DOGE effect on home sales is harder to quantify. Michelle Sagatov, an Arlington-based agent with Washing-
They’ve cut back on expenses as they contemplate what their next chapter might look like. Reflecting on the prior year, Jane says she’s found a silver lining in all the turmoil.
“It’s given us the opportunity to step away from everything that’s happening in D.C.,” she says, “and allow ourselves a break.” ■
Eliza Tebo is a writer, vocalist, podcast host and longtime Arlingtonian.
Jane Andelman in Durango, Colorado
Builders & Architects
Alair Homes
Awards & Honors
— NAHB BALA Gold (2026)
— NARI Remodeler of the Year (2019-2026)
— HBAV Remodeler of the Year (2025)
— NVBIA GALA Winner (2024, 2025)
— NVBIA Custom Builder of the Year (2023, 2022)
Under the leadership of long-time Arlingtonian and twenty-year industry veteran, Chad Hackmann, Alair Homes is an award-winning custom home builder and remodeler serving the metro region from its Arlington, Falls Church and Washington D.C. offices.
Alair’s local expertise includes working with the region’s small-lot and setback requirements. “Whether navigating permitting, zoning, historic preservation or structural complexities, my team and I excel at intricate projects,” says Hackmann. Alair’s outstanding craftsmanship has received numerous industry top honors, including a 2026 Regional Remodeler of the Year award.
Alair’s commitment to transparency sets them apart from competitors. Their proprietary Client Control® system empowers homeowners with 24/7 access to their project schedule and budget. Using this unique system, homeowners can seamlessly track every line item related to their projects, eliminating surprises and allowing them to control costs.
Additionally, each homeowner has a direct relationship with their project manager from concept through completion, giving them the one-on-one attention they deserve. One satisfied homeowner recently shared, “Our project manager kept us updated at every step in the project, deftly handled numerous compli-
cations that could have really slowed the timeline and provided valuable insight to us along the way.”
Hackmann’s advice if you are considering a home construction project: do your research. “When choosing a builder, transparency, communication and track record are the most important things to consider,” he says. “You need a trusted advisor who will listen to what’s important to you and honestly walk you through your options. That is what Alair does best.”
P.O. Box 100221 Arlington, VA 22201 703-791-1317 chad.hackmann@alairhomes.com www.AlairArlington.com
Chad Hackmann, Regional Partner; Elizabeth Mitchel, Business Development Officer & Designer; Jason Chaney, General Manager; Andrew Hall, Project Manager; Jonathan Olarte, Project Manager; Maseeh Exeer, Project Manager
DeFalco Home Design
TRIPP DEFALCO, AIA, NCARB
Awards & Honors
— Bachelor of Architecture, Syracuse University
— Licensed Architect, VA & NC
— 25 years practicing as an Architect
— 10 years managing a Design-Build firm
— Arlington Magazine Winner, Best Architect, 2022, 2024 & 2026
Nearly a decade ago, Tripp DeFalco found himself at a career crossroads many people in business know well: the bigger the operation grew, the further he got from the work he loved. As co-owner of a large design-build firm, running the business had slowly replaced practicing his craft. So, he made a change. In 2019, he founded DeFalco Home Design, a deliberately small, owner-led firm that’s allowed him to focus on what drew him to residential architecture in the first place: partnering with clients to create beautiful homes that truly reflect the people who live in them.
Today, every drawing—and every detail—comes from DeFalco’s own hand. “When the contractor or my client has a question six months into the build, I can readily answer it because I’m the one who drew it,” he says. “I’m hands-on throughout the process.”
The best designs are beautiful, yes, DeFalco says, but they also make his clients’ lives better—and that’s where the real joy is. It’s why, after more than 200 projects, the work still excites him.
“Even if we’re starting with a similar structure, every single design solution is different because no two clients—or families—want the same things,” DeFalco says.
His more than 10 years of working as a Class A general contractor—building what he designed—give him a deep understanding of how projects unfold on site and the pressures builders face. For his clients, that means fewer surprises, better communication and, ultimately, a cohesive team pulling in the same direction.
Bowers Design Build is a fully integrated architecturedesign-build firm serving Northern Virginia with exceptional home renovation and new home construction since 1990. Its team of architects, designers and craftsmen is guided by transparency, accountability and trust.
At Bowers Design Build, an extraordinary client experience begins long before construction starts—it begins with thoughtful design. On-staff architects create architecturally cohesive homes that enhance functionality, beauty and longterm value. In-house interior designers guide clients through a curated selection process so every finish reflects their vision and lifestyle.
Once design is complete, Bowers Design Build’s experienced project managers and skilled craftsmen bring that vision to life through disciplined scheduling, proactive communication and well-defined budgets. Because architecture, interior design and construction are fully integrated under one roof, clients
enjoy a uniquely cohesive and accountable experience, from start to finish.
“While industry recognition over the past three decades is meaningful, the true measure of our success is the trust our clients place in us,” says President John Coburn. “We are often working on a family’s most valuable asset, and that responsibility is something we never take lightly. Our goal is to deliver a level of service and craftsmanship that earns longterm confidence.”
That trust is earned and it shows. In recent years, more than 30% of Bowers Design Build’s projects have come from repeat clients: homeowners returning for additional renovations or referring friends and neighbors. Independent
client surveys consistently reflect exceptionally high satisfaction rates, underscoring the firm’s reputation for professionalism and care.
Clients describe the Bowers Design Build team as thoughtful, detail-oriented, collaborative and highly organized. They value the firm’s structured approach, honest communication and steady leadership through complex projects—and many say they wouldn’t change a thing about their experience.
6715 Whittier Ave., Suite 200 McLean, VA 22101
703-506-0845
info@bowersdesignbuild.com
www.bowersdesignbuild.com
From left: Katie Peters, SVP Design, John Coburn, President, Bob Braddock, VP Architecture, and Ron Hannan, Projects Manager, inside one of their newly renovated projects.
TriVistaUSA Design + Build
TriVistaUSA Design + Build’s awardwinning build team is all about making clients happy—it’s their top priority. With nearly 50 five-star reviews and counting, it’s clear they deliver. Working hand-inhand with their design team on every project, they’re committed to meeting their clients’ every need. Clients compliment their upfront process, which gives them a realistic preview into what the remodeling experience will be like.
One client review sums it up perfectly: “The TriVistaUSA team was excellent—it’s the easiest renovation (despite being the biggest and most extensive one) we’ve
experienced. It was a true white glove service, where they anticipated requests, questions and follow-ups.” They walk clients through the good, the challenging and the incredibly exciting after, so clients know exactly what to expect.
Leading their build team is Boyd Baggarly. With over 40 years of experience in the remodeling world, Baggarly is a trusted expert who oversees every detail of each project to make sure it’s on time and on budget. His attention to detail and commitment to clear communication ensure that clients get the best possible results, while making the entire
Awards/Honors:
— Arlington Magazine Winner, Best Remodeler, 2026 — PRO Remodeler of the Year, 2026 — Best of Houzz, 2024 — Arlington Chamber of Commerce Service Small Business Award — Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award
process as effortless as possible.
TriVistaUSA’s process is constantly being improved to better serve clients and provide value and communication throughout the entire remodel. They have developed a proprietary project planning system that allows them to pull projects forward—yes, ahead of schedule, when possible. Needless to say, their clients are delighted!
“The attention to detail and pride that Classic Cottages puts into each and every project is unparalleled.”
—John M.
Classic Cottages proudly boasts building “Timeless Homes for Modern Living.” For Architectural Designer Pratik Lohani, it comes down to a balance between classic silhouettes and contemporary functionality. “Architecturally, we draw from enduring styles that have defined Northern Virginia for generations, but we re-imagine the interiors to suit how families actually live today,” he says. “We aim to design spaces that feel established the day they are finished but remain highly functional for decades.”
The Classic Cottages team believes that the building process should be as fulfilling as the finished product. Their acquisitions, land planning, in-house architecture and design teams work directly with clients to capture their vision accurately. For CEO and President David Tracy, having architectural and interior designers under the same roof as the build team is a significant advantage, allowing for a continuous feedback loop from the first sketch to the final walk-through. “When a client brings us their aspirations, our design team can immediately cross-reference those ideas with our construction and land-planning experts,” he says. “This ensures that every design choice is beautiful, structurally sound and feasible within the specific constraints of the site. It turns a traditionally fragmented process into a unified, creative partnership.”
Arlington‘s permitting and regulatory landscape is notoriously complex and can be a massive hurdle for newer builders. “Because we’ve been doing this for over 15 years, we have a deep understanding of the codes and have established relationships with the county offices,” says Tracy. “We can save our clients significant time and frustration.”
From left: Evan Muelenaer, Chief Operations Officer; David Tracy, President & Chief Executive Officer and Pratik Lohani, Architectural Designer
BOLT Builders
JUSTIN OLEWACK
BOLT Builders: DESIGNED WITH PURPOSE, built on quality. We believe great building is rooted in integrity, relationships are built on trust and respect, craftsmanship is enamored with details, and quality is driven by control.
BOLT Builders is a leading provider of new construction and extensive remodels, renovations, additions and outdoor structures. Their business is team-centric and focused on coordinating construction production to provide beautiful craftsmanship and an enjoyable customer experience.
BOLT has built a reputation for taking on complex, custom projects — from remodeling two condos into one seamless home to building a detached garage for a small business that compliments the exterior of their building. They excel at handling challenges in remodeling, additions and new home construction. “Many builders focus solely on new homes,
some remodelers specialize only in bathrooms or kitchens, and others claim to do it all, but lack the track record, processes and ability to manage quality, budgets and schedules effectively,” says founder Justin Olewack. “We have all that, and more. Our team consists of highly trained professionals who are exceptionally skilled at what they do.”
The diversity of skill and knowledge within BOLT’s team is key to delivering successful projects. For example, some of the project managers specialize in structural framing, others have expertise in foundation and structural construction and some bring knowledge of custom finishes and intricate designs.
This wide range of expertise allows them to tackle every aspect of a project with precision and focus. Together, their team collaborates on every project, emphasizing best practices to ensure high-quality results.
They have mastered new home construction, remodeling and custom additions, and are ready for anything. They are true experts in the field, capable of handling any challenge. Give them a try!
From left: Justin Olewack, Suzette Conrad, Kevin McLister, Paul Walhout, Eli Flores, Daniel Salome, William Rivera, Gigi Dresser, Dustin Wince and Jaun Solis
ODE Design
COLLEEN LETTICH HYDE
ODE Design crafts sophisticated homes through a holistic approach blending architecture, interiors, technology and construction expertise. Creative Director of Interiors Colleen Lettich Hyde brings 14 years of experience to the team.
ODE Design crafts homes that reflect who their clients are by making the process highly collaborative and rooted in exploration. Their team leads with curiosity, thoughtful curation and real connection— staying open to bold ideas and energized by different perspectives along the way. By combining creative vision with technical expertise, they deliver personal, carefully considered homes and an exceptional client experience from start to finish.
ODE Design’s strength lies in curiosity and collaboration. “We thrive on the exchange of ideas between our team, our clients and our partners,” says ODE’s Creative Director of Interiors Colleen Lettich Hyde. “We believe design flourishes when different perspectives meet, and we approach each project with openness and enthusiasm. Every relationship shapes our work, and that spirit of genuine connection is what truly sets us apart.”
The project team at ODE Design is guided by the belief that each client and home is unique. Because they see every project as a collaboration, listening carefully to their clients is a priority. Balancing form and function is essential so that each space is not only beautiful but truly works for the people who live in it. “What brings me the most satisfaction in my work is designing environments where clients genuinely feel their best,” says Hyde. “Home has a profound impact on how we experience daily life. I shape the spaces where families live, grow, entertain and connect—a gift and responsibility I never take for granted.”
205 W. Jefferson St. Falls Church, VA 22046
703-534-2500
hello@ode-design.com
www.ode-design.com
James McDonald Associate Architects, PC
This year marks the seventeenth in business for James McDonald Architect Associates, a residential design firm that has added signature projects to communities throughout the mid-Atlantic area and beyond. The firm’s projects range from small renovations and additions to jewel box cottages and grand estate homes. Their diversity in design style allows them to work on projects ranging from Miami contemporary to French provincial and anything in between.
James McDonald has been working on residential projects in many capacities for the last 35 years. “I have been the lead
architect for a firm that did design-build remodeling, and I have worked on luxury production homes and townhomes up to full 600-unit apartment buildings,” McDonald says. “Working across the residential design field has allowed me to see and understand trends in the housing market.” This insight allows McDonald to advise clients when something goes against what the greater market may be looking for.
The design process starts in the initial meeting. “After some conversation about wants, wishes and needs, we start sketching floor plan and elevation ideas right in front of the client,” McDonald
Awards & Honors
— Southeast Builders Conference/ Florida Home Builder Association:
“Best on the Boards Custom”, “Best Custom Home” — Northern Virginia Building Industry Awards: Grand Award, “Custom Home of the Year,” “Builder Home of the Year”
says. “This allows us to try multiple ideas and design directions very quickly and further define project design parameters.” This brings everyone into the design process and creates a vision of the project from the initial meeting. All that hard work eventually pays off: “When we get toward completion and a client tells me that the project exceeds their dreams— that is why we do our job.”
10135 Colvin Run Road, Suite 200 Great Falls, VA 22066 (703) 757-0036
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 company President Andrew Moore. “We use design opportunities to highlight the best aspects of the lot we are building on. Whether it is the direction that light travels or some other unique detail, we have the ability to create the design that best fits the site for our clients.”
Being an energy efficient green builder means offering a higher standard of
building. Arlington Designer Homes hires a third-party independent inspector to review their projects to ensure the highest standards are met and exceeded. The result of this attention to detail is the creation of more comfortable and healthier houses for their customers.
Arlington Designer Homes has been building 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 see if we are a good fit for their expectations.
Arlington native Andrew Moore, president of Arlington Designer Homes, has served as a translator at the Arlington Free Clinic, on Arlington Public School planning commissions and as president of the Custom Builders Council.
In turn, we see if they are a good fit for our systems and processes.”
Arlington Designer Homes learns how their clients best communicate and works with them in that way, using tools such as weekly updates, their online client portal and on-site meetings. The ultimate goal is creating an open environment to support their clients. They build for the way you live!
Beacon Park is guided by Debora Flora, a sales professional known for her warmth, expertise and genuine care for her buyers. Her approach is personal, patient and refreshingly pressure-free.
Since 1964, Miller & Smith’s homes and communities have defied convention and inspired people to think beyond the common Colonial. They have helped over 10,000 Washingtonians love where they live in 148 neighborhoods throughout Maryland and Virginia, and they proudly stand as one of Northern Virginia’s most respected homebuilders.
Miller & Smith’s new newest community is Beacon Park at Belmont Bay, which introduces a fresh take on townhome living along the Occoquan River. The community brings together modern architecture, thoughtful design and a waterfront-inspired lifestyle.
Located within the established Belmont Bay neighborhood in Woodbridge, Beacon Park offers easy access to the marina, scenic walking trails and the charm of nearby Historic Occoquan. Commuters also benefit from convenient connections to I-95 and the VRE rail station, making it possible to enjoy a relaxed riverside setting while staying connected to the region.
The community’s newly unveiled model home showcases the Marbella, a four-level townhome designed for contemporary living. These homes feature open floorplans, abundant natural light and private rooftop terraces that create the perfect setting for entertaining or relaxing outdoors.
With flexible spaces for home offices, guests or everyday living, the homes are designed to adapt to a variety of lifestyles while maintaining the craftsmanship and attention to detail Miller & Smith has delivered for more than 60 years.
The new model home is now open, offering visitors an opportunity to experience Beacon Park’s unique blend of modern design and waterfront living.
Marina Sales Office
570 Harbor Side St. Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-300-1333 www.millerandsmith.com
Debora Flora, Sales Manager, and Jeff Riddle, Sales Manager Assistant, welcome homebuyers to Beacon Park at Belmont Bay.
Barbara Ruben
A Feast for the Eyes
This former toy room went from playtime to primetime—with a dash of whimsy.
WHEN DESIGNER Ame Gold first saw the room, it was strewn with playthings.
“There were toys and woven wood [blinds] on the windows, and that was it,” she says. “Otherwise, the room was empty.”
It was the first thing people saw upon stepping into the foyer of her clients’ Lyon Village Arts and Crafts-style home. The couple had liked having a playroom right in the center of things when their kids were little. Now they were ready to reclaim the space as a dining room—but they wanted to keep it playful.
“[She] likes things a little whimsical, a bit obscure,” Gold says. “I think she wanted something that felt a bit like a conversation piece and unpredictable.
I said, ‘Well, what about wallpapering the ceiling? That’s always kind of fun.’ ”
In came a wallpaper with a repeating feather motif in a palette of taupe, gold, slate blue and gray that draws the eye upward. Those same muted neutrals recur in other elements, including floorto-ceiling drapes with a slightly iridescent metallic thread running through them, and an abstract portrait painting on the wall outside the kitchen.
The walls are clad in what Gold describes as a “tweed menswear pattern with a little bit of graphic design raised over it, all tone on tone. In person, it gives the room a lot of texture and depth.” A Currey and Co. light fixture acts as a cen-
terpiece, with vertical bronze fins reprising the shape of the ceiling’s feathers. The client found the dining table and chairs at a Stickley furniture outlet in her native Syracuse. The charcoal hue of the chairs’ floral damask upholstery is repeated in a smoky wall color in the entryway. (Gold updated the living room, kitchen and foyer at the same time as the dining room.)
And what of the room’s former inhabitants? The children became tweens and decamped to the basement. All that remains of the original play space are the woven blinds—now part of a grownup dining experience, with a soupçon of fun. ■
February 2026’s Most Expensive Home Sales
22201 (Arlington)
909 N. Irving St.
List Price: $1.5 million
Sale Price: $1.48 million
Days on Market: 1
Listing Office: RE/MAX Distinctive Real Estate
Neighborhood: Lyon Park
Year Built: 2025
Bedrooms: 4
Full/Half Baths: 4/1
22202 (Arlington)
624 15th St. S., #1
List Price: $625,000
Sale Price: $625,000
Days on Market: 42
Listing Office: RLAH @properties
Neighborhood: Southampton
Year Built: 1979
Bedrooms: 2
Full/Half Baths: 2/1
22203 (Arlington)
5016 6th St. N.
List Price: $2.5 million
Sale Price: $2.47 million
Days on Market: 72
Listing Office: eXp Realty
Neighborhood: Bluemont
Year Built: 2025
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 6/1
22204 (Arlington)
507 S. Adams St.
List Price: $1.9 million
Sale Price: $1.9 million
Days on Market: 16
Listing Office: Samson Properties
Neighborhood: Penrose
Year Built: 2025
Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 5/1
This information, courtesy of Bright MLS as of March 18, 2026, includes homes sold in February 2026, excluding sales in which sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. 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 100,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve over 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com.
N. Glebe Road, Arlington SALE PRICE: $3.48 MILLION
■ prime numbers
22205 (Arlington)
2339 N. Powhatan St.
List Price: $1.29 million
Sale Price: $1.29 million
Days on Market: 1
Listing Office: Samson Properties
Neighborhood: Overlee Knolls
Year Built: 1974
Bedrooms: 3
Full/Half Baths: 2/2
22206 (Arlington)
4404 34th St. S.
List Price: $830,000
Sale Price: $830,000
Days on Market: 0
Listing Office: eXp Realty
Neighborhood: Fairlington Arbor
Year Built: 1940
Bedrooms: 3
Full/Half Baths: 3/0
22207 (Arlington)
3941 N. Glebe Road
List Price: $3.5 million
Sale Price: $3.48 million
Days on Market: 21
Listing Office: Keller Williams Realty
Neighborhood: Country Club Grove
Year Built: 2026
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 6/2
22209 (Arlington)
1500 N. Colonial Terrace
List Price: $1.8 million
Sale Price: $1.84 million
Days on Market: 4
Listing Office: Serhant
Neighborhood: Highgate
Year Built: 1991
Bedrooms: 4
Full/Half Baths: 2/2
22213 (Arlington)
6607 31st St. N.
List Price: $2.19 million
Sale Price: $2.2 million
Days on Market: 2
Listing Office: Compass
Neighborhood: Berkshire Oakwood
Year Built: 2010
Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 4/1
22101 (McLean)
5950 Woodacre Court
List Price: $4.6 million
Sale Price: $4.4 million
Days on Market: 147
Listing Office: Serhant
Neighborhood: Briggs and Hoopers
Year Built: 2025
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 7/2
22102 (McLean)
8023 Georgetown Pike
List Price: $5.9 million
Sale Price: $4.7 million
Days on Market: 299
Listing Office: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Neighborhood: Rivinus
Year Built: 2002
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 7/1
22041 (Falls Church)
6220 Lakeview Drive
List Price: $2.5 million
Sale Price: $2.33 million
Days on Market: 12
Listing Office: Long & Foster Real Estate
Neighborhood: Lake Barcroft
Year Built: 1980
Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 3/1
22042 (Falls Church)
2855 Oak Knoll Drive
List Price: $2.1 million
Sale Price: $2.1 million
Days on Market: 6
Listing Office: Fairfax Realty Select
Neighborhood: None listed
Year Built: 2026
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 6/2
22043 (Falls Church)
1945 Leonard Road
List Price: $2.2 million
Sale Price: $2.17 million
Days on Market: 111
Listing Office: eXp Realty
Neighborhood: Pimmit Hills
Year Built: 2025
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 6/1
22044 (Falls Church)
6201 Champion Oak Court
List Price: $1.3 million
Sale Price: $1.42 million
Days on Market: 5
Listing Office: Keller Williams Realty
Neighborhood: Reserve At Oakview
Year Built: 2017
Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 4/1
22046 (Falls Church)
255 W. Falls Station Blvd., #PH8
List Price: $1.82 million
Sale Price: $1.82 million
Days on Market: 637
Listing Office: Hoffman Realty
Neighborhood: Falls Church City
Year Built: 2025
Bedrooms: 2
Full/Half Baths: 2/1
Real Estate Sales Trends
22201
22206
22202
22207
22203
22209
22204
22205
22102
22041
22042
22043
22213
22044
22101
22046
home plate ■ by
Warren Rojas
Raise a Glass
A wise man (Galileo) once observed that “Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” Soak up those rays by sampling a flight or exploring some new terroir at these affable wine bars.
SCREWTOP WINE BAR
Looking to expand your horizons in an unfussy setting? Stop by this Clarendon bar and bottle shop, where the knowledgeable staff sport branded t-shirts that read “Love the wine you’re with” and “Brosé— real men drink pink.” The menu keeps the sass rolling with rotating flights (all less than $40) showcasing specific regions (think bold California reds, a tour of Spain) or broader themes (expressive rosés, global sparklers). Proving wine’s infinite versatility, the kitchen turns out snacks such as Cuban pork sliders, empanadas and tacos, along with gratis truffle popcorn.
What to drink: The blood orange sangria is dangerously delicious, while a South African Pinotage floods the senses with ripe, red fruits. screwtopwinebar.com
SIMONA CAFE
This low-key coffee house and wine bar in Courthouse is a great place to chill during the daily happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Munch on manchego and chorizo while sipping a rustic tempranillo and browsing recommended reads from mobile bookshop the Wandering Shelf. Gorgeous weather? Bring your pup and a friend for people watching paired with $6 mimosas or a glass of crisp rosé on the patio.
What to drink: Bright, citrusy Italian whites, or a floral flute of Moldovan bubbly. simonacafe.com
Wine on the patio at Simona Cafe
GRAND CATA
From the salsa beats flowing through the sound system to the anchovy- and olive-studded “nachos,” this Mosaic District wine bar and market—a spin-off of Pedro Rodríguez and Julio Robledo’s flagship emporium in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood—is a love letter to Latin America. The eight-seat bar invites visitors to build their own flights ($23), while the tables in the back are occasionally used for staffled wine tastings. “We’re not just sipping. We are slurping. We are coating our mouths with wine,” an enthusiastic sommelier instructed attendees during a recent tasting tour of Mexican vintners.
What to drink: Argentinian Torrontés (smacks of peaches) or a bold and spicy Chilean Carménère. grandcata.com
WHINO
Street art murals on the walls and ceilings of this buzzy Ballston hotspot convey a vibe, and some nights, a DJ pumps out chestthumping dance anthems. Enjoy build-your-own wine flights and shared plates of ceviche and arancini amid displays of art objects ranging from anime and K-pop figurines to moody landscapes. Feeling sweet? For $40, indulge in a chocolate and wine pairing.
What to drink: A velvety Italian Barbera or, just in time for summer, an effervescent Portuguese vinho verde. whinova.com
DOMINION WINE & BEER
Occupying the second floor of a brick building in Falls Church, this intimate drinking den by brothers Arash and Afsheen Tafakor offers some 16 wines by the glass—perfect for sipping with small plates and a charcuterie selection courtesy of the owners’ butcher shop next door. If you taste something you like, you can buy more of it to take home from the beer and wine shop downstairs.
What to drink: Tart Austrian rosé (blossom on the nose, hint of melon), tangy limoncello wine spritzes ($10 at happy hour) and funky Spanish reds. dominionwineandbeer.com
Grand Cata co-owner Pedro Rodríguez
The Restaurant Repairmen
How does a former government prosecutor come to own nearly 20 restaurants, including four and counting in Arlington? By picking up where others left off.
“The good thing about being an attorney is, you look at other people’s mistakes,” Fitzgerald Lewis says of the unexpected detour that landed him in the hospitality business.
A native of Pakistan who came to the U.S. four decades ago to attend a bible college in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Lewis went on to earn a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law
School in Portland, Oregon. He spent a few years as a prosecutor for various government agencies before establishing his own law practice in Falls Church in 1996.
Ten thousand cases later (his estimate), he took a sabbatical of sorts in 2011 when a client invited him to buy into a company that managed seven Denny’s restaurants in the DMV.
“I was their lawyer … so I knew how much money they were making. It was a good investment,” Lewis says.
The venture was smooth sailing until covid hit and Denny’s franchisees were instructed to close their doors. “We went from sales of $1 mil-
lion-plus a month to zero,” he says.
And yet the pandemic didn’t ruin restaurants for the enterprising businessman. Instead, it made him more aware of how often chefs burn out, consumer tastes change, neighborhood demographics shift and buildings fall into disrepair—all things he realized he could capitalize on.
In 2022, Lewis bought Barley Mac (now closed) in Rosslyn from restaurateurs Mike Cordero and Scott Parker. Two years later, he added Green Pig Bistro, originally the brainchild of chef Scot Harlan, to his portfolio. More recent acquisitions include Buena Vida Gastrolounge in Claren-
Fitzgerald and Andrew Lewis at Green Pig Bistro
don, Dudley’s Sport and Ale in Shirlington and the soon-to-be-renamed Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse.
“I’m just a numbers guy,” he jokes, rejecting the mantle of “restaurateur” on the grounds that he is constitutionally incapable of being creative. “I come from a culture which prohibits innovation.”
His track record says otherwise. Under his watch, the restaurants in his portfolio have responded to the meteoric rise in takeout orders (a shift that began during covid) by introducing food that travels well. They’ve cross-trained kitchen staff at multiple stations to assuage scheduling crunches. And they’ve leaned into unimpeachable customer service. “You have to make sure things are right,” Lewis says.
The other secret sauce in his growing empire, he claims, is surrounding himself with talented people and getting out of their way. It’s encouraging Green Pig’s current chef, Angelique Villar, to share her Filipino heritage in dishes like lechon kawali (deep-fried pork belly) and allowing an ambitious line cook to try her hand at desserts.
It’s also trusting his son, Andrew, with whom he’s worked side-by-side for years—first at the law firm and now in hospitality—to tackle whatever needs doing, from property management and vendor relations to branding.
In the end, there are lessons to be learned from Denny’s. The six D.C.area diners that Lewis still owns may not be trendy, but they’ve survived market fluctuations that killed far sexier concepts. Andrew Lewis says analyzing the day-to-day operations of those 24-hour breakfast haunts helps him troubleshoot across the board.
“Anything I do in any one of our restaurants teaches me a dozen things to try at another,” he says.
Soon, that will include a couple more local ventures they’ve got in the works.
Around the World with Five Guys
Five Guys, the wildly successful fast-food chain that began as a humble storefront on Columbia Pike, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Today its smashburgers are served round the globe, in locations as far-ranging as South Korea and the U.A.E. Here’s a look at the numbers.
places to EAT
ARLINGTON
1983 Chinese Cuisine
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-512-3089, 1983chinese cuisine.com. A destination for dim sum and other traditional Cantonese dishes. R L D G V $$
A Modo Mio Pizzeria
5555 Langston Blvd., 703-532-0990, amodomio pizza.com. Dig into authentic Neapolitan pies, house-made gnocchi, lasagna, spaghetti del mare and cannoli. o L D V $$
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 $$
Al-Shami Restaurant
5216 Wilson Blvd., 703-373-0291, alshamiva. com. Dig into falafel, shawarma and other Syrian delights. Closed Mondays. L D G V $$
Ambar Clarendon
2901 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-9663, ambarrestau rant.com. Feast on Balkan specialties such as stuffed cabbage, mushroom pilav and rotisserie meats. O R L D G V $$
Andy’s Pizza
901 N. Pollard St. (entrance on Fairfax Drive), 703-552-4037, eatandyspizza.com. Andy Brown’s award-winning thin-crust pies fall somewhere between Neapolitan and New York-style. L D V $
Angolino Pizza
3125 Wilson Blvd., 703-760-3210, pizzaforpizza lovers.com. When it’s late and you need a slice, this Clarendon eatery hits the spot. L D V A $
Arlington Kabob
5046 Langston Blvd., 703-531-1498, arlingtonka bobva.com. Authentic Afghan fare includes kebabs, shawarma and lamb shank with rice. L D $$
Astro Beer Hall
4001 Campbell Ave., 703-664-0744, astrobeer hall.com. Jet to this space-themed brewpub for fried chicken, burgers, doughnuts and a retro basement billiards hall called 1969. o B R L D A $$
Bakeshop
1025 N. Fillmore St., 571-970-6460, bakeshop va.com. A tiny storefront whipping up cupcakes, cookies, icebox pies and vegan treats. B V $
Ballston Local
900 N. Glebe Road, 703-852-1260, ballstonlocal. com. Pair your local brew with a plate of poutine or a New York-style pizza. L D V $$
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 $$
Bar Chinois
244 19th Court S., 703-416-6769, barchinoisnl. com. Chinese small plates meet French-inspired cocktails and wine. O D G V $$$
Bar Colline
269 19th Court S., 703-567-4792, barcolline. com. French bistro fare, wine happy hours and Parisian-style sidewalk seating await. O L D G V $$$
Basic Burger
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-248-9333, basicburger. com. The homegrown eatery cooks with lo-
KEY: Price designations are based on the approximate cost per person for a meal with one drink, tax and tip.
$ under $20
$$ $21-$35
$$$ $36-$70
$$$$ $71 or more
o Outdoor Dining
c Children’s Menu
B Breakfast
R Brunch
L Lunch
D Dinner
A After Hours/Late Night
G Gluten-Free
V Vegetarian
s Best of Arlington 2025 or 2026 Winner
Chao Ban REY LOPEZ
■ places to eat
cally sourced, certified Angus beef and cage-free, antibiotic-free chicken. L D $$
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
1515 N. Courthouse Road, 703-243-2410, bayou bakeryva.com. Chef David Guas’ New Orleansinspired 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 sweets, small plates, wine and bubbly at this woman-owned bistro and market. Closed Mondays. L D $$
Bethesda Bagels
1851 N. Moore St., 703-312-1133, bethesdabagels. com. The popular DMV chain has an outpost in Rosslyn. Eat a sandwich! O L V $
Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co. s
4401 Wilson Blvd., 703-276-3032; 4251 Campbell Ave., 703-933-2867, eatbigbuns.com. Satisfy all your cravings with creative burgers, shakes, beer and booze. B L D $$
Bird’s Eye Thai
1651 Crystal Drive, birdseyethai.com. Order up a round of tiki drinks and khao soi noodles from this outdoor kiosk in National Landing. O L D $$
Bob & Edith’s Diner 2310 Columbia Pike, 703-920-6103; 539 23rd St. S., 703-920-2700; bobandedithsdiner.com. Founded in 1969, the 24-hour eatery whips up pancakes, eggs, meatloaf, and pie à la mode. C B L D A V $
BOE
2854 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-0130, theboexperi ence.com. Take a ride on the mechanical bull, then reward yourself with a fried chicken biscuit and a Bucking Bronco (a smokey riff on a whiskey sour). The rooftop tiki bar lives on in this former Whitlow’s space. O R D A $$
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 German and regional beers, sausages, schnitzel and cornhole in this 6,000-squarefoot ode to Munich. O L D A $$
Bubbie’s Plant Burgers
1721 Crystal Drive, bubbiesburgers.com. Grab a plant-based or kosher burger, a fried green tomato sandwich or a plate of avocado fries at this outdoor kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. O L D V $ Buena Vida
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-888-1528, buenavida gastrolounge.com. Savor the flavors of Mexico and head to the rooftop for drinks. O R L D $$
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. L D V $
Busboys and Poets
4251 S. Campbell Ave., 703-379-9757, busboys andpoets.com. Known for its poetry slams, on-site bookstore and social justice programming, the
café offers an eclectic menu with something for everyone. O C B R L D G 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 $$
Call Your Mother Deli
1671 Crystal Drive, 571-867-9983, callyourmother deli.com. The self-described “Jew-ish” deli serves its signature bagels, schmears and latkes from a kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. B R L $
Capital Doner
1731 Wilson Blvd., capitaldoner.com. Try Turkish doner kebab, halal meats and house-made sauces in wraps, platters and rice bowls. B L D A $
Carbonara s
3865 Wilson Blvd., 703-721-3905, carbonarava. com. House-made pastas, eggplant parm, chicken cacciatore and the spirit of Sinatra sing at this oldworld-meets-modern Italian trattoria.
L D V $$$
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. A longstanding favorite for fusion fare, happy hour and Sunday brunch. O C R L D G V $$$
CarPool Beer and Billiards
900 N. Glebe Road, 703-516-7665, gocarpool.com. Sample pub grub and an extensive beer list, including “house” suds brewed at sister bar the Board Room. D A $
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant 2500 Columbia Pike, 703-746-9644, celtichouse va.com. Pints complement favorites like corned beef and traditional Irish breakfast at this beloved pub on the Pike. C R L D A $$
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 $$
Chiko
4040 Campbell Ave., 571-312-0774, mychiko. com. Fan favorites at this Chinese-Korean joint include cumin lamb stir-fry and double-fried chicken wings. C L D G V $$
Chill Zone Café s
2442 N. Harrison St., 703-270-9466, chillzonecafe. com. Pop in for bubble tea and smoothies, Vietnamese tacos, noodle dishes and a special keto menu. B R L D G V $$
Circa at Clarendon s
3010 Clarendon Blvd., 703-522-3010, circabis tros.com. Bistro fare ranges from salads and small plates to steak frites and wild mushroom pizza. Sit outside if you can. O R L D A G V $$$
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 $$$
Cornerstone 2900 Columbia Pike, 703-512-2056, pikecorner stone.com. The menu is heavy on apps and shareables, plus salads, burgers and rib-sticking entrees. C O R D A $
Corso Italian 4024 Campbell Ave., 703-933-8787, corsoitalian. com. Enjoy fresh pastas, porchetta and veal chop Milanese at this Italian trattoria by Cheesetique “cheese lady” Jill Erber. O r L D V $$$
Cowboy Café s
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 $$
Crush Pizza + Wine
1601 Crystal Drive, crushpizzaandwine.com. New York-style pizza, wines by the glass and patio crushers for the win. O L D V $$
Crystal City Sports Pub 529 23rd St. S., 703-521-8215, ccsportspub.com. Open 365 days a year, it’s a sure bet for game viewing, trivia and poker nights, beers, bar snacks and buffet spreads. C B R L D A G V $$
Crystal Thai
4819 First St. N., 703-522-1311, crystalthai.com. A neighborhood fave for traditional Thai curries, grilled meats and house specialties like roast duck. L D V $$
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 $$
Darna
946 N. Jackson St., 703-988-2373, darnava.com. Snack on mezze and flatbreads at this cocktail and hookah bar. D A V $$
Daydrift Books & Café
1550 Crystal Drive, 703-271-0709, daydriftva.com. Tuck into an open-faced sandwich or macro bowl, or sip a latte and peruse the shelves for your next read. B R L G 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, districtdump lings.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 supersize sports bar with a roof deck, a ballpark-inspired beer list and weekend brunch. O C R L D A $$
Earl’s Sandwiches
2605 Wilson Blvd., 703-647-9191, earlsinarling ton.com. Made-to-order sandwiches use prime ingredients, like fresh roasted turkey. O B L D G V $ East West Cafe
3101 Wilson Blvd., 571-800-9954, ewcafe.com. Go for espresso drinks, brunch (try the Turkish breakfast spread), sandwiches, beer and wine. B L D $
EXPRESS LUNCH! EXPRESS LUNCH!
real food. great fun. EXPRESS LUNCH! EXPRESS LUNCH!
real food. great fun. EXPRESS LUNCH! EXPRESS LUNCH! real food. great fun. EXPRESS LUNCH! EXPRESS LUNCH! real food. great fun.
■ places to eat
2941
El Mercat Bar de Tapas
1301 S. Joyce St., 703-567-4369, elmercatbarde tapas.com. Chef George Rodrigues brings Spanish small plates and five kinds of proper paella to Westpost. R D G V $$$
El Paso Café
4235 N. Pershing Drive, 703-243-9811, elpaso cafeva.com. Big portions, big margaritas and bighearted service. C L D G V $$ El Pike Restobar 4111 Columbia Pike, 703-521-3010, elpikeresto bar.com. Bolivian dishes satisfy at this no-frills institution. Try salteñas stuffed with chicken or with beef, olives and hard-boiled egg. L D $ El Pollo Rico
932 N. Kenmore St., 703-522-3220, elpollorico. com. A local institution, this rotisserie chicken mecca gained even more street cred after a visit from the late Anthony Bourdain. L D V $ El Rey
4201 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-5530, elreyva.com. Down tacos, margs and draft brews with colorful surroundings, inside and out. Visit The Filling Station next door for live music. O L D A $$
Elevation Burger
2447 N. Harrison St., 703-300-9467, elevation burger.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 spin-off of the Taqueria La Ceibita food truck by Nevi Paredes and his daughter, Yorktown alum Elizabeth Marquez. L D $ Falafel Inc.
1631 Crystal Drive, 500 23rd St. S., 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 $$
Fettoosh
5100 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-7710, fettoosh restaurant.com. Pita sandwiches and kebabs keep the kitchen fired up at this bargain-priced Lebanese and Moroccan restaurant. C R L D G V $
Fire Works
2350 Clarendon Blvd., 703-527-8700, fireworks pizza.com. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas and more than 30 craft beers on tap. O C L D A G V $$
First Down Sports Bar & Grill s
4213 Fairfax Drive, 703-465-8888, firstdownsports bar.com. Three cheers for draft beers and 50 kinds of wings. L D A 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 “gay, straightfriendly” hangout is always a party, with flashy drinks, drag bingo and 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. com. Translated as “home’s food,” this intimate, artfilled café serves Bangladeshi fare by chef Nasima Shreen. L D $$
Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe s
672 N. Glebe Road, 703-243-3000; 1350 S. Eads St., 703-894-1002; gocodough.com. The familyowned eatery is revered for its doughnuts, Intelligentsia coffee and cafe fare. B L V $$
Grazie Grazie
4121 Wilson Blvd., 571-216-2999, graziegrazie.com. Give thanks for Italian subs like the 8+1 (Genoa salami, hot capicola, prosciutto and sharp provolone), plus pizzas, salads and cannoli. L D $
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.
■ places to eat
Japanese barbecue, sushi, soba noodles and saki. L D G $$$
Hal & Al’s BBQ
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-400-8884, halandals bbq.com. There’s no pork on the menu at this halal ’cue joint. Go for beef brisket, turkey sausage or beef “Dino” ribs rubbed with Old Bay. L D $$
Hanabi Ramen
3024 Wilson Blvd., 703-351-1275, hanabiramen usa.com. Slurp multiple variations of the namesake soup. L D $$
Haute Dogs
2910 N. Sycamore St., 703-548-3891, hautedogs andfries.com. Cookout fare goes gourmet with hot dog toppings ranging from banh mi with sriracha mayo to a buffalo dog with blue cheese. L D $
Hawkers Asian Street Food
4201 Wilson Blvd., 703-828-8287, eathawkers. com. Dig into Asian street foods, sake, whiskey and zero-proof quaffs. G V L D $$
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe s
2150 N. Culpeper St., 703-527-8394, heidelberg bakery.com. A longstanding favorite for pastries, cakes, pretzels, bratwurst and German potato salad. Closed Mondays. B L $
Highline RxR
2010-A Crystal Drive, 703-413-2337, highlinerxr. com. Bar snacks, draft beers, cocktails and comedy nights bring the fun. O L D A $$
Hot Lola’s s
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), hotlolas.com. It’s all about Kevin Tien’s Nashville-meets-Sichuan hot chicken sandwiches. L D $
Hyde Social 3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-647-9342, hyde-social.
com. Sports fans unite for pub fare, drinks and trash talk. R L D A G V $$
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 s
4245 N. Fairfax Drive, 703-203-0337, immigrant food.com. Global dishes from this “gastroadvocacy” kitchen range from Salvadoran pupusas to Filipino fried chicken. 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 $$
Kaldi’s Social House
3100 10th St. N.; 3639 S. Glebe Road; 571-2131502, kaldissocialhouse.net. The National Landing location serves a creative dinner menu in addition to espresso drinks and brunch. B R L D G V $$
Kanji Izakaya
4301 Fairfax Drive, 703-512-0017, kanjiarlington. com. Dive into teriyaki, ramen, yakitori, hibachi dishes and sushi. L D G $$
Khun Yai Thai
2509 N. Harrison St., 703-536-1643, khunyaithai va.com. The family-owned restaurant serves “homestyle Thai” cuisine with grandma’s recipes. L D G V $$
King of Koshary
5515 Wilson Blvd., 571-317-7925, kingofkoshary. com. Sample the hearty namesake dish, grilled branzino, beef kofta, roasted chicken or any of the tagines from this Egyptian kitchen. L D G $$
Kusshi
1201 S. Joyce St., 571-777-1998, kusshisushi. com. Feast your way through shishito peppers, sushi, oysters and mochi. O L D G V $$$
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 $$
La Coop Coffee
4807 First St. N., 571-257-7972, lacoopcoffee. com. Stop in for single-origin Guatemalan coffee, house-made horchata, breakfast sammies, empanadas and ice cream. B L $
La Côte D’Or Café
6876 Langston Blvd., 703-538-3033, lcd6876va. com. This little French bistro serves standards like crepes and steak frites. O R L D G V $$$
Lantern Restaurant and Bar
320 23rd St., S., 571-800-6137, lanternrestaurant andbar.com. Try crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce, orange chicken or beef with broccoli from the comfort of a private karaoke room. L D G V $$
La Posada
320 23rd St., S., 703-412-9211, laposadarestaurant. com. Say “olé” to flautas, poblano beef ribs, shrimp saltado, agua fresca and horchata. C L D V $$
Lapu Lapu
1417 S. Fern St., 703-567-4014, lapulapubreak fast.com. Filipino breakfast sandwiches stuffed with everything from chorizo to ribeye are served on pan de sal buns from sister bakery Gwenie’s Pastries. B R L D V $
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 $$
Locket
1900 Fort Myer Drive, 703-682-8233, locket rosslyn.com. Tucked inside the Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key, this all-day restaurant hits the spot with raw bar, steakhouse-style favorites and brunch. C B R L D G V $$$
Lost Dog Café
5876 Washington Blvd., 703-237-1552, lostdog cafe.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 $$
My Home Thai
Lucky Danger
1101 S. Joyce St., Unit B27, luckydanger.co. Chefs Tim Ma and Andrew Chiou put a fresh spin on Chinese American takeout with dishes such as duck fried rice and lo mein. L D V $$
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 $$$
Maison Cheryl
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-664-0509, maisoncheryl. com. Seared duck breast, ratatouille and strawberry crepe cake are among the offerings at this French American bistro. R L D V $$$
Makers Union
1450 S. Eads St., 703-419-3504, makersunionpub. com. Pop in for comfort food, 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 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 (dressed in melted butter or mayo). 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 fish and chips at this friendly watering hole. O R L D A $$
Meda Coffee & Kitchen
5037 Columbia Pike, 571-312-0599, medacoffee kitchen.com. Find coffee, baked goods and traditional Ethiopian dishes like kitfo and tibs.
C B L D G V $$
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 $$
Mele Bistro
1723 Wilson Blvd., 703-522-0284, melebistro.com. The farm-to-table Mediterranean kitchen cooks with fresh, organic, free-range, regionally sourced, nonGMO ingredients. O R L D G V $$
Metro 29 Diner
4711 Langston Blvd., 703-528-2464, metro29. com. Classic diner fare includes triple-decker sandwiches, mile-high desserts, burgers 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 $$
Mister Days Sport Rock Café
1101 N. Highland St., 703-986-3335, misterdays usa.com. Happy hour deals and bar munchies provide fuel for game-watching. R D A $
Mpanadas
2602 Columbia Pike, 571-312-0182, mpanadas
usa.com. Try barbecue pork and cheeseburger empanadas, birthday cake paletas and java chip macaroons. B L D $
Nam-Viet
1127 N. Hudson St., 703-522-7110, namvietva.com. The venerable restaurant in what was once Arlington’s “Little Saigon” neighborhood specializes in flavors of Vietnam’s Can Tho region. O L D V $$
Nettie’s Tavern
2854 Wilson Blvd., 571-867-9132, nettiestavern. com. Italy meets Appalachia in bites such as pepperoni rolls, venison meatballs and tiramisu French toast. Sip a Nettie’s Tea made with moonshine, crushed lemon and mint syrup. O R L D A 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. O L D G V $$
Northside Social Coffee & Wine
3211 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-0145, northsidesocial va.com. The two-story coffee and wine bar with a big patio is always busy...which tells you something. O B L D V $$
Oasis: The Listening Bar
2940 Clarendon Blvd., 703-512-3068, oasisthe listeningbar.com. From the owners of Sisters Thai, a sushi, cocktail and vinyl record bar with a surfer vibe. L D $$
Ocean Shack
2163 N. Glebe Road, 703-488-7161, oceanshack arlington.com. Dig into a seafood boil, a fried
■ places to eat
oyster basket or an order of fish tacos and pretend you’re at the beach. R L D A $$
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 $$
Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-567-7295, origincoffeeco. com. The industrial-chic coffee shop roasts its own beans and serves all-day breakfast, snacks and dinner plates. O B R L D V $$
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 $$
Our Mom Eugenia
4044 Campbell Ave., 571-970-0468, ourmom eugenia.com. This family-owned spot is beloved for its legit Greek fare, from saganaki to souvlaki. O L D $$
Padaek
2931 S. Glebe Road, 703-888-2890, padaekdc. com. Chef Seng Luangrath’s celebrated kitchen 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. Reliable standbys include moo shu pork and beef with broccoli. L D $$
Peruvian Brothers
1450 S. Eads St., 703-625-6473, peruvianbroth ers.com. Dig into chicharron sandwiches, saltados, empanadas, rotisserie chicken and power bowls. L D V $
Peter Chang Arlington 2503-E N. Harrison St., 703-538-6688, peterchang arlington.com. The former Chinese Embassy chef brings his fiery and flavorful Sichuan cooking to the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. C L D $$ Pho 75 s
1721 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-7355, pho75.res taurantwebexpert.com. The piping-hot Vietnamese 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 has a kiosk at Water Park. O L D G $ Pi BBQ and Bar 420 23rd St. S. 629-899-1318, pibbqbar.peblla. com. Enjoy traditional Korean barbecue, grilled at your table, with all the banchan. L D A $$$ Pie-tanza s
2503-B N. Harrison St., 703-237-0200, pie-tanza. com. Enjoy pizza (including gluten-free options), calzones, lasagna, subs and salads. C L D G V $$
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 $$
Pink Saffron
1201 S. Joyce St., 571-867-9090, thepinksaffron. com. Minted lamb, tandoori chicken, veggie korma and other Indian favorites. L D G V $$
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. 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 list. B R L D A $$
Ragtime
1345 N. Courthouse Road, 703-243-4003, ragtime restaurant.com. Taste the Big Easy in offerings such as jambalaya, catfish, spiced shrimp and oysters. Sundays bring a waffle and omelet bar. O R L D A V $$
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 $
Ravenna Pizza
1500 Wilson Blvd., 571-520-2086, ravennapizza. com. Pop in for Roman-style pizzas, focaccia sandwiches and gelato. L D 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 $$
The Renegade
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-468-4652, renegadeva. com. Is it a coffee shop, restaurant, bar or live music venue? All of the above—with snacks ranging from lambchop lollipops to lo mein. B L D A $$
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 $$
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co. s
3471 Washington Blvd., 703-528-9663, rocklands. com. Owner John Snedden has been slow-cooking barbecue at this Arlington favorite since 1990.
O C L D G V $
Roggenart Bakery, Bistro & Café
4401 Wilson Blvd., 703-721-3182, roggenart.com. Stop in for breakfast, coffee, pastries and sandwiches on house-baked bread. B R L D V $$
Ruffino’s Spaghetti House
4763 Langston Blvd., 703-528-2242, ruffino spaghetti.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 acclaimed “meat and three” serves up wood-smoked proteins with creative sides. Breakfast (with house-made biscuits) offered daily. O B R L D G V $$
Ryu Izakaya
3030 Columbia Pike, 703-399-9052, ryuizakayava. com. A spot on the Pike for sushi, sake and yakitori. L D G $$
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, sakaki izakaya.com. Try mini “sushi burgers,” Wagyu fried rice and the dazzling Egg on Egg (king salmon, quail egg, ikura and wasabi soy in a smoking bowl). Closed Tuesdays. L D A G $$
Salt s
1201 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-0491, saltrosslyn.com. The speakeasy-style cocktail bar serves cheese plates and carpaccio alongside sazeracs, old-fashioneds and nouveau craft cocktails. D $$
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), 703412-2762, meetatsante.com. Tuck into an elegant plate of shrimp saganaki, whole roasted branzino or lamb “osso bucco.” B R L D G V $$$
Sawatdee Thai Restaurant
2250 Clarendon Blvd., 703-243-8181, sawatdeeva. com. Craving pad thai or pad prik king? This is the place. L D V $$
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 $$
Seoulspice
1735 N. Lynn St., 703-419-5868, seoulspice.com. Korean fast-casual comfort food, anyone? L D G V $
SER
1110 N. Glebe Road, 703-746-9822, serrestau rant.com. Traditional Spanish and Basque dishes in a colorful, friendly space with outstanding service.
O R L D V $$$
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 $$$
Silver Diner
4400 Wilson Blvd., 703-812-8600, silverdiner. com. The kitchen cooks with organic ingredients, many of which are sourced from local suppliers. Low-calorie and gluten-free menu choices are available. O C B R L D A G V $$
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 $
Simply Banh Mi
801 N. Quincy St., simplybahnmi.com. In addition to its namesake sandwich, the cult-status takeout that originated in Georgetown serves pho and build-yourown rice and vermicelli noodle bowls. L D $
Skydome
300 Army Navy Drive, 703-416-3862. Savor craft cocktails, Mediterranean dishes and views of the
D.C. skyline in this revolving hotel restaurant. 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 is kissed by smoke, from ribs, crabcakes and spaghetti squash to the chocolate cherry bread pudding. O L D G V $$
Snouts & Stouts
2709 S. Oakland St., 571-317-2239, snouts nstouts.com. Grab a beer and some pulled-pork pretzel bites with beer cheese while your pup runs around this indoor dog park and bar. L D $
Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar
6035 Wilson Blvd., 703-300-9655, soulthaikitchen andbar.com. Find curries, noodle dishes and other Thai classics. L D G V $
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
1135 N. Highland St., 703-527-5666, spicekraft va.com. This contemporary concept by restaurateurs Anthony Sankar and Premnath Durairaj gives Indian classics a modern spin. O L D $$
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, supremehot potva.com. This Pike eatery specializes in Szechuan hot pot, skewered meats and a few Cajun seafood dishes. D G $$
Surreal
2117 Crystal Drive, surrealpark.com. Playful dishes range from a foot-long Boomdog to scallops with celery root mezcal “clouds.” O B L D $$
SushiJip
3000 Washington Blvd., 703-243-7799, sushijip. com. A neighborhood spot for sushi, 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 $$
Sweet Leaf
2200 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-5100; 800 N. Glebe Road, 703-522-5000; 650 N. Quincy St., 703527-0807; sweetleafcafe.com. Build your own sandwiches and salads. O C B L D $$
Taco Bamba
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. Beef birria tacos, crispy stuffed mulitas and other Mexican street foods. D A V $$
Tatte Bakery and Café
2805 Clarendon Blvd., 571-312-8691; 269 19th Court S., 571-357-1470; tattebakery.com. Break fast sandwiches, tartines, panini, grain bowls, coffee and pastries. O B R L D G V $
Ted’s Bulletin & Sidekick Bakery
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-848-7580, tedsbulletin. com. Retro comfort food and all-day breakfast with an adjoining bakery. C B R L D G V $$
Texas Jack’s Barbecue
2761 Washington Blvd., 703-875-0477, txjacks.com. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork, plus sides like raw car rot 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 $$
Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, 703-685-7040, thaisquare restaurant.com. Enjoy options ranging from crispy squid with basil and roasted duck curry to pig knuckle stew. O L D G V $$
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 $$
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream s 5849-A Washington Blvd., 703-536-7000; 510 14th St. S.; tobysicecream.com. Stop in for cups, cones, floats and sundaes. Coffee, pastries and bagels available in the morning. B L D V $
Tony Boloney’s
1700 N. Moore St., 240-913-8300, tonyboloneys. com. Chow on cheesesteaks, Jersey-style thincrust pizzas and mozzarella sticks in three flavors at this Atlantic City-born concept inside Upside on Moore. L D V $
Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita
2911 Columbia Pike, 571-970-2824; 3811 Fairfax Drive, 703-512-4137; tortasytacoslachiquitadmv. com. The beloved eatery that started as a food truck does tacos, alambres, huarache platters, flautas and pozole right. B L D A $
Trade Roots
5852 Washington Blvd., 571-335-4274, fairtrade roots.com. The Westover gift shop and cafe serves fair-trade coffee, tea, pastries, salads, organic wine and snackable small plates. O B L $
Troy’s Italian Kitchen
2710 Washington Blvd., 703-528-2828, troysitalian kitchen.com. Palak and Neel Vaidya’s mom-andpop serves pizza, pasta and calzones, including a lengthy vegan menu with options like “chicken” tikka masala pizza. L D G V $
True Food Kitchen
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-0930, truefoodkitchen. com. Emphasizing “anti-inflammatory” fare, the menu will convince you that healthy tastes good. O L D G V $$
Tupelo Honey Café
1616 N. Troy St., 703-253-8140, tupelohoneycafe.
■ places to eat
com. The Southern fusion menu includes dishes like roasted snapper with sweet potato and farro. C R L D $$
Upside on Moore
1700 N. Moore St., upsideonmoore.com. This food hall above the Rosslyn metro includes DMV concepts Ghostburger, Stellina Pizzeria, Little Tiger Dumplings and Neko Panchi sushi. L D G V $$
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. Lunch buffet daily. L D V $$
Variedades Catrachas Restaurant
3709 Columbia Pike, 703-888-0906, variedades catrachas.com. This homey Honduran eatery is open almost round the clock. B L D A G V $ Wagamama
2950 Clarendon Blvd., 571-901-9242, waga mama.us. Feast on ramen, teppanyaki, rice bowls, bao buns, boba tea and sake cocktails. O L D G V $$
Water Bar
1601 Crystal Drive, nlwaterbar.com. This sleek oyster bar overlooking National Landing’s Water Park serves sharable plates, snacks and proper cocktails. 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 $
Westville
2800 Clarendon Blvd., 703-646-7226, westvillenyc. com. The veg-forward concept out of New York City emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and buildyour-own dishes, plus cocktails. O B L D G V $$
Whino
4238 Wilson Blvd., 571-290-3958, whinova.com. Part restaurant/bar and part art gallery, this vibey spot features cocktails, shareable plates, brunch, and “low brow” art exhibits. R L D A $$
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 $$ Wilson Hardware 2915 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-4200, wilson hardwareva.com. Hit the pretty patio or roof deck for boozy slushies and small plates. O R L D A G V $$$
Wiseguy Pizza
1735 N. Lynn St., 703-358-8880; 710 12th St. S., 703-334-9885, wiseguypizza.com. The Sicilian and New York-style pies range from classic pepperoni to Korean chicken with cabbage. L D G V $ Wonder
1771 N. Pierce St.,wonder.com. Find fast-casual menus by star chefs like Bobby Flay and Marcus Samuelsson at this Rosslyn food hall. L D 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. Sushi, omakase and a sake bar with craft cocktails in a stylish setting. L D V G $$$
Yunnan by Potomac 721 15th St., S., 571-699-3935, yunnanby
potomac.com. Try mixian rice noodles in chicken bone broth, xiaochi (small plates) and multiple kinds of bao buns. O R L D $$
Yu Noodles
1515 Wilson Blvd., 703-718-4928, yunoodles arlington.com. Noodles, dumplings, rice dishes and dim sum round out the offerings. L D $
FALLS CHURCH
2941 Restaurant
2941 Fairview Park Drive, 703-270-1500, 2941. com. French chef Bertrand Chemel’s airy sanctuary offers beautifully composed seasonal dishes and expert wine pairings. C L D V $$$$
Al Jazeera
3813-D S. George Mason Drive, 703-379-2733. The top seller at this Yemeni cafe is oven-roasted lamb with yellow rice. L D $$
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 $$
B Side
8298 Glass Alley (Mosaic), 703-676-3550, bsidecuts.com. Nathan Anda’s charcuterie, smashburgers and beef-fat fries steal the show at this cozy bar. L D $$
Badd Pizza
346 W. Broad St., 703-237-2233, baddpizza.com. Order a Buffalo-style “cup-and-char” pepperoni pie and a Lost Rhino “baddbeer” IPA. 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 (lamb with saffron rice) and aushak (scallion dumplings with yogurt, meat sauce and mint). C L D V $$
Caboose Commons
2918 Eskridge Road (Mosaic), 703-663-8833, caboosebrewing.com. The microbrewery has a hopping patio, house brews and creative eats, from fried pickles to plant-based buddha bowls.
O L D V A $$
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 $$
Cafe Zevian
700 W. Broad St.,703-712-7012, cafezevian.com. Savor Turkish, Greek and Lebanese influences in mezze, grilled seafood, doner kebab and baklava.
O B R L D G V $$
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. Worth the trip 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, margs and live outdoor music. 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), 703-884-7080, district dumplings.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
District Taco 5275-C Leesburg Pike, 571-699-0660, district taco.com. See Arlington listing. C B L D G V $
Dogwood Tavern
132 W. Broad St., 703-237-8333, dogwoodtav ern.com. The menu has something for everyone, from jambalaya and burgers to coconut-curry salmon. O C R L D A V $$
Dolan Uyghur
400 S. Maple Ave., 833-693-6526, dolanuyghur. com. Order noodles, kebabs and Uyghur and Dolan specialties such as steamed dumplings stuffed with pumpkin and peppers. O B R L D G V $$
Dominion Wine & Beer
107 Rowell Court, 703-533-3030, dominionwine andbeer.com. Pairings come easy when a café shares its space with a wine and beer shop. Order up a plate of sliders, a cheese board or Dragon shrimp. O R L D V $$
Duangrat’s
5878 Leesburg Pike, 703-820-5775, duangrats. com. A revered destination for enchanting Thai cuisine since 1987. O R L D V $$
El Tio Tex-Mex Grill
7630 Lee Highway, 703-204-0233, eltiogrill.com. Take the family out for fajitas, enchiladas, lomo saltado, combo plates and margaritas. O L D $$
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 $$
Elevation Burger
442 S. Washington St., 703-237-4343, elevation burger.com. See Arlington listing. O L D V $
Ellie Bird s
125 Founders Ave., 703-454-8894, elliebirdva. com. Discover the wonders of chef Yuan Tang’s seasonal, globally-inspired cooking at this awardwinning Little City gem. c o R D G V $$$
The Falls Restaurant & Bar
370 W. Broad St., 703-237-8227, thefallsva.com. Dig into crabcakes, brisket, packed salads, pork schnitzel and, during weekend brunch, unlimited small plates. O R L D G V $$$
Fava Pot
7393 Lee Highway, 703-204-0609, favapot.com.
The Egyptian eats include stewed fava beans with yogurt and lamb shanks with okra. And oh the bread! B L D G V $$
Fish Taco
930 W. Broad St., 571-531-3920, fishtacoonline. com. Order a marg and the namesake food blackened, beer-battered or grilled, or opt for steak, chicken or veggies instead. L D G $
Flame Japanese Hibachi
6379 Seven Corners Center, 571-480-5161, flamejapanesehibachi.com. Get fired up for grilled beef, chicken, salmon and tofu, plus sushi, bubble tea and cheesecake smoothies. L D $$
Godfrey’s Bakery & Café
421 W. Broad St., 571-378-1144, godfreysbakery cafe.com. Pop in for pastries, grazing boards, Romanstyle pizza and coffee drinks. B R L D V $$
GrillMarX Steakhouse and Raw Bar
510 S. Washington St., 240-261-7762, gmxfalls church.com. Splurge on prime rib or boneless ribeye with all the sides, plus desserts such as classic cheesecake or a hot fudge sundae. L D G $$$$
XXX
Haandi Indian Cuisine
1222 W. Broad St., 703-533-3501, haandi.com. The perfumed kebabs, curries and biryani incorporate northern and southern Indian flavors. L D V G $$
Harvey’s
513 W. Broad St., 540-268-6100, harveysva.com. Chef Thomas Harvey’s homey café does roasted chicken, cheesesteaks, banana splits and other comfort fare with flair. O C B R L D V $$
Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ
8298 Glass Alley, 703-676-3550, hifitexmexbbq. com. Smoked meats, tacos, wings and tequila drinks shine at this spin-off of the original in Del Ray. R D $$
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 $$
Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant
6286 Arlington Blvd., 703-237-1388. Two words: dim sum. L D A V $$
Honoo Ramen Bar
165 W. Falls Station Blvd., 571-866-6540, honoo ramenbar.com. Ramen, skewers, sushi and small plates round out the menu. O L D G $$
Huong Viet 6785 Wilson Blvd., 703-538-7110. Spring rolls, roasted quail and shaky beef are faves at this cash-only Eden Center eatery. C L D G V $$
Ireland’s Four Provinces
105 W. Broad St., 703-534-8999, 4psva.com. A tavern in the heart of Falls Church City serving pub food and Irish specialties to the tune of occasional Irish music sessions. O C B R L D $$
Jinya Ramen Bar
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic), 571-327-2256, jinyaramenbar.com. Embellish your tonkotsu or umami-miso broth with more than a dozen toppings and add-ins. O L D A g V $$
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 $$
Lantern House Viet Bistro
1067 West Broad St., 703-268-2878, lantern houseva.com. Head out for pho, noodles and banh mi at this family-owned Vietnamese eatery.
L D G V $$
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 where the queso birria tacos are a must. Open Wednesday-Sunday. L D $ Little Falls Cafe s 106 Little Falls St., @littlefallscafe. From the founders of Pupatella pizzeria, a charming creperie serving both sweet and savory renditions of the beloved French pancakes. O B R L V $$
Little Saigon Restaurant
6218-B Wilson Blvd., 703-536-2633, littlesaigon restaurant.us. Authentic Vietnamese in comfortable setting with captivating retro photo collages on the walls. O L D $$
Loving Hut 2842 Rogers Drive, 703-942-5622; lovinghut fallschurch.com. The vegan eats include rice vermicelli with barbecued soy protein and clay pot rice with vegan “ham.” L D G V $$ MacMillan Whisky Room
2920 District Ave. (Mosaic), 240-994-3905, themacmillan.com. Contemplate more than 200 kinds of spirits lining the bar and a menu of U.K. and American pub standards. O R L D $$
Mark’s Duck House
6184-A Arlington Blvd., 703-532-2125. Though named for its specialty—Peking duck—it also offers 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 $$
Mom & Pop
2909 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-9920050, dolcezzagelato.com. The little glass cafe serves light fare, snacks, gelato, coffee, beer and wine. O B R L D A $$
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 $
My Home Thai Bistro
1009 W. Broad St., 571-899-5055, myhomethai fallschurch.com. Enjoy Thai curries, noodles and rice dishes, plus Asian-inspired cocktails, in a whimsical dining room with pink seating, marble tabletops and intricate carved-wood wall murals. C L D G V $$
Naja Mediterranean
2911 District Ave., 571-430-3650, najamediter ranean.com. Enjoy shawarma, falafel and other Lebanese favorites in the former Kirby Club space.
O C LD V $$
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 $$
Nue s
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9599, nuevietnamese. com. The Viet-modern menu (think coconut-curry risotto, crispy whole fish and dazzling cocktails) has a stunning space to match. R L D G v $$$
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 $$
Peking Gourmet Inn
6029 Leesburg Pike, 703-671-8088, pekinggour met.com. It’s all about the crispy Peking duck at this famed institution, a destination for presidents, ambassadors and celebrities for more than three decades. C L D G V $$
Pho 88 232 W. Broad St., 703-533-8233, pho88va.com.
3471 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 703-528-9663 www.rocklands.com
Vietnamese pho is the main attraction, but the menu also includes other noodle and rice dishes. Closed Tuesdays. L D $$
Pho Ga Vang
6767 Wilson Blvd., 571-375-8281, phogavang. com. Slurp more than 12 kinds of pho, plus other Vietnamese homestyle dishes at this Eden Center café. L D G $$
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 $$
Pop-Up District
6763 Wilson Blvd., pop-updistrict.com. Hit this Asian food hall inside the Eden Center for Thai street food, Korean bulgogi bowls, Hong Kong egg tarts, matcha drinks and late-night cocktails. L D G V A $
Preservation Biscuit
102 E. Fairfax St., 571-378-1757, preservation biscuit.com. Order the signature carb with housemade jams, or as a sandwich with fillers ranging from fried chicken to guac and egg. O C B L V $
Pupuseria La Familiar
308 S. Washington St., 703-995-2528, pupuseria lafamiliar.com. Salvadoran pupusas, fried yucca, chicharron, carne asada and horchata. L D $$
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
■ places to eat
beans and makes an artful latte. The cafe space features rotating exhibits by local artists. L D $
Rasa
2905 District Ave. (Mosaic), 571-378-0670, 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 $$
Roll Play
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9983, rollplaygrill. com. Grab Viet street foods such as banh mi, pho and build-your-own rice paper rolls from this fastcasual sibling of Nue and Chasin’ Tails. L D G V $$
Semicolon Cafe
103 Founders Ave., 703-995-0970, semicoloncafe. com. Treat yourself to an egg or bulgogi sandwich on brioche and Korean shaved ice in flavors such as matcha with cheesecake or black sesame. B L $
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 $$$
SeoulSpice
156 W. Falls Station Blvd., seoulspice.com. See Arlington listing. L D G V $
Settle Down Easy Brewing
2822 Fallfax Drive, 703-573-2011, settledowneasy brewing.com. Pair a pint from the rotating beer list with tacos from neighboring El Tio Tex-Mex Grill. Live music, trivia contests and open mic nights are also part of the fun. Closed Mondays. O L D $
Sfizi Café
800 W. Broad St., 703-533-1191, sfizi.com. A family-owned trattoria, deli and wine shop serving classic Italian fare—pasta, pizza, parm. L D $$ Side Chick
125 Founders Ave., Falls Church, sidechickva. com. Ellie Bird chef Yuan Tang has a side hustle specializing in fried chicken and creative sides for carryout. 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), 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 $$ Solace Outpost s
444 W. Broad St., 571-378-1469, solaceoutpost. com. This Little City microbrewery serves housebrewed suds, plus fried chicken, five kinds of fries and wood-fired pizza. D A V $$
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 $$
Stratford Garden
300 W. Broad St., 571-550-9440, stratfordgarden. com. The newest neighborhood spot from Arash and Afsheen Tafakor keeps it lively with 16 brews on tap, wine pairings, cocktails, an eclectic menu, a takeout coffee café and a dog-friendly outdoor beer garden. O C B R L D $$$
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 $$$
Taco Bamba s 2190 Pimmit Drive, 703-639-0505, tacobamba. com. Tacos range from traditional carne asada to the vegan “Iron Mike,” stuffed with cauliflower, salsa ma and mole verde. B L D $
Taco Rock
1116 W. Broad St., 703-760-3141, thetacorock. com. See Arlington listing. o B L D V $$
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 $$
Tatte Bakery and Café
1001 W. Broad St., 703-270-9922, tattebakery. com. See Arlington listing. O B R L D G V $
Ted’s Bulletin
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-830-6680, tedsbulletinmerrifield.com. See Arlington listing.
C B R L D $$
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), 571-326-1616, 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 $$
Andy’s Pizza
2001 International Drive, 3rd floor food court, Tysons, 703-775-2212, eatandyspizza.com. See Arlington listing. L D V $
Aracosia
1381 Beverly Road, 703-269-3820, aracosia mclean.com. Fall in love with Afghan specialties such as braised lamb shank and roasted eggplant with saffron rice. O L D V $$
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, callyour motherdeli.com. See Arlington listing. 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 $$$
Chao Ban
2001 International Drive, 571-378-1687, eatchao ban.com. This fast-casual counter concept by acclaimed chef Kevin Tien (Moon Rabbit, Hot Lola’s) serves Vietnamese American dishes with MidAtlantic and Southern Gulf Shore influences. Think brisket pho, catfish bánh mì and honey-pecan shrimp. L D G V $
Churasuko
1755 Tysons Central St., 757-755-3265, chura suko.com. Indulge in raw bar, sashimi, wagyu steak and other fancy fare at this Brazilian-Japanese steakhouse concept. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. L D $$$$
Circa
1675 Silver Hill Drive, 571-419-6272, circabistros. com. See Arlington listing. O L D V $$$
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 $$ Fahrenheit Asian 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., 703-646-8968, fahren heitasian.com. A destination for Sichuan noodles, dumplings, mapo tofu and cocktails such as an Asian pear mojito. Closed Sundays. L D V $$
Fish Taco 1644 Boro Place, 703-356-6086, fishtacoonline. com. See Falls Church listing. L D G $
Founding Farmers
1800 Tysons Blvd., wearefoundingfarmers.com. The spacious farm-to-table restaurant features Virginia-sourced dishes and drinks, plus grab-andgo 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 $$
Lebanese Taverna
1840 International Drive, 703-847-5244, lebanesetaverna.com. See Arlington listing. O C L D G V $$
Lost Dog Café
1690-A Anderson Road, 703-356-5678, lostdog cafe.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Luna Hall
8201 Greensboro Drive, 571-378-1672, lunahall group.com. Dumplings, sushi, bubble tea, Korean fried chicken and fluffy cloud cakes round out the choices at this pan-Asian food hall. B L D G V $
Maman Joon
1408 Chain Bridge Road, 571-342-4838, maman joonkitchen.com. Find dolmeh, falafel, lamb shank and kebabs (plus a built-in Z Burger with shakes in 75 flavors) at this Persian eatery. L D V $$
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 $$
Modan
1788 Chain Bridge Road, 703-743-6600, modan restaurant.com. Special occasion? Splurge on a 15-course omakase experience, Wagyu beef or caviar service at this Japanese izakaya helmed by executive chef Micheole “Chico” Dator, formerly of Nobu DC. D G $$$$
Mylo’s Grill
6238 Old Dominion Drive, 703-533-5880, mylos grill.com. Enjoy spanakopita, souvlaki and American classics like burgers and cheesesteaks. Friday is prime-rib night. O R L D $$
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen s 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 $$
Patsy’s American 8051 Leesburg Pike (Tysons), 703-552-5100, pat sysamerican.com. The menu features greatesthits from other Great American Restaurants. O C R L D A G V $$
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 Café
8100 Old Dominion Drive, 703-712-7850, roots mclean.com. A pretty daytime spot for sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks and pastries.
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 $$
Simply Fresh
6811 Elm St., 703-821-1869, simplyfreshva. com. A local favorite for pulled pork, chicken and brisket, Greek diner fare, family-style takeout meals and breakfast. O C B L D G V $
Sisters Thai
7735 Capital One Tower Road, sistersthai.com. See Falls Church listing. L D G V $$
Sorn Thai Restaurant & Bar
6224 Old Dominion Drive, 703-564-0630, sorn thaiva.com. Taste the rainbow in dishes such as pineapple fried rice, Khao Soi noodles and grilled lobster with curry sauce. O R L D G V $$
Starr Hill Biergarten
1805 Capital One Drive, starrhill.com. Anchoring The Perch, an 11-story-high sky park, this indooroutdoor beer garden offers more than 20 brews on tap and bar snacks. O C L D V $
Stellina Pizzeria
1610 Capital One Drive, stellinapizzeria.com. See Arlington listing. R d V $$
artisanal house-made pastries, all-day breakfast, savory sourdough toasts, coffee and weekend cocktails. B R L 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 $$
Timber Pizza
8100 Old Dominion Drive, 703-564-0023, timber pizza.com. See Arlington listing. L D V $$
Town Kitchen & Bar
6671 Old Dominion Drive, 703-963-7880, townmclean.com. Find American standards like steak, wings, hot-honey chicken and chocolate cake, plus hand-crafted cocktails. Closed Mondays. L D V $$
Umai Ramen and Donburi
1500 Cornerside Blvd., 703-546-2465, umai tysonsva.com. Blending Japanese and Thai flavors, the kitchen serves 10 types of ramen and six versions of curry rice, plus Asian-inspired cocktails and a dozen kinds of sake. L D G V $$
Wren
1825 Capitol One Drive S., wrentysons.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 $$$
Joon
driving range ■ by Jennifer Barger
Paint the Town
Visit Baltimore for the city’s annual Artscape festival, or any old time you need creative inspo.
ON A TYPICAL WEEKDAY in downtown Baltimore, you might see a smattering of suited office workers passing through War Memorial Plaza, a fountain-filled park bookended by the dome of City Hall and the circa-1925 War Memorial Building. The green space is often deserted, save the occasional lunch-hour picnic or a tourist snapping a selfie with one of the dramatic winged seahorse sculptures.
That wasn’t the case over Memorial Day weekend in 2025, when the buttoned-up plaza turned into a raucous party as hundreds of revelers grooved to live performances by R&B star Fantasia and pop rocker Robin Thicke.
My husband, Cal, and I were immersed in the throng, having made the trip north for Artscape, a free annual festival in Charm City since 1982 that draws up to 100,000 revelers in a single weekend. Last year was the first time
this cultural carnival took place downtown, spanning roughly six city blocks.
The mood was jubilant, with screenings of local films at Baltimore Center Stage and food vendors hawking Maryland eats from stands under the Jones Falls Expressway. (Think scoops of hometown Taharka Brothers ice cream and mid-Atlantic coddie fishcakes.)
For the first time since Artscape began, an affordable art fair called Scout saw local photographers, sculptors and painters showing and selling their work inside the polished marble walls of the War Memorial Building.
“It was like our own mini Art Basel,” says Rowan Bathurst, a muralist and portraitist known for lush florals and goddess-like figures. “It really highlighted the diverse mix of talents we have working in this city.”
Artscape has long been heralded as an avant-garde mash-up of all sorts of
art and culture, from African music performances and outdoor ballet recitals to poetry slams and crafts stations for kids. This year’s extravaganza returns to downtown Baltimore May 23 and 24, promising musical performances by hip-hop legends The Roots and Stephanie Mills, along with a second Scout art fair, and “Beyond the Reel,” a new track focusing on cinema, TV and digital storytelling.
Festival weekend isn’t the only time to see the city’s exuberant and eclectic artistry on display. Baltimore explodes with creativity year-round, thanks to its world-class museums, buzzy performing-arts scene and flourishing visual arts community.
“Baltimore is great for artists. It has spirit, it has charm, there are murals on every corner, and [we] can afford studio space to make [our] work,” says Brandon J. Donahue-Shipp, whose
A kids’ play area with interactive art activities at Artscape
n driving range
bright works incorporating airbrushing and collage are shown at local galleries such as Connect + Collect on the edge of the city’s Old Goucher neighborhood. “It just makes it easier for artists to thrive here. There’s an undercurrent of innovation.”
If you’re visiting Charm City, put these vibrant shops, galleries and cultural venues on your to-do list.
A City of Museums
Artscape offers a deep dive into BMore’s rollicking contemporary creative scene, although any weekend offers great museum- and gallery-hopping. The Baltimore Museum of Art , a sprawling, 210,000-square-foot complex near Johns Hopkins University, fills a 1920s columned building (and several additions) with everything from African masks and the world’s largest collection of works by Henri Matisse to Bal-
timore Album quilts, which consist of various blocks appliqued by different women artists. Take time to linger at the outdoor tables next to the museum’s on-site Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen—the mustard-y crabcakes and fried oyster po’ boys are delish.
Amid the Gilded Age rowhouses of the Mount Vernon neighborhood just north of downtown, the Walters Art Museum shows off ancient Roman artifacts, 19th-century French paintings and contemporary illustrations
in an Italian palazzo-inspired building. Through August 9, catch the special exhibit Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture, which highlights the dramatic bronze breastplates, bold headdresses and costume pieces the acclaimed designer created for the Black Panther movies.
Near Baltimore Harbor, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) centers on imaginative, offbeat works by self-taught artists. Examples include mosaics rendered in recycled
The American Visionary Art Museum
The Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower
Artist Rowan Bathurst with two of her paintings in the Station North Arts District
bottle caps and credits cards, portraits composed entirely of seeds, and a 10-foot-tall sculpture of the legendary drag queen and character actor Divine, who starred in several cult-classic films (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray) by Baltimore native John Waters. The gift shop sells affordable art by local makers, as well as books, art supplies and other items to fuel creativity.
On May 2, the AVAM hosts the annual Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, which sends an armada of hand-
made, all-terrain art vehicles and vessels—a bicycle-powered giant poodle, a raft decked with 15-foot-tall cardboard models of Baltimore’s iconic rowhouses—hurtling through the streets and the harbor itself.
Gallery Crawls
To really take in the city’s dynamic art scene, plan a Saturday afternoon gallery crawl. Cal and I did just that, starting at the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, a 15-story clock tower (and icon of the
downtown skyline) built in 1911. Converted into an art space in 2006, the tower now holds studios for 25 illustrators, painters and jewelry makers between the fourth and 14th floors, and is open to the public most Saturdays. We zipped up to the top floor in a tiny elevator, taking skinny stairs between floors to meet artists like Julia Roble, whose multimedia works fuse photography and printmaking, and painter Tommy Roberts, known for his saturated, impressionistic landscapes (Montmartre in Paris, the Baltimore Harbor) and portraits of musicians.
A few blocks north of the Bromo tower, Current Space is a white-walled gallery with a back-garden bar. “If you land in town and you want to see what’s hip, that’s where you go,” says Teri Henderson, a Baltimore culture writer and curator. “It’s got everything from wild puppet shows to films and exhibits.”
We also checked out a few art spaces in the Station North Arts District near Baltimore Penn Station, the city’s 1911 Amtrak train depot. The blocks surrounding the train station are home to galleries and studios such as Area 405, a brick-walled, circa-1848 warehouse that hosts changing exhibits meshing video, painting, and sculpture.
‘Off the Deep End,” a contraption entered in the 2025 Kinetic Sculpture Race
Ronald Jackson’s “Profiles of Color” show at Galerie Myrtis
Galerie Myrtis is a blue-chip space showcasing Black artists such as Monica Ikegwu (known for hyper realistic portraits) and Jerrell Gibbs, an oil painter of scenes capturing everyday life.
Visual and performing arts spaces also populate Highlandtown, a rowhouse-rich neighborhood tucked around Patterson Park in southeast Baltimore. Explore the area on foot
during monthly First Friday Arts Walks, or on your own any weekend afternoon. Worthwhile stops include Highlandtown Gallery , known for affordable works by Maryland artists, and Creative Alliance, where working studios, exhibition spaces, classrooms and performing arts spaces are spread across two buildings, including a onetime 1930 movie theater.
Mad About Murals
The most approachable, in-your-face emblems of Baltimore’s aesthetic may well be its ubiquitous outdoor murals. “They’re in every corner of the city and in the most unexpected places,” says Donohue-Shipp, who has painted murals in Tennessee and other parts of Maryland, but is “still looking for the right site and commission” in his home city.
Mount Vernon is where you’ll find a three-story portrait of Divine, a symbol of LGBTQ pride, on the exterior of a rowhouse (106 E. Preston St.). Corridor of Colors, a 7,000-square-foot mural by local artist Saba Hamidi, splashes abstract, rainbow-hued forms across the Maryland Avenue Bridge in Station North. You might spot tagging artists in action in Graffiti Alley, a paint-covered passageway tucked behind Motor House, a restaurant/performance space situated in a converted early 20th-century car showroom.
Murals are especially prevalent in Station North, Highlandtown and Fells Point, a cobblestoned, waterfront enclave established in 1763. To hear about their creators and the events that inspired them, book a walking tour with Liz Miller, a bubbly local fiber artist who founded Mural Arts Tours Baltimore in 2017. “I wanted to help popularize murals and let people know how they can transform neighborhoods,” she says. “Baltimore changes block by block, and so do its murals.”
Among Miller’s personal favorites are John Ellsberry’s nearly 200-footlong trio of alligators in the Remington neighborhood and geometric, candycolored works by her friend Jaz Erenberg. “Jaz has such a beautiful color palette and her work is everywhere— on people’s front doors, on buildings and even wrapping around an auto body shop.”
Perhaps it’s no surprise that murals were front and center during Artscape 2025. In the months leading up to the
Public art by Pablo Machioli in the Bromo Arts District
Local artist Liz Miller leads a mural walking tour.
festival, 30 commissioned artists created art wrapping around 43 of the cement pillars under the Jones Falls Expressway downtown, normally the site of a Sunday farmers market.
As the weekend’s events unfolded, partiers shopped for crafts and ate street food amid pylons decorated with everything from a Baltimore oriole bird to Bathurst’s sinuous image of a woman dancing in a dreamlike tropical landscape.
“The columns were a great canvas for us to work on. They were spaced out enough to have their own presence, but they also work together as a whole,” Bathurst says. “It was a fun opportunity to get to know the people in your field. It showed how many different types of art we have in Baltimore.” ■
Jennifer Barger is a D.C.-based travel and design writer. Follow her on Instagram @dcjnell or subscribe to her Substack newsletter The Souvenirist.
If You Go
Where to Sleep and Eat Artfully
At Hotel Revival, a 14-story hotel in Mount Vernon, curated prints, collages and paintings (some by Baltimore artists) adorn the guest rooms and public spaces. A rooftop bar offers terrific views of the city, and the hotel is just a few blocks from the Walters Art Museum.
Meander Art Bar, a yellow-walled corner bar in Upper Fells Point, offers burgers and beers, along with crafting experiences (jewelry, figure drawing) and displays of local art.
The posh Sagamore Pendry Baltimore hotel, also in Fells Point, shows off a cheeky portrait of Francis Scott Key by local muralist Gaia in its lobby, and a 3,500-pound, 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a chubby horse by Colombian legend Fernando Botero in its outdoor courtyard.
Where to Catch a Show
The downtown Meyerhoff Symphony Hall hosts classical concerts by Charm City’s resident Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as well as visiting artists ranging from sultry jazz singer Diana Krall to songwriter and social activist Ani DiFranco. At the Chesapeake Shakespeare Co., see works by the Bard and other acclaimed playwrights (August Wilson, Aeschylus) staged in a converted 19th-century bank.
Launched in 1963, the long-running Baltimore Center Stage presents edgy new theater works and visiting shows in a historic Mount Vernon building. Motor House, a onetime auto showroom, now hosts community-based performances, including Haitian drumming nights, poetry slams, concerts and comedy shows.
Art at Baltimore’s Hotel Revival
Hotel Revival
The BSO at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
get away ■ by Tim Ebner
Azure
Anguilla Awaits
Skip the Bay Bridge traffic and plan a beach escape to this tiny, candy-colored Caribbean island.
Natural rock formations surround a secluded beach
SPANNING A MERE 35 square miles, intimate Anguilla is home to the white sand beaches and turquoise waters that fairytale vacations are made of.
A recently introduced nonstop flight out of BWI makes this islet east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands relatively quick and easy to reach, even if only for a long weekend. Fares on
AnguillAir start as low as $329 oneway, with flights offered every Monday and Friday.
As the northernmost island of the Lesser Antilles, the British territory (reminder: bring your passport) enjoys trade wind breezes year-round, and in early summer, a lull in tourism prompts discounts on hotel bookings.
Vacation packages through Anguilla Air Holidays (anguillairholidays.com), for example, offer savings of up to 20% off listed hotel rates. Just keep in mind that many resorts close in late August through September when hurricane season kicks into full swing.
Little Bay
The Four Seasons Resort
Blanchards’ beach shack
Dining options abound on the island, from high-end chef’s tasting menus to barefoot-on-the-beach happy hours. For a thorough sampling of its ocean bounty, visit during the annual Anguilla Culinary Experience (anguillaculinary experience.com ), a five-day food and wine festival happening May 13-17 this
year. Participating restaurants include Salt (fourseasons.com/anguilla), a seafood-forward spot turning out mainstays such as roasted pumpkin soup, spiny lobster, oxtail croquettes and fresh fish with Caribbean spices. Many of chef Manu Calderon’s dishes are seasoned in citrus and cooked over an open flame for a smoky finish.
At the Straw Hat (strawhat.com), a beachfront bar and restaurant where shoes and shirts are optional, park yourself on a lounger and order the ti’ punch, a French Caribbean concoction (think of it as the daiquiri’s more potent cousin) blending rum, lime juice, cane syrup and bitters. A food menu offering bold West Indies fare from sunrise to
Boating off the coast
Prickly Pear Restaurant
Mokes for rent
sunset finds choices like lobster Johnny cake Benedict, big-eye tuna flatbread and conch potstickers.
No visit to Anguilla is complete without a slice of Blanchards (blanchards restaurant.com) ultimate carrot cake, a towering six-layer treat interspersed with lemon curd and raspberry puree and topped with shaved coconut. The restaurant’s beach shack is a hopping spot for takeout, while the elegantly shuttered, open-air dining room is known for its family-style Caribbean Sampler of grilled crayfish, jerk chicken and salmon Provencal. Blanchards also boasts one of the most extensive wine and spirits lists on the island, with more than 300 bottles of vino and 200 kinds of rum, but who’s counting?
Anguilla’s vibrant west side, roughly a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport, is home to five-star resorts such as the extravagant Cap Juluca (belmond.com), where crisp white Greco-Moorish colonnades frame views of the water. The reliably posh Four Seasons Resort (fourseasons.com) blends sleek architecture with natural furnishings such as
STAY
driftwood lamps and petrified-wood tables. Both resorts offer private beaches, luxury spa amenities, infinity pools overlooking the ocean and a host of excursions, from sailing and fishing charters to sunset cruises.
Wallet-friendlier boutique hotels such as the Frangipani Beach Resort (frangipaniresort.com) and the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club (aurora anguilla.com) also offer poolside and oceanfront lounging, a host of water excursions, and family-friendly lodging, including suites with pull-out sleeper sofas and kitchenettes. Frangipani provides complimentary beach cruiser bicycles, and Aurora has an adjacent waterpark that’s popular with kids.
Tempting as it may be to plant yourself in one spot to decompress with a beach read, Anguilla offers plenty of enticing land and sea adventures. At Prickly Pear cays, two uninhabited islands divided by a narrow channel, you can pop on a snorkel and fins from the beach and swim out to protected coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Book a reservation ahead of time at beachfront barbecue Prickly
PLAY
Pear Restaurant (pricklypearanguilla. com) and your 20-minute boat ferry to the cays, leaving from of the tiny village of Sandy Ground, is included in the cost of your meal.
Anguilla has 33 unique beaches, including the supremely strollable Rendezvous Bay; rocky Captain’s Bay, home to a heart-shaped tidal pool; and Shoal Bay East, known for its powdery pink sand. Explore these and other island wonders by renting a Moke ( moke anguilla.com), a vehicle that looks like a cross between a Jeep and a golf cart. Available in an array of fun colors with manual or automatic transmission, these British beach buggies seat up to four passengers.
Want a taste of continental Europe? Island hop by way of the Blowing Point Ferry ($30 one-way, plus port tax) to neighboring Saint Martin. The north end, or “French side,” as it’s known to locals, boasts Parisian bakeries, wine bars and fashion boutiques, while the southern “Dutch side” offers the advantage of duty-free shopping, thanks to its 1939 designation as a free port. Fair warning: You might need a bigger suitcase for that souvenir haul. ■
Cap Juluca resort
back
O’Connell
Movie Nights
In postwar Arlington, this drive-in theater near National Airport was all the rage.
AS DARKNESS FELL on September 10, 1947, a black-and-white title card flickered onto a large outdoor movie screen. Soon, the glamorous actress Gene Tierney sashayed into view as the star of the film Dragonwyck, a gothic period drama and the evening’s main attraction.
Among the guests of honor for this, the grand opening of Arlington’s Airport Drive-In, were Peggy Wilson, the newly crowned “Miss Washington 1947,” as well as county officials. A kids’ flick that same week was Junior Miss, starring teenager Peggy Ann Garner.
Drive-in theaters were first patented in the 1930s in New Jersey and proliferated as America’s love affair with automobiles grew. By the time the pastime hit its peak in the ’50s and ’60s, the U.S. had about 5,000 drive-ins nationwide.
Arlington’s outdoor silver screen came courtesy of a lawyer and entrepreneur named Paul J. Foley, who lived in nearby Arlington Ridge. He wagered that a drive-in theater near the Potomac River would draw both local residents and visitors from Washington, D.C.
Occupying a 25-acre lot along Route 1, the theater sat directly behind what was then known only as National Airport— just “1 mile from 14th Street Bridge,” advertisements proclaimed.
The back of the screen, a large wall facing the highway, featured a
For Foley’s three kids, it was a personal playground. “I would go behind the counter and take all the candy,” recalls Paul’s son Rex Foley, who now lives in Woodbridge. “When we learned how to drive, we would go down during the day and my dad would let us drive the car in between the parking poles.”
Rex sometimes accompanied his father to theater owners’ meetings in D.C., complete with film screenings. “We could see the movies before they came out,” he says. “The screenings were held in an exquisite room, and the seats were very comfortable.”
propeller airplane lit up in red neon.
With the capacity for 1,000 cars, the Airport Drive-In quickly became a community gathering place, offering free admission to kids under 12 and hosting fundraisers for local organizations such as the Arlington police department.
As the years progressed, the Foley family moved around a bit, and the elder Foleys divorced. Under pressure from increasing development along Route 1, Paul Foley closed the drive-in in 1963. The last film ever shown was The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. Rex says he saw the film several nights in a row before the lights dimmed for good. ■
Paul Foley with beauty queen Peggy Wilson at the drive-in’s grand opening in 1947
