Bethesda Magazine: January-February 2023 Digital Edition

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January/February 2023 | Volume 20 Issue 1

contents

BEst of Bethesda 172 great places to go, things to do and more, as chosen by our editors and readers

editors’ picks 76

From heavenly fried chicken and a winery with a view to an envy-worthy work site and indoor pet exercise studios, here are some of our favorite things about Montgomery County

readers’ picks 118

Nearly 7,500 votes were cast in our online readers’ poll. Check out your neighbors’ favorites for dining, shopping, health care and more.

P. 76

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

Dig in to the Best of Bethesda

ON THE COVER: PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN; MODELS, BRIANA GREER AND RASHEED JIMMI; HAIR AND MAKEUP STYLIST, CRISGER SANTLEY; WARDROBE STYLIST, BRIAN DAVES, ALL WITH THE ARTIST AGENCY. CLOTHING FROM MACY’S.

12 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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contents

P. 174

A chat with Wes Unseld Jr.

FEATURES Still Grappling

162

23 in ’23

174

A former wrestler and high-powered lawyer, Bob Brams has been fighting for his life—and for other patients with brain cancer

There’s a lot to look forward to this year.

Here are some of the events we’re most excited about.

Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. talks about growing up in a basketball family, passing up Wall Street and living amid the wildlife of Potomac

BY MIKE UNGER

168

156

Henhouse Proud

A trend in raising backyard chickens elicits appreciation for fresh eggs, colorful personalities—and the circle of life

BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE

The Buddy System Open Door Sports aims to create an even playing field—and friendships—for kids with disabilities

BY AMY HALPERN

BY JENNIFER TEPPER

Bethesda Interview

BY MIKE UNGER

182

Weddings of the Year

Four of our favorite celebrations of 2022, with everything from a groom’s grand entrance on horseback to Elvis-in-abathing-suit photo ops

BY DANA GERBER AND KRISTEN SCHOTT

PHOTO BY JIMELL GREENE

150

14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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While there are no calm seas in investing, it is possible to have a prosperous voyage.

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contents P. 206

A peaceful bath

P. 242

Fab finds at Filo Café

DEPARTMENTS 22 | CONTRIBUTORS

29 good life 34 | BEST BETS Can’t-miss arts events

39

banter

48 | BOOK REPORT New books by local authors, and more

203 home 204 | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

221 health

237 dine

222 | BE WELL

238 | REVIEW

The director of a new mental health clinic in Bethesda wants to reach those intimidated by therapy

224 | ATTENTION, PLEASE Concentration-challenged?

Disorganized? Always late?

You might have adult ADHD, and your practiced coping mechanisms aren’t the only options anymore. Here’s why— and how—midlifers are starting to address the disability head-on.

English country kitchens are trending. See why.

258 | GET AWAY Your cheat sheet for a weekend jaunt

At Zinnia’s new fine-dining restaurant, chef Danny Wells offers an unpretentious modern American menu in an inviting atmosphere

260 | SHOP TALK Grab a scrunchie and pull up the sleeves on that oversize blazer—’80s fashion is back in a big way

242 | TABLE TALK

262 | PETS

What’s happening on the local food scene

In local schoolrooms, pets provide lessons of empathy and responsibility

251 etc.

272 | OUTTAKES

252 | DRIVING RANGE The pandemic left our writer in knots, so she finally booked that spa getaway

206 | WASHROOMS THAT WOW Four local families reimagined bathrooms to better suit their personalities and lifestyles, no extra square footage required.

214 | HOME SALES BY THE NUMBERS

P. 204 AD SECTIONS TEST OF TIME PROFILES 51

P. 260

A British invasion

BEST OF THE BEST AD SECTION 137

COMPASS AD SECTION 180

The ’80s are back

LONG & FOSTER AD SECTION 201

TTR SOTHEBY’S AD SECTION 219

LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD PROFILES 231

PRIVATE SCHOOL AD SECTION 246

SUMMER CAMPS AD SECTION 266

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG; PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE; COURTESY PHOTOS

20 | TO OUR READERS

16 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

❱❱ ONLINE ARCHIVES Explore past issues and stories using our searchable archives.

Bethesda Beat is Bethesda Magazine’s online news briefing, covering local politics and government, development, crime, schools and restaurants. Read Bethesda Beat at BethesdaMagazine.com.

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❱❱ EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

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18 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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to our readers

JANUARY’S REDEEMING QUALITIES JANUARY CAN BE COLD and dark. I don’t simply mean literally

(because it frequently is). I mean psychologically and emotionally. For me, coming off the fl rry of holiday activity can feel like a wait-it-out period until spring, enduring more weeks of waking up in darkness and leaving the office in darkness, grimacing at the thought of a bracing walk around the neighborhood. We’re making plans for warmer months, but I grasp for something to feel excited about now.

Enter Bethesda Magazine’s annual Best of Bethesda edition and its showcase of activities, dishes and creations—most of which can be appreciated regardless of the season.

The Editors’ Picks (page 76) often highlight newer enterprises and trends in Greater Bethesda. We editors weigh our own experiences, talking with everyone we can—freelance contributors, the Bethesda Beat staff, friends, family members and acquaintances—and checking out the buzz on social media and other outlets to identify some of the most intriguing prospects.

Thenwe task our talented corps of contributors with capturing what makes these experiences so distinctive, whether they’re a crunchy assortment of toasts, as tasted by restaurant critic David Hagedorn, or a friendly Zumba class, with writer Alyssa Langer sweating along in sync.

Th Readers’ Picks (page 118) encompass new and returning favorites in dozens of categories that span nearly every facet of life in our community: nail salons, kids menus, dentists, home organizers, school principals, flo ists and many more.

Thou h I’m well acquainted with plenty of the “BoBs” on our list, many are new to me. The act of combing through these options injects the thrills of curiosity and anticipation about trying them, whether that’s for an exploration of the tiny-butmighty Edith Th ockmorton Neighborhood Park or nibbling through the menu at Bethesda’s newest Parisian cafe.

Keep in mind: Local businesses, nonprofi s, agencies and people are represented in the vast majority of these selections.

Considering all that the coronavirus pandemic has wrought, plus the Great Resignation, inflation and recession fears, it is heartening to see these enterprises take root, thrive and fin their place in our lives. Establishing a new venture is not riskfree even in “normal” times, and these days don’t qualify as

normal. Even as we compiled our selections, we had to pivot when we saw that a business or nonprofit was pausing operations. We are grateful for those that survive and contribute to our community.

Best of Bethesda isn’t the only place to pique your interest in getting out and about. In our “23 in ’23” roundup (page 162), Stephanie Siegel Burke thoughtfully curates a year’s worth of events. I’m adding them to my calendar now so they don’t sneak up on me.

Even in an edition that bursts with excitement, we want to acknowledge our neighbors’ struggles and how they are being met head-on. In “Still Grappling” (page 150), Mike Unger talks with onetime high-powered lawyer Bob Brams, who has spent years fi hting his own brain cancer and is working to raise awareness and support for others facing this terrifying disease. Writer Rachel Pomerance Berl shares her own struggles with ADHD in “Attention, Please” (page 224); while exploring the increasing number of adults being diagnosed with ADHD and the question of whether and how they seek treatment for it. And in “TheBuddy System” (page 168), Amy Halpern shows how the program Open Door Sports provides children who have disabilities with opportunities to participate in athletics and forge bonds with kids across the community.

As a postscript, I want to revisit Halpern’s story “Life After Dobbs,” which appeared in the November/December issue.

The story chronicled the impact in Montgomery County of the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, and the feedback to it included both praise and interest in providing finan ial support for Cara, the 15-year-old from Tennessee whose family brought her to Maryland in pursuit of an abortion. Although abortion is such a divisive topic, I’ve been impressed by the thoughtful response of readers to the concerns raised in the story.

As ever, thanks for reading. Feel free to drop a line at editorial@bethesdamagazine.com.

Sincerely,

ANNE TALLENT EXECUTIVE EDITOR

20 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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contributors

AKIRA KYLES

JIMELL GREENE

LIVES IN: Greenbelt

LIVES IN: Baltimore

IN THIS ISSUE: Wrote about the Silver Spring ice rink as well as increased protests at Drag Story Hour events in Montgomery County, and the activists who have been rallying to protect the drag queens.

IN THIS ISSUE: Photographed Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. for the Bethesda Interview. “Growing up in Northern Virginia and being a big basketball fan, this assignment was an absolute dream!” Greene says. “Coach Unseld was fantastic to work with. Even though he had a million things going on, he was very pleasant and present for the shoot.”

WHAT SHE DOES: She is a lifestyle reporter for Bethesda Beat and Bethesda Magazine.

HOW SHE GOT HER START IN REPORTING: In Kyles’ sophomore year of high school, she found out about a journalism course that was being offered. She took the course the following year and joined the school paper. She’s been writing ever since.

WHAT HE’S LISTENING TO: “When I’m in the car, I love to listen to hip-hop, R&B or pop.

But in person, I love going to the symphony or to the jazz club.”

IN HIS DOWNTIME: “I’m a big fan of going to art galleries, trying out new restaurants, bars or bakeries. And if it’s baseball season, you can always catch me at Camden Yards rooting for my O’s.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

IN HER DOWNTIME: When she’s not checking out tips on the best places to eat, drink and have fun in Montgomery County, Kyles can be found binge-watching what she calls “comfort TV,” especially detective shows like Castle, iZombie and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. “So much SVU,” she says.

WHAT HE DOES: He is an editorial and commercial photographer and cinematographer.

22 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Anne Tallent MANAGING EDITOR

Kelly Kendall ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kathleen Seiler Neary CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kelly Martin

Business | Intellectual Property | Education DMVBusinessLawyers.com (240) 202-4302

401 N. Washington St. Suite 470 Rockville, Maryland 20850

DESIGNER

Olivia Sadka BETHESDA BEAT MANAGING EDITOR

Jeffrey Lyles BETHESDA BEAT REPORTERS

Apps Bichu, Ginny Bixby, Steve Bohnel, Em Espey, Akira Kyles RESTAURANT CRITIC

David Hagedorn CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Louis Peck, Julie Rasicot, Carole Sugarman COPY EDITORS

Elisabeth Herschbach, Steve Wilder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caralee Adams, Jennifer Barger, Rachel Pomerance Berl, Stephanie Siegel Burke, Dina ElBoghdady, Margaret Engel, Robin L. Flanigan, Christine Koubek Flynn, Dana Gerber, Amy Halpern, Amy Reinink, Bethany Rodgers, Kristen Schott, Mike Unger, Mark Walston, Carolyn Weber

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PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

Edgar Artiga, Skip Brown, Goodloe Byron, Laura Chase de Formigny, Erick Gibson, Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Lisa Helfert, James Kegley, Alice Kresse, Deb Lindsey, Liz Lynch, Lindsey Max, Mary Ann Smith, Louis Tinsley, Joseph Tran, Michael Ventura Bethesda Magazine is published six times a year by Z-Pop Media, LLC © 2022-2023 Story ideas and letters to the editor: Please send ideas and letters (with your name, the town you live in and your daytime phone number) to editorial@bethesdamagazine.com.

Bethesda Magazine 6116 Executive Blvd., #740 North Bethesda, MD 20852 Phone: 301-718-7787 BethesdaMagazine.com

24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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good life

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RUBELL MUSEUM DC, PHOTO BY CHI LAM

WHAT’S GOING ON THE ROOMS AT THE new Rubell Museum DC are filled with colorful paintings, photographs, sculptures and installations instead of students and desks. But with the building’s exposed brick and tall arched windows, it’s easy to imagine how it might have looked in its former life as Randall Junior High. The late singer and activist Marvin Gaye was a student at the school in Southwest Washington that closed in 1978. He graduated in 1954 and went on to write the groundbreaking 1971 album What’s Going On. That album and the hit song that shares its name are the inspiration for the inaugural exhibition at the museum, which opened in October.

They also inspired the exhibition’s central work, artist Keith Haring’s Untitled (Against All Odds), a 20-piece series created while Haring listened to Gaye’s album on repeat. The series was dedicated to Steve Rubell, cofounder of famous New York City nightclub Studio 54 and brother of Don Rubell, who, with his wife, Mera, and son, Jason, opened the museum to present exhibitions of their extensive art collection. Haring and Steve Rubell both died of AIDS-related complications more than 30 years ago.

Another Man’s Cloth (2006) by El Anatsui, made of aluminum liquor bottle caps and copper wire

In addition to Haring’s series, the exhibition includes art by 50 artists whose work—like Gaye’s—responds to social and political issues.

Many pieces are by artists of color and challenge ideas about race, gender, identity and sexuality. Kehinde Wiley’s Sleep, a massive 11-by25-foot painting depicting a Black man stretched out in repose against a backdrop of green foliage, is one of them. Wiley is also known for painting Barack Obama’s portrait for the National Portrait Gallery. There is also a gallery dedicated to paintings by D.C. artist Sylvia Snowden.

The entire What’s Going On exhibition will be on view into 2023.

Rubell Museum DC, 65 I St. SW, Washington, D.C. Museum hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. SaturdaySunday. $10-$15, free for Washington, D.C., residents. 202-964-8254, dc.rubellmuseum.org —Stephanie Siegel Burke BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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good life

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ICE, ICE BABY GO FOR A GLIDE at the ice skating rink in downtown Silver Spring. This favorite wintertime destination opened for the season in October, offering guests as small as toddlers a chance to skate along the smooth frozen ice at Veterans Plaza.

The rink offers more than 400 pairs of ice hockey and figure skates, ranging from toddler size 7 to adult 14. It also has skating guides (kind of like walkers) in the shape of penguins for new skaters to clutch for balance (no more clinging to the wall in fear). The rink offers group lessons on Saturdays for adults and youths ages 5 to 15 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and one adult group lesson Sundays at 9 a.m. Private lessons are available based on instructor availability for groups of up to six.

Reservations are required and can be made up to two weeks in advance. Tickets are for one hour and 20 minutes of skating. Make an afternoon of it by enjoying the area’s numerous attractions, like movie theaters and restaurants, but don’t dawdle too long over your hot cocoa at the nearby Starbucks—if you’re 10 minutes late, your reservation will be canceled.

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

The Silver Spring skating rink is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., Friday from noon to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pricing is $11 for adults, $10 for children and seniors, and an additional $5 for skate rentals. 8523 Fenton St., Silver Spring. 301-588-1221, silverspringiceskating.com.

—Akira Kyles

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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BEST BETS

Our picks for things to see and do in January and February

BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE

Jan. 12, 14 & 15

ROLL OVER, BEETHOVEN Alison Kysia, VisArts’ Bresler resident, in her studio

Jan. 11-March 12

Even if you’ve worn out your recordings of A Hard Day’s Night, Revolver and the White Album, you can hear the Beatles in a whole new way when their songs get the symphonic treatment at BSO Pops’ Revolution: The Music of the Beatles. Led by conductor Jack Everly, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra highlights the songwriting brilliance of the Fab Four. The concert also includes projections of rare and intimate photos of the band.

8 p.m., $35-$90, The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, strathmore.org

Four art shows are on exhibit at VisArts this winter. The Concourse Gallery features a juried exhibition of artwork by emerging adult artists with disabilities who participate in VisAbility Art Lab, VisArts’ studio for neurodiverse artists working toward careers in the visual arts. The Gibbs Street Gallery will show work by 2022 VisArts Studio Fellow Jessica Valoris, a Washington, D.C., artist whose multimedia efforts include painting, sound collage and ritual performance based on traditions of her Black American and Jewish ancestry. The Kaplan Gallery shows work

by VisArts Bresler Resident Artist Cecilia Kim, whose art explores the interplay between documentary and constructed image; Alison Kysia, a multimedia artist whose work focuses on Muslims and Islamophobia; and VisArts Bresler Resident Curator Gabrielle Tillenburg. See the VisArts website for the opening and closing dates of the various exhibitions.

Gallery hours noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, free, VisArts, Rockville, visartscenter.org

Jan. 14

GRAPHIC CONTENT Celebrate comics, graphic novels and fandoms at MoComCon, and don’t be surprised if superheroes, stormtroopers or other costumed sci-fi characters show up. The free event features a costume contest with categories for kids, teens and adults.

Other programs include an introduction to manga, a life-size Candy Land, Beat Saber virtual reality video games, and a scavenger hunt. There are also hands-on crafts like button making and Take & Make Kits (while supplies last). Come early for an all-ages superhero-themed story time at 10:30 a.m., before the official event kicks off.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, Germantown Library, montgomerycountymd.gov/library/programs/ mocomcon.html#section0

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (UNDER LICENSE FROM THE BEATLES BOOK PHOTO LIBRARY); PHOTO BY DILLON MEYER; PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON TURNER FOR MCPL DIGITAL STRATEGIES

ART ALL AROUND

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BEST BETS Feb. 2

GUITAR HERO

When it comes to Kaki King, you can take your idea of an instrumental guitar concert and shred it. King, who has been called a guitar virtuoso and was the first woman named a “guitar god” by Rolling Stone magazine, plays in a unique percussive style. She’s known for jazztinged melodies and using multiple tunings. Her energetic live performances often include visual elements, like a light show projected onto the face of her guitar.

8 p.m., $25-$45, AMP by Strathmore, North Bethesda, strathmore.org

FANCY FEET Inspired by true events and based on the 2005 British film of the same title, the musical Kinky Boots tells the story of the unlikely partnership between a drag queen and a northern England shoe factory owner.

Charlie Price inherits his father’s failing footwear business, but after he meets Lola, a flashy performer with a broken boot, the two join forces to produce a new line of high-heeled boots and save the business, despite the disapproval of many in their closed-minded community. The show features music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. If the stage production were a movie, it would be rated PG-13, according to the theater’s website. $42-$85, Olney Theatre Center, olneytheatre.org

Feb. 15-April 8

HOOP DREAMS

Based on the picture book

by Thelma Lynne Godin and adapted for the stage

by Gloria Bond Clunie, The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen is about Kameeka, who is confident that she finally will beat her rival and become the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street in Harlem, New York. But on the day of the competition, she also has to prepare for Miz Adeline’s birthday party. She’s so distracted that she ruins the cake. Luckily, “the hulahoopin’ itch” saves the day and the party spills onto the street.

A joyful block party of a show, The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen celebrates the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Best for ages 5-11. $12-$39, Imagination Stage, Bethesda, imaginationstage.org n

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF STRATHMORE; PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGINATION STAGE; PHOTO COURTESY OF OLNEY THEATRE

Feb. 10-March 19

36 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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people. politics. current events. books.

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

FANTASY FULFILLMENT CENTER At the last remaining costume shop in this area, Ginger Ager can hook you up with Andy Warhol wigs, superhero capes and breeches worthy of Bridgerton

BY MARGARET ENGEL

Ginger Ager at Gene’s Costumes BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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GINGER AGER STANDS AMID crowded racks of costumes, masks and novelty props in her shop, Gene’s Costumes in Kensington. It’s two days after Halloween—a holiday for costume shops that’s like Christmas, Easter and the Fourth of July all rolled into one—and you can barely see any trace of the store’s fl or.

Garment and prop returns fill 11 gigantic plaid bags sitting under ceiling displays of Mardi Gras masks, devils’ pitchforks and barrister wigs.

“And I’ve just picked up all The Cherry Orchard costumes from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School,” Ager says, gesturing to two of the bags. “The e’s a lot of theatrical items to clean and sort, too.”

Gene’s Costumes doesn’t have a lot of competition these days, at least not from similarly old-school shops, so the demand for Elvis suits, Bridgerton-style breeches and Marvel superhero capes

has been intense. In addition, Ager and her small staff pull, m asure and deliver costumes year-round for theatrical productions at local schools and theaters.

Things were so busy this past fall that Ager’s parents drove from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and moved into her Silver Spring home for a week to help customers find just the right fantasy looks from the thousands of costumes stored on three levels.

Pointing to the neat bags of returns, Ager says, “We’ll just get this all put away, and then it’s Santa suits, elves costumes, Victorian carolers and the Grinch nonstop ’til Christmas.”

Ager, 59, a 1981 Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School grad, had sensible training for her career in masquerade. She worked at her family’s dry-cleaning business in Laurel and later at a Chevy Chase dry cleaner. She knows not to choose vel-

“These costumes are all of my children,” says Ginger Ager of Gene’s Costumes.

vet or brocade costumes for high schoolers in drama productions, as those fabrics are easily damaged by water or snags, and has turned away customers she senses will not take care of a costume.

“I take any of the damage personally,” she says. “Th se costumes are all of my children.”

This converted house in Kensington is the place to find Andy Warhol wigs, dragon masks with light-up eyes, and plush spiders the size of suitcases.

Costumes celebrating steampunk and Day of the Dead, and outfi s for superheroes, flappers and Colonial soldiers fill its racks. The e are mascot rentals, so oversize heads of both realistic and comic versions of animals line several shelves. Stage makeup, tiaras, wigs and shoes also are on offer. A not-too-elaborate costume can cost $35 to rent. A full getup, including hat and accessories, typically rents for $65 to $70.

The shop was created by Genevieve Showalter in the basement of her Wheaton home in the early 1960s, hence the name “Gene’s Costumes.”

The enterprise moved to its current location in the mid-1980s, when Ager began helping out part time. After Showalter died in 1986, an assistant and Showalter’s husband, Chuck, kept the shop going. In 1989, Ager was asked to buy it, and she took the leap.

At that time, the metro Washington area had around a dozen costume shops, some dating to the 1920s, when downtown hotels held costume nights and formal costume parties were part of the social scene.

In recent decades, pop-up Halloween stores, Amazon’s inventory and packaged costumes in big-box stores have shuttered many of the costume shops nationwide, according to Ed Avis, executive director of the National Costumers Association, based in Chicago. “Th numbers have been going down steadily in the last 20 years,” he says, noting the group’s mailing list has dwindled to 1,000, of which 100 are brick-andmortar shops. “But drag, cosplay, comic-

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

banter

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con and new theaters are breathing new life into the costume world,” he says.

“Th y’re an enthusiastic bunch—the fun of dressing up is just too vivid.”

At Gene’s, customers can still try on beautifully made costumes of wools and cottons, rather than buying a one-size-fi s-all synthetic outfi in a bag. With enough time, alterations are possible. A couple from Laurel recently spent an hour trying on purple velour suits and cheetah print capes for an upcoming 1970s party. The initially reluctant husband ended up renting two costumes in order to change halfway through the party. His wife rented three, Ager says. She often gets invited to customers’ parties, but only attends the theatrical productions she costumes.

Artistic Director Darnell Patrick Morris uses Gene’s Costumes for the full schedule of six to 20 yearly produc-

Customers can still try on beautifully made costumes of wools and cottons, rather than buying a one-size-fitsall synthetic outfit in a bag. tions at his Ovations Th atre in Gaithersburg. “I can say the most random item, and Ginger will have it,” he says.

“Her collection is so extensive. We’ve pulled for four to five shows in one day.”

Ager has bought out the stock of several shops that have closed, is connected to national costume vendors and keeps abreast of European sources for new outfi s. At times, she walks two storefronts up the street to Urban Th ift for items. “We did a Mary Poppins play and needed multiple pairs of black pants,” she recalls.

“A couple of thrift visits did it.”

America’s resumption of social events is helping the fortunes of costume shops, according to a survey of the National Costumers Association’s members, Avis said. “People still want fantasy, magic and dressup in their lives,” he says. “Costumes allow people to be something other than their everyday selves.” n

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banter

GETTING DRAGGED Performers presenting local story hours have been facing protests—but community support and protection have toughened their resolve

BY AKIRA KYLES D’MANDA MARTINI HAS BEEN perform-

ing as a drag queen for about a decade.

Not until last summer did she feel she needed protection.

The trouble started one Saturday in June, during a Drag Story Hour at the Montgomery County Public Library in Silver Spring. When Martini arrived, families were already there—but even more people were trying to come in, which struck her as odd.

“It was this group of men in the back,”

says Martini, who declines to give her real name because of safety concerns. “I got to my second or third story, and they interrupted me and were just kind of like, ‘Are you OK with mocking God?’ ” Some protesters left then, but a couple stayed and caused another interruption before security escorted them out, Martini says. Th y weren’t yelling, but they seemed intent on intimidating people, she recalls. “It kind of shook me up,” Martini says. “Like, who’s taking their time out at noon on a Saturday to disrupt an event with children and be ugly?”

Since then, protesters—including apparent right-wing Proud Boys—have descended on local Drag Story Hours. It’s a development that’s played out across the country, sometimes violently, in the past year-plus. And in November, an assailant attacked an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing five eople.

Local drag performers and their advocates say the blowback has hardened their resolve and prompted them to organize to protect performers.

Martini is among several who have hosted what is now known as Drag Story Hour, which started in 2019, throughout Montgomery County.

“Drag Story Hour has the same essential purpose as any other story hour: to promote literacy while having fun,” says Beth DiGregorio, president of Drag Story Hour DC Metro. “We focus on creating safe and welcoming spaces for queer families. … Having a drag storyteller creates an atmosphere of joy that shows children there is no wrong way to be you.”

The readings are geared toward kids ages 2 to 12, DiGregorio says, and have included titles like Just Add Glitter by Angela DiTerlizzi, a shiny tribute to imagination, and The Kindness Book by Todd Parr, which celebrates the joy of being nice to others.

Conservative critics allege drag events are “grooming” children for sexual abuse and, in other parts of the country, have sought to restrict them. In June, a Texas state legislator announced he was drafting a ban on children attending drag shows, referring to “a disturbing trend in which perverted adults are obsessed with sexualizing young children.”

Some protests at drag events have turned violent, as in an October event in Oregon in which demonstrators threw rocks and smoke grenades, outlets have reported. The November attack in Col-

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL VENTURA

D’manda Martini at Drag Story Hour in November at Brookside Gardens

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orado Springs has prompted some drag performers who are prominent nationally to turn to armed guards, according to news reports.

After the June run-in at the Silver Spring library, Drag Story Hour DC Metro representatives met Martini at her car and walked her inside to her next three venues the following day. Those events went without a hitch, and Martini says a friend’s child, who is gendernonconforming, helped her remember the importance of this kind of event.

“Her kid came up to me and gave me this huge hug and was so excited to see someone like them,” Martini says. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is why I still do this.’ ” In response to anti-drag demonstrators, LGBTQ groups like Parasol Patrol, which formed to protect drag performers and attendees at story hours, and other Montgomery County community members, including Kristin Mink, who was elected to the Montgomery County Council in November, decided to organize counterprotests.

“I have seen time and time again how important it is that we … really show up in a big way for the trans and nonbinary community,” Mink says. It’s a priority to not fuel a confrontation, she says, but “to make it a really positive experience for

the kids and the drag queen.”

At the Kensington library in July, Christopher Hefty was in full costume as drag queen persona Bella Naughty to join the Parasol Patrol.

Protesters “were continually trying to get into the event, and they would get in

“ ...Having a drag storyteller creates an atmosphere of joy that shows children there is no wrong way to be you.” —Beth DiGregorio your face,” Hefty says. “People got really upset with just the fact that we were physically there and doing something fun.”

The August and September story hours at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton proceeded without incident, Mar-

Protesters (in foreground) who objected to a Drag Story Hour in November were met by the ”Parasol Patrol,” a group of volunteers providing protection to anyone who wanted it.

tini says. But in October, counterprotesters weren’t there—and men showed up in “Proud Boys” baseball caps, with skeleton-face bandanas over their mouths. They carried signs that said “Science is real boy or girl” and the word “Groomers” with a red X drawn across it.

Afterward, Martini says, the protesters followed her to her car, shouting insults and shooting pictures and videos.

She was harassed on Twitter and other social media accounts, she says.

TheProud Boys could not be reached for comment.

Between the Proud Boys and the Colorado shooting, safety has become a high priority for Drag Story Hour events.

“We have a really great group of supporters who are committed to showing up to each story hour to ensure attendees are able to get from their vehicles to the event without disturbance,” DiGregorio says. With colorful umbrellas, “We call this our rainbow wall, and it is designed to shield families both from the visual of the protesters, and if necessary, we play loud Disney music to shield them from hate speech. We work with venues who are committed to the safety of families and our storytellers, and each venue will have a different safety plan based on the location and layout.”

Martini fears that she or a family member will be contacted outside of her event appearances. But she has persisted, returning to Brookside Gardens for a November reading. Th t time, the hostile reaction came from a smaller group.

The Brookside Gardens events are to resume in April after a seasonal hiatus, according to DiGregorio.

Martini, for one, will be there. “If I’m reading to children, it’s to make them happy and have fun,” she says. “I fi mly believe in what Drag Story Hour is, and that is reading stories to kids, to, first of all, allow kids to sort of see different kinds of people. ... Being exposed to different types of people and different cultures allows children to then have empathy for all of [them]. Being a person who is LGBTQ in front of kids allows them to then [say], ‘Oh wait, these are people— these are real people.’ ” n

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INTO THE WILD How old fire hose became a passion project for one Rockville couple, who now keeps it out of landfills and in the paws of animals who can use it

BY ALICIA OLTUSKI LISA DALY AND HER HUSBAND, Anthony

Slamin, were strolling through the National Zoo in April 2014 when they noticed a curious material inside an animal enclosure: fi e hose. It was in frayed condition. So the couple, both of whom volunteered for the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service in Rockville for several years, contacted the zoo and

were put in touch with Amanda Bania, the great-ape keeper at the time. Did she want some more of that hose? Bania said, “It’s like gold!’ We’ll take as much as you have!” Daly recalls.

Soon, the pair rounded up out-ofservice fi e hose from local stations and dropped it off at the zoo. Bania was thrilled and suggested that the couple make donating hose more widespread.

The result: Hose2Habitat, a nonprofit they founded that helps connect those who care for wild animals living outside their natural habitats with fi e stations and other establishments that offer materials that can improve those animals’ welfare. Besides being widely available, used fi e hose can be twisted and braided into forms that mimic ones that animals encounter—and need to encounter in order to stay stimulated—in the wild. It can be transformed into a mock piece of four-legged prey in need of catching and slaying just as easily as it can become the crevices of a jungle tree. Animals need to work for their food as part of their wellbeing, say zoological experts.

The next thing they knew, Daly and Slamin were fi lding calls from all over the country. In turn, they got in touch with fi e stations around the U.S. to gather even more resources. Daly, who is in her 40s, and Slamin, who is in his 60s, are quick to clarify that they didn’t come up with the idea of fi e hose as an animal enrichment tool. “I like to talk about Hose2Habitat as being more of an idea pollinator,” Slamin says. In the course of running it, the couple brainstorms new things to make out of the material they have and offers workshops that teach caregivers, handlers and institutions how materials like fi e hose can benefit wild animals unaccustomed to living in the wild. Th y’ve worked with a dizzying variety of species ranging from elephants, wolves, grizzly bears and rhinos to bats, anteaters, snakes and penguins (which are, per Daly, “hilarious to enrich”). Their work, they estimate, has resulted in the transfer of hundreds of tons of materials for animal enrichment purposes. An added bonus: By diverting the old hose to animals, the couple keeps that material out of the waste stream.

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MARYLAND ZOO; PHOTO BY LAUREN CULLEY; PHOTO COURTESY OF HOSE2HABITAT

A chimp at the Maryland Zoo; a marmoset at Southwick’s Zoo in Massachusetts; Anthony Slamin and Lisa Daly at the North Carolina Zoo in 2020

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The impact that the couple has had on the zoo and sanctuary community is “more immense” than they probably even know, Bania says. “Th y are a truly amazing organization.” Board member Mandy Siegel Fahy, who works on the animal behavior team for the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, credits the group for “sharing ideas and inspiration.”

Daly and Slamin both work—Daly as a nonpartisan senior counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives and Slamin as an analyst for the federal government.

Last year, Daly and Slamin took two trips to the Amazon and other parts of Peru, hauling 600 feet of forestry hose in their luggage on one of the voyages, they say. Th y would work with animals “in situ,” or in a managed habitat in their original homeland, the goal being release into the wild. Many have been fed in ways that are not organic to life in the jungle (like eating from bowls) and lack the skills necessary for hunting. On the pair’s most recent trip, a goal was to “work on additional strategies to prepare the animals for planned release into the Amazon,” said Daly in an email. On their firs day, the couple found themselves walking through jungle, watching the monkeys’ expert caretakers pluck fruit from trees. Then,using the forestry hose they’d brought, they wove a contraption that teetered, resembling the swaying branches of a tree. Th t creation served as a prototype that inspired 12 replicas built by the team caring for the monkeys, all of which the animals put to use.

Sometimes, Daly and Slamin’s work has a more immediate impact. In 2016, the couple—armed with fire hose—boarded a cruise out of Baltimore, and during a stop in the Bahamas they built a structure for a primate whose longtime mate had died.

“The animal was depressed, and so we were thinking of ways to make her have to think about getting her favorite treats,” Daly says. The idea was to divert the primate’s attention from her grief. Pulling out a photo of a tall structure of knitted hose with food tucked into its nooks and crannies, Daly recalls how much it helped the animal. She and Slamin love seeing their services in action. Daly says, “It’s like an antidepressant for me.” n

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A COLD CASE HEATS UP A retired detective plumbs the 88-year-old ‘Car Barn Murders’ of her great-great-uncle and another man

BY DAWN KLAVON IN 2002, Karen Smith, a rookie cop living

in Jacksonville, Florida, was visiting her parents in Hagerstown, Maryland, when her dad dropped a bombshell on her.

“I never told you about Uncle Emory,” her father said before sharing the story of a 1935 double homicide in Chevy Chase at the Capital Transit Co., nicknamed the “Car Barn Murders” by the press at the time. Stunned, Smith learned that her great-great-uncle Emory Smith— a mechanic and the night watchman at a trolley station—was shot in the head and killed. His body was dumped a mile away in Rock Creek, just below what is now the Kensington Parkway bridge.

Also killed was James Mitchell, the trolley clerk, shot in the head multiple times and found dead, locked in his office.

Smith recalls her father saying that her grandfather was called in for questioning in the case and released. To date, it remains one of the most high-profil crimes in the region, never solved and still sits in the cold case file at the Montgomery County Police Department.

Now a retired detective, Smith believes she has solved the case. In October, she finished writing a 51-page homicide report and shipped it off to Katie Ellis Leggett, a cold case detective at MCPD. Leggett says she will review the report and hopes to deliver it to the county attorney for further analysis. Examining a case this old is uncharted territory for the department, she added, and MCPD wants to be careful how it is handled, not wanting to encourage cold case investigations

by unqualifi d people. Leggett points out that Smith is “not a layperson—she has tons of experience.” The detective says she has “tremendous respect for Karen.”

Smith’s father died in 2018, which prompted her to finally dive in and start investigating the mystery as a way to honor him. A couple of years earlier, NBC4 Washington had aired a story on the Car Barn Murders, and her cousin sent her a link to the report about Montgomery County’s oldest unsolved case.

“The e was video footage of the case file, which had tons of stuff in it, and I went, ‘Oh my God, I need to see what’s in there!’ ” Smith says. By that point, she had the background and skill set to investigate the mystery—and perhaps bring some closure for her family.

“So I started digging in,” Smith says.

“And the further I dug, I went down wormhole after wormhole of information. …It led me to the primary perpetrator and to my conclusion.”

The case got its name from the “car barn” that once sat at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and the old B&O Railroad tracks (now the Capital Crescent Trail) in Chevy Chase. Trolleys were parked and maintained in the car barn.

Mitchell’s killing took place in the trolley office, across the street from the car barn.

It was where people waited for the trolley, employees stored their belongings and conductors brought the collected fares to Mitchell, the trolley clerk. Emory Smith was apparently taken from the car barn, where he worked, and was then shot in a car, his body dumped in Rock Creek.

The double homicide occurred around 4:30 a.m. on a snowy Monday in January 1935, says Smith. The $1,249 in weekend receipt money was stolen. Police never found a murder weapon, but Smith says there was a treasure trove of evidence— enough for her to produce a 17-part podcast, Shattered Souls: The Car Barn Murders, that has been released on Spotify,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAREN SMITH

News clippings depicting murder victims Emory Smith and James Mitchell

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“There was video footage of the case file, which had tons of stuff in it, and I went, ‘Oh my God, I need to see what’s in there!’ ” —Karen Smith iHeart Radio and Apple Podcasts. In it, she meticulously lays out her case, naming three men for the crime, all of whom died years ago. She says she examined every name in the case file— lose to 200—and homed in on a trio original investigators considered suspects. They were never vetted, however, and, inexplicably, faded from the picture. Smith chalks it up to corruption. (Bethesda Magazine has not corroborated Smith’s investigation or contacted the suspects’ relatives and is therefore not naming them.)

Smith’s investigation in the age of the internet uncovered more evidence and tied clues together as she researched the suspects. She says the three were friends, and Smith presents compelling circumstantial evidence on the podcast. Her investigation focused on breaking down timelines, checking alibis, doing geographic profiling and finding inconsistencies in statements. Along the way, Smith uncovered what she says are corruption and payoffs in the robbery murders.

In the course of her research, Smith spoke with retired Montgomery County police officer Jack Toomey, the lead detective on the cold case back in the 1970s and ’80s. While on patrol in 1977, he met a middle-aged Black man named Ernest Carter, a security guard at Columbia Country Club, who said he was at the crime scene as a 7-year-old when the killings took place. Carter said he never spoke to police in the 1930s because he didn’t think they would believe a Black child.

Toomey supplied Smith with parts of the case file. After extensive research, she has found no evidence that Carter is still alive; if he is, he would be 95 years old.

But the information Carter gave to Toomey decades ago was vital to the investigation, Smith says, providing details about the suspects and the getaway car he said he witnessed.

“I don’t see any problem with getting

this case closed—not at all,” Toomey says.

“All of the proof is there.”

At this point, the best Smith can hope for is to be granted an honorary declaration by the Montgomery County Police Department—officials have the power to close the case. The e can be no formal court process because everyone involved is deceased. At the time of publication, the case remained open.

“It’s a noble cause, and she did lots of work on it,” Toomey says. “It will defi-

nitely bring a sense of closure to her, and apparently to her family.”

In the meantime, Smith, who now lives in Los Angeles and is a remote lecturer in forensic science at the University of Florida, is shopping a Car Barn Murders book deal and working on several unrelated television projects.

Otherwise, she waits.

“I have no doubt that they’ll close the case,” Smith says. “I would bet my pension on it.” n

Clockwise from top left: Karen Smith; the area where Emory Smith’s body was recovered; Emory Smith (second from right) and his family in 1926; John Smith (Emory’s nephew), who had to identify the body, with his co-worker Vincent Elmore BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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BOOK REPORT

Growing up in Los Angeles as a fan of the cinema, Bárbara Mujica was curious about the legendary actress Dolores del Río—the first m jor Latina star in Hollywood.

Mujica, a Bethesda writer and professor emerita of Spanish literature at Georgetown University, decided the best way to tell her story was through fi tion. Her novel Miss del Río (Graydon House, October 2022) follows the celebrity’s career, starting with silent films in he 1920s and including her philanthropy in Mexico, where she advocated for a system of day care centers.

“Beauty had been defin d since the Renaissance as blonde and blue-eyed. She was the exotic beauty who broke those stereotypes,” Mujica says. “She wasn’t just a pretty face. She was a woman who was very aware of the vapidity of Hollywood and always yearned to do something signifi ant.”

After spending more than three years researching the life of Elizabeth Taylor, Bethesda journalist Kate Andersen Brower found the legendary movie star to be even more complex than we knew.

Her addictive personality, multiple marriages and abuse at the hands of her father brought her a lot of heartache, as Brower spells out in Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit and Glamour of an Icon (Harper, December 2022).

Yet, Taylor was shrewd as a celebrity entrepreneur, and compassionate as an AIDS activist. Brower interviewed and dedicated the book to Taylor’s sixth husband, former U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia, who wanted the public to know and respect her story.

“She was always fi hting to get what she wanted,” Brower says. “The ay she picked herself up after tragedy again and again in her life is inspirational.”

As a prominent champion for women’s rights in Iran and around the world, Mahnaz Afkhami says she owed it to the next generation of activists to share lessons learned in her career. The Other Side of Silence: A Memoir of Exile, Iran, and the Global Women’s Movement (The niversity of North Carolina Press, October 2022) chronicles Afkhami’s work, from serving as Iran’s first min ster of women’s affairs to founding the Bethesda-based nonprofi Women’s Learning Partnership, which represents 20 women’srights organizations in the Global South. The 81 yearold Chevy Chase resident says engaging in collective action and including men are key. “The only ay that you can have the hopes and goals of the women’s movement realized,” she says, “is to have the other half of the population involved.”

Willard Jenkins says his parents were devoted jazz fans who influen ed his early love of the genre and decision to write about it. After discovering there weren’t many Black journalists who covered jazz, he arranged to interview those he could find bout their experiences. For years, he posted the interviews on his website, Open Sky Jazz, but eventually realized he had enough material for a book. The esult: Ain’t But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story (Duke University Press, December 2022).

“Major and recognized historical innovators of the music have largely been Black, and those who have chronicled the music have not. Th t’s a very interesting peculiarity of sorts—and that’s what we explore,” says Jenkins, a Rockville resident and artistic director of the DC Jazz Festival.

ALL BOOK COVERS FILE PHOTOS

BY CARALEE ADAMS

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Bethesda Urban Partnership and Bethesda Magazine will honor writers at the Local Writer’s Showcase on March 10, 2023.

ESSAY AND SHORT STORY CONTEST DEADLINE: JANUARY 10, 2023 For eligibility and rules, please visit www.bethesda.org or www.bethesdamagazine.com.

AWARDS

First place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine Second place: $250 / Third place: $150 / Honorable Mention: $100

All winners will be published on the Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Urban Partnership websites and will be honored at a special event during the Local Writer’s Showcase on March 10.

High School winners receive: First place: $250 and Bethesda Magazine will print the first place Essay and Short Story.

Second place: $150 / Third place: $75 / Honorable Mention: $50

For more information, please call 301-215-6660, ext. 117 or 301-718-7787.

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Fitzgerald's Auto Mall JACK FITZGER ALD, FOUNDER We buy cars directly from consumers, whether or not they are being traded in, at attractive prices.

16 locations in the greater D.C. region 301-881-4000 www.FitzMall.com

After executing the sale agreement on a napkin at a Hot Shoppes restaurant in 1966, native Washingtonian Jack Fitzgerald opened his first car dealership in a converted gas station. Colonial Dodge in downtown Bethesda had only one car on the showroom floor, which also served as the office and parts department. This was long before Bethesda was the Bethesda we know today. It was before the dramatic growth of the National Institutes of Health and the National Naval Medical Center.

Even before Starbucks!

In the decades since the 1960s, the Fitzgerald automobile family has grown to include 26 showroom locations where hundreds of thousands of new and used cars have been sold. Today, with demand for previously owned cars at a peak, Fitzgerald customers enjoy a full, new car showroom experience when shopping for used cars. They are exploring every kind of car imaginable: domestic and imports, luxury as well as practical, gas, hybrid and all-electric.

“We buy cars directly from consumers, whether or not they are being traded in, at attractive prices,” says Fitzgerald.

Customers have a few categories to consider. Certified pre-owned cars come with warranties after they meet a checklist of requirements such as age and mileage, along with service that must be done before they are sold.

There are also perfectly good and

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safe used cars that undergo the FitzWay comprehensive checkout. “I used to call it the 138-point check,” says Fitzgerald, “but now it’s more like over 200. You’ll know as much about the car as we do.”

At the entry level end of the spectrum, there are cars known as handyman fixeruppers that are ideal for the mechanically inclined who not only have interest and skill, but also time to do some work.

Transparency and trust have always been at the core of the FitzWay, the company motto that emphasizes honesty and respect, fair dealing, best price guarantees and attentive customer service. Unlike most dealers, Fitzgerald has a posted price on the windshield of every car that you can actually buy the car for. It’s called a “No Hassle, No Haggle” approach.

Committed to building long-term relationships with customers, Fitzgerald Auto Malls offers a Lifetime Buyer Protection Plan for any vehicle purchased, new or used, that includes inspections based on a survey of the top reasons cars break down.

Plus, customers get a loaner car for life.

In the dealership’s 57th year, Jack Fitzgerald feels grateful to his employees and customers. "I often quote a famous baseball player named Lefty Gomez,” he says, “who said he’d rather be lucky than good. The truth is, we are lucky because of our customers. We have served three generations of some families. Customer loyalty has given us our longevity.”

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Oneness-Family Montessori School A N D R E W K U T T, F O U N D E R A N D H E A D O F UPPER SCHOOL “[Our] families appreciate our community-based environment, balancing a college prep approach with attention to well-being, mental health and community building.”

Oneness-Family School 6701 Wisconsin Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Oneness-Family Montessori High School 9411 Connecticut Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301-652-7751 admissions@onenessfamily.org www.onenessfamily.org

In the 34 years since Andrew Kutt founded Oneness-Family School (OFS), an innovative and diverse learning community for students in preschool through high school, he's watched society succumb to the pressures of standardized testing, AP classes and SAT scores. With such emphasis placed on grade-point averages, test scores and college applications, "everyone has seemingly lost sight of the point of learning."

"Learning how to learn is just as important as what you learn," says Kutt.

"Students are under an unprecedented amount of stress. OFS families appreciate our community-based environment, balancing a college prep approach with attention to well-being, mental health and community building. And our high school graduates have all gotten into the colleges of their choice."

OFS students are empowered to be lifelong learners and confident,

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independent thinkers. Rooted in studentcentered, interdisciplinary learning and personal growth, the school's Montessoriinspired curriculum is designed to prepare students to meet the complex global challenges of the 21st century.

The school's diverse community (over 60 nationalities) inherently broadens students' perspectives. Its high school leadership program equips students to reach their full potential and contribute to a better world, fostering the importance of community service, collaboration, ethics, racial literacy and social justice.

Small class sizes (12-1 average student-teacher ratio) nurture strong, personal mentor relationships between teachers and students. OFS also values supporting parents, says Kutt.

"It warms my heart that lifelong friendships are forged at OFS," says Kutt.

"Many international families come back to Washington and visit us, and many students travel abroad to visit friends."

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

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Westat Staff are known as passionate problemsolvers with a strong commitment to data and methodological rigor.

TONY J. LE WIS

1600 Research Blvd.

Rockville, MD 20850 301-251-1500 www.westat.com

Dedicated to improving lives through research, Westat offers innovative professional services to help clients improve outcomes in education, health and social policy. Westat brings together subject-matter experts with best-in-class statisticians, researchers, evaluators, communicators, and technical staff to fit the needs of each project. Clients include agencies of the U.S. government as well as businesses, foundations and state and local governments.

Sixty years ago, the visionary startup was a partnership between co-founders Edward C. Bryant, Ph.D.; a professor of statistics at the University of Wyoming; and two former students, James Daley and Donald King. Today, with 1,800 employees, Westat is 100 percent employee owned, and its staff are still known as passionate problem-solvers with a strong commitment to data and methodological rigor.

Headquartered in Montgomery County for 55 years, Westat is a dedicated community partner. It sponsors local and national organizations such as Leadership Montgomery, New Futures and Montgomery College as well as Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health, RecruitMilitary and United Way. Leading Westat in finding innovative ways to support the changing needs of clients is Scott Royal, Ph.D., president and CEO of Westat. His career spans over 25 years working in mission-driven, professional services firms with increasing levels of leadership. “I couldn’t be prouder of my diverse, engaged and talented Westat colleagues who work so hard to make a positive difference in people’s lives here in our communities and around the world,” he says. “In 2023, we celebrate 60 years in business and look ahead to even greater success.”

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Boone & Sons Jewelers 5550 The Hills Plaza Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-657-2144 www.booneandsons.com

Boone & Sons is one of the Washington area’s oldest family-run jewelers. French Boone founded the store in 1966 and today three generations of Boones run the locations in Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C. and McLean. At any given time, a family member is present to assist customers.

A total of 10 Boones work for the company today. “And most of the nonBoone employees have been with the company for 20 years or more – so they might as well be family,” says Darryl, French’s son and current president.

Familiar faces make the experience at Boone & Sons very personal. In most cases a client has the advantage of not only working with someone who knows them, but also their jewelry preferences and purchase history.

French Boone created the store with the quality and service of the world’s

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finest jewelers but blended with the intimate, personal feel of a local business.

“Not only are we a full-service jeweler, but we strive to have the finest quality at the most competitive price,” says Darryl.

“We’re extremely flexible and service oriented, and really do all we can to make sure everyone who makes a purchase is happy.” French taught his family that it’s more important to keep a relationship than to make a sale.

There’s also a wonderful generational aspect of the business that coincides with their generations of customers.That’s one of the biggest draws for a family business, according to Darryl. “We’re relationship driven. We don’t see people as customers making a purchase as much as they are like friends and family.” Boone & Sons has been voted “Best Jewelry Store” by Bethesda Magazine’s readers several years running.

ADAM FREEDMAN

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Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens Kitchen design is about the client, not the designer. We pride ourselves on understanding everyone’s needs and providing the best service possible.

H E AT H E R F U E N T E S

12223 Nebel St. Rockville, MD 20852 240-595-6732 BeautifulRosenKitchens.com

Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens has been delivering timeless designs with an emphasis on quality and a superior customer experience since 1982. “There is no doubt that my father, who founded the company, is my greatest influence,” says owner Larry Rosen. “He named the company after himself because he knew he would always do things the right way. We have maintained our excellent reputation ever since.”

At Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, a talented and versatile team of designers is able to design in every style and size, while being well-versed in the latest trends and improvements. “I am inspired by architectural features in the rest of the house when creating new spaces to fit each client’s lifestyle,” Rosen says. “However, in the end, it is always about the client’s complete satisfaction.

We provide quality, creativity and dependability to each client and it is

paramount that they be delighted with their investment.”

The firm puts a premium on comfort and functionality, as well as aesthetics. “A well-designed kitchen is not only beautiful but functions easily,” Rosen says.

“Appliances should be placed logically and safely, there should be ample counter space and storage should be maximized.

Food prep should be a pleasure, clean-up should be quick and people should be able to comfortably linger after a meal. If all these needs are met, then we have done our job.”

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Geneva Day School 11931 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-340-7704 www.genevadayschool.org

Triassic! Jurassic! Cretaceous!

Geneva Day School’s 3-year-olds learn about prehistory as they create a habitat with their teacher, Mr. Mondonedo.

“We’re working towards that ah-ha moment. . . This makes all the difference,” he says.

Since 1965, Geneva Day School has been “encouraging a lifelong love of learning” through exceptional classes and extraordinary programs for children aged 2 through kindergarten.

Highly trained staff are known for their enduring presence within the school. Some serve for decades and others provide their children as faculty. (Mrs. Mondonedo granted Mr. Mondonedo!)

Dinosaurs are a beloved aspect of the school’s STEAM-powered curriculum. They might be animated as models, measured for their fossil-prints, or even painted.

On occasion, sandboxes transform into “dinosaur bone excavation sites” to facilitate the ultimate “time travel.”

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Such innovation is characteristic of the Geneva Method, which promotes studentled discovery of traditional pre-academics.

Art, environmental education, mindfulness, music and physical education take place in and around gorgeous Maryland Green School grounds.

Generation after generation, Geneva graduates choose to send their children to their alma-preschool-mater.

“We are dedicated to each child’s growth and development. . . we work towards supporting students’ learning through hands-on experiences and environmental exploration,” says Director Daisy Lizama.

Such positive foundations underscore how the school, a recipient of numerous “best” awards, excels at this heartwarming test of time. Geneva “makes prehistory” not only for its admirable tradition of multigeneration participation, but also for its passionate placing of students and their “ah-ha moments” first.

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

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Test of Time

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Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Charles R. Grant Insurance Agency, Inc. One of the Washington area’s oldest family-run insurance agencies celebrates its 70th anniversary. A third generation family business since 1953.

H I L A R Y S C H WA B

620 Hungerford Drive, Suite 33 Rockville, MD 20850 301-279-7100 www.grantinsuranceagency.com

You can always speak to a Grant at the Charles R. Grant Insurance Agency, where everyone at the office believes that technology is helpful, but some things are still done best the old-fashioned way.

Established in 1953 in a small office on F Street in Washington, D.C., the agency celebrates 70 years in business this year.

At one of the Washington area’s oldest family-run insurance agencies, now headquartered in Rockville, thirdgeneration family members, siblings Ashley and Ryan Grant, are helping their dad, Ridge Grant, and uncle, Granny Grant, prepare for the next 70 years.

A highly knowledgeable team of agents, including 40-year agency veteran Judi Godbey, has a proven track record of success, evidenced by generations of happy clients. People who call do not have to choose from a menu of phone routing options. Ashley and Ryan’s mother, Linda Grant, usually greets people on the phone.

As an independent agency, the firm partners with some of the finest insurance carriers in the marketplace.

All policies are not created equal, so Grant agents work to determine the best combination of protection, coverage options and claims service for each client.

“We are proud to have been a Chubb Cornerstone agent every year since 2017,” says Ryan. “With over 2,300 Chubb personal lines brokers in North America, only a small percentage of Chubb’s agency partners earn this recognition.

Brokers like us, who represent Chubb Insurance, take pride in knowing we are offering some of the best coverage in the industry for successful individuals and families.”

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Test of Time

St. Jane de Chantal School “We want all our students to grow in mind and spirit and feel they are known and loved.”

9525 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-530-1221 office@dechantal.org www.dechantal.org

St. Jane de Chantal Catholic School is where memories are made.

De Chantal began in 1953 with 49 kindergarteners and first-graders attending classes in a Bethesda farmhouse. Now, the school, a faithcentered educational community with nearly 400 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, has many thirdgeneration students walking its halls — and former students returning to teach.

"De Chantal's heartbeat is in its community, and our community-focused traditions are what bind us," says Principal Elizabeth Hamilton, one of the school's earliest students. "We foster a warm and welcoming environment where families know one another. Our campus is an inclusive space where all students can feel safe. And our supportive community enables each child to develop a positive self-image, leadership skills and a sense of responsibility toward school, parish

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and community."

Committed to meeting students' individual needs through a flexible and innovative curriculum, De Chantal has twice received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award from the U.S. Department of Education. Small class sizes allow teachers to forge deep connections with students and trusted partnerships with parents.

With faith as a constant guide, De Chantal lays the foundation for future success by supporting and nurturing all areas of students' development and learning—from social-emotional and cognitive skills to literacy, math and science, to a passion for the creative fine arts. Though ever-evolving, Hamilton says the school is committed to staying true to the traditions it was built on.

"We want all our students to grow in mind and spirit and feel they are known and loved," she says.

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

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Joseph Greenwald & Laake D AV I D B U L I T T My goal is to help clients reach a favorable resolution that protects their rights, their assets and their children.

H I L A R Y S C H WA B

111 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 240 399-7888 dbulitt@jgllaw.com www.jgllaw.com For decades, David Bulitt has focused his practice on complex family law cases, zealously and thoughtfully navigating clients through all areas of divorce and family law matters. Clients regard David as a thoughtful strategist and skilled negotiator at the mediation table as well as a staunch advocate in the courtroom.

“Divorce is emotionally draining and can be the most difficult time in a person’s life. I try to be as respectful of that as I possibly can,” David says. “My goal is to help clients reach a favorable resolution that protects their rights, their assets and their children. I started in the 1980s as a trial lawyer. I was in court multiple times a week back then. When settlement is not the best option, I know my way around a courtroom and am fully prepared to try the case as aggressively as is needed to achieve the best result possible for my client.”

In 2020, along with his wife of 35 years who serves as an in house therapist for The Discovery Channel, the couple published their award winning book, The Five Core Conversations for Couples. They have a second book scheduled for release in August 2023. “We have seen relationships from very different vantage points,” David says, “What we have learned about couples and what they can do to stay together can fill a book...or two.”

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Test of Time Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Gilday Renovations K E V I N G I L D AY, P R E S I D E N T Besides leading in industry best practices, Gilday Renovations has published articles that help homeowners make the best renovation decisions. The gilday.com website provides a rich source of information about all aspects of the renovation process.

What makes a company able to sustain vitality and relevance over time? With Gilday Renovations, it is the company’s ability to adapt to a changing market and stay true to its original vision of providing an exceptional renovation experience for clients.

This is central to the success of Gilday Renovations. For more than 40 years, they have fine-tuned their internal systems and creative processes in pursuit of the next level of “better” with the support of a talented staff of designers and builders.

From the beginning, Kevin Gilday has been personally involved in every aspect of the design and construction process. He implemented a team approach which supports a platform to explore creative design solutions and a seamless customer experience. Today, this process is generally known as “design-build.”

As the demand for Gilday Renovations grew, the company took on more designers and craftsmen to produce larger and more complex projects. They became organized at all levels around an integrated project management system to ensure accuracy and consistent communication throughout all phases of the renovation process. The result is award-winning design concepts that are buildable and on budget.

Kevin remains personally involved. When you work with Gilday Renovations, be assured that the company owner will be guiding your home renovation project to a successful conclusion.

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ASTRI WEE

9162 Brookville Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-565-4600 www.gilday.com

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Lerch, Early & Brewer ROBBY BREWER I’m proud of be part of an ever-growing, and very dedicated, talented team of attorneys and staff.

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7600 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 700 Bethesda MD 20814 301-986-1300 www.lerchearly.com

In 1977, Robby Brewer joined what was then Lerch, Early & Roseman. Then only four attorneys, the firm had just moved to the Ford Building at 7101 Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Bethesda. Starting as a law clerk at the firm before a judicial clerkship, Brewer quickly made his mark. In September 2022, he celebrated 45 years at the community- and client-focused firm he’s helped to build.

"I can’t believe it has been 45 years," says Brewer. "I’m proud to be part of an ever-growing, and very dedicated, talented team of attorneys and staff."

A full-service firm, Lerch Early now has 60 attorneys serving clients all over the region in land use, real estate, commercial lending, SBA matters, employment, labor, community associations, corporate, tax, litigation, trusts, estates, divorce and family law. The firm has been a mainstay in downtown Bethesda, moving to its current location at 7600 Wisconsin Ave. in 2017.

In February 2025, the firm will celebrate its 75th anniversary. Throughout the past seven decades, Lerch Early’s core values—including being technically excellent, engaged with clients, always ethical, strongly committed to community involvement, and invested in each others’ successes—have defined the firm’s culture and reputation.

"Hiring great people and nurturing a selfless, non-hierarchical firm environment devoted to client service have been keys to our success over the years," says Brewer. "I am grateful to be part of our firm’s respected role in our broader community."

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Test of Time

Ivymount Organization “Ivymount is known as a leading special education school, but over six decades it has grown into multiple schools, outreach programs, homebased and professional services and a collaboration center.” - Susan Holt, CEO and executive director 11614 Seven Locks Road Rockville, MD 20854 301-469-0778 www.ivymount.org info@ivymount.org

"Ivymount saved my daughter. I'm not being dramatic.” "You guys are the PLATINUM standard for special education."

These are among the comments that families have posted on social media about their young or now-grown children’s experience with Ivymount.

Founded in 1961 as the Christ Church Child Center, what began with one student and one teacher/director now serves more than 250 families and employs 240 staff as the Ivymount Organization.

Across six decades, Ivymount responded to the community’s needs, creating intensive, evidence-based programs and services for unique learners, including autistic children and young adults and those with other disabilities. The nonprofit organization now includes the Ivymount School, The Maddux School, Endeavors Outreach, Ivymount Community Outreach and Services, and the Ivymount Professional Collaborative.

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“For six decades, Ivymount has paired excellence with compassion,” says CEO and Executive Director Susan Holt. “To create the highest-quality programs, we invest in staff training and partner with other professionals and universities. But families tell us we’ve transformed their lives because we equally prioritize caring.”

With a passion for the mission and families they serve, close to 40 percent of staff have been at Ivymount for five to 30plus years, helping neurodiverse children grow into young adults with increased academic, social, job training and selfadvocacy skills. “Ivymount teaches [us how] to interact with a non-neurodiverse designed world…and to advocate for changes,” says Ahnya, a high school student. It’s part of the Ivymount philosophy to recognize potential in every learner and design programs and services to help them reach it.

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Maplewood Park Place Maplewood Park Place is one of Bethesda’s most recognizable names in retirement living. Residents own their homes in our community and continuing care is available when, or if you ever need it. Entertainment, dining and recreation can be found “all under one roof.” Come see why Maplewood Park Place has been the right choice for so many.

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9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-850-1950 maplewoodparkplaceinfo.com

Discover the best of all worlds at Maplewood Park Place, the area's premier resident-owned retirement community, with continuing care. Recreation, dining and entertainment can be found all “under one roof.” Staff and residents agree, life at Maplewood Park Place is like living at a resort. We've redefined retirement living for active adults 62-plus. Enjoy friendly neighbors in a charming community you'll be happy to call home. Making new friends is easy to do with all the smiling faces throughout our corridors. Take part in a broad array of social, cultural, educational and spiritual events each month. Delight in five-star dining, beautiful amenities, outstanding services and attentive staff.

As a Life Care Community, Maplewood Park Place is an investment rather than a monthly rental. Owner residents are free to make renovations to their apartments.

Dream homes are created in our majestic building with the expert help of our on-site construction team. Let us help you design

your next living space. Life Care Communities also offer peace of mind knowing a full range of health care options are available, when and if you need them. Maplewood Park Place helps you preserve your wealth and enjoy it too with our unique Lifecare Payment Plan and the long list of services provided in our monthly fee. Let this be the year to try new activities and make new friends. Come see for yourself why Maplewood has been the right choice for so many!

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Test of Time Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

GAIL LINN, AUD, CCC-A Dr. Linn and her associates enjoy a good relationship with many of the most respected medical professionals in the area.

11300 Rockville Pike, #105 Rockville, MD 20852 www.potomacaudiology.com

“I had moved to this area from Iowa where I had a private practice and was starting all over again,” says Dr. Gail Linn. “It was slow going at first, with only one fitting room and one audiologist, which was me!”

Linn opened Potomac Audiology in Rockville in 1998. Today, the practice occupies 3,000 square feet of office space with seven fitting rooms and five audiologists.

During the past 25 years, Dr. Linn’s daughter, Dr. Tricia Terlep, joined the practice, adding pediatric audiology to its services. Terlep had previously worked at the Georgetown University Audiology Clinic and brought with her the skills she learned there. They have mentored, trained and hired talented young audiologists from the University of Maryland and Gallaudet University.

Something that is near and dear to Dr. Linn and the practice is called “Real Ear” or “Probe Microphone” Measures. “This

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procedure allows us to put a tiny tube that is attached to a microphone in a patient’s ear at the time of a hearing aid fitting,” Linn says. “We can then measure exactly what the hearing aid is delivering to the ear. This procedure is not widely done but we consider it a vital component of a good hearing aid fitting.”

Dr. Linn and her associates enjoy a good relationship with many of the most respected medical professionals in the area, and with their own devoted patients.

These relationships continue to serve them as they go forward into the future of audiology.

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Potomac Audiology

Test of Time

PR OF IL E S

Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Rockville Interiors TOM, DAN & IL AN FULOP “Rockville Interiors operates multiple workrooms where we pair state-ofthe-art technology with dad’s old work fabrication techniques. Our interior designers help you imagine the product, our workrooms bring the design to life and our technicians oversee delivery and installation.”

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5414 Randolph Road Rockville, MD 20852 301-424-1900 www.rockvilleinteriors.com

Rockville Interiors was founded in 1971 and specializes in the design and fabrication of the finest fabric home furnishings including custom draperies, shades, reupholstery, slipcovers, cushions and more. Clearly, they’ve stood the Test of Time as second-generation Dan and Ilan Fulop can attest.

“When our dad arrived to the United States at 19, he had no money and barely spoke English,” says Dan. “He knew how to handcraft plastic slipcovers though and began knocking door-to-door offering his services in hopes of making ends meet.”

As people invited him into their homes, they were amazed by his exquisite craftsmanship. They quickly began asking “do you do reupholstery?” and “can you make pillows?” He worked tirelessly trying to keep up with demand and hired other artisans to craft custom window treatments, pillows, headboards and more all by hand.

“Today, Rockville Interiors operates multiple workrooms where we pair stateof-the-art technology with dad’s old work fabrication techniques,” says Ilan. “Our interior designers help you imagine the product, our workrooms bring the design to life and our technicians oversee delivery and installation.”

“We have the privilege of watching our dad pour his heart into his craft,” says Dan. “He makes every client feel truly loved while ensuring our work looks gorgeous and lasts a lifetime.” Ilan says, “His passion has inspired us to lead Rockville Interiors into the future with a focus on industry-leading quality, unrivaled service and results that look stunning.”

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Test of Time Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

O'Donnell's Market ASHLEE EDELBLUT AND BILL EDELBLUT

O’Donnell’s is celebrating 100 years this year! Tom O’Donnell founded the first O’Donnell’s restaurant in 1922 in Washington, DC. His daughter Janice opened the Bethesda location in the 1950s and Bill opened the Kentlands restaurant in 1997. Bill and Ashlee are the third and fourth generation to run the business.

The Market is a new concept for the brand, created because Bill and Ashlee wanted to keep the family tradition going but in retail form. Still offering signature crab cakes and rum buns, the Market opened in 2015. "We care about our brand and our name," says Bill. "We prioritize quality, by only buying the best products available and never cutting corners."

"We love what we do and the relationships that we’ve built with our customers!" says Ashlee.

TONY J. LE WIS

1073 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-251-6355 ashlee@odonnellsmarket.com www.odonnellsmarket.com

Valley Mill Camp E V E LY N M C E WA N , C A M P D I R E C T O R

As Valley Mill Camp celebrates its 67th season, many campers will be following in the footsteps of their parents, and even grandparents. Serving families in the Washington metropolitan area since 1956, Valley Mill is conveniently located in Darnestown on more than 60 acres of deep woods surrounding an onsite spring-fed lake. Through fun and challenging open-air activities — kayaking, canoeing, gymnastics, archery, air rifle and more — campers spend days in the rugged outdoors, making friends and learning self-sufficiency and resilience, teamwork and self-confidence.

Experienced campers apply these attributes as they graduate to Valley Mill’s Adventure Program and beyond! Counselors are chosen for their character and values, says Camp Director Evelyn McEwan, whose parents Bob and May founded the camp. “Many children attend Valley Mill year after year, finding deepened experiences each time. The bonds formed at Valley Mill become lifelong friendships.”

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15101 Seneca Road, Germantown, MD 20874 301-948-0220 | valleymill@valleymill.com www.valleymill.com

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Maryland Oral Surgery Associates M A L INI I Y E R , D M D, M D “In MOSA’s eight locations — covering six Maryland counties — they have successfully performed nearly 1 million procedures over the past 52 years.”

Bethesda Office 10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 206 Bethesda, MD 20814

TONY J. LE WIS

Additional offices in Annapolis, College Park, Crofton, Frederick, Laurel, Rockville and Silver Spring.

1-844-459-MOSA [6672] bethesda@mosa4os.com www.mosa4os.com

Maryland Oral Surgery Associates (MOSA), the state’s oldest and largest Oral & Maxillofacial Facial Surgery practice, was established in 1969 in Greenbelt, MD. Since 1985, MOSA expanded from two fulltime surgeons to 14 surgeons. In MOSA’s eight locations — covering six Maryland counties — they have successfully performed nearly 1 million procedures over the past 52 years.

MOSA surgeons believe oral surgery needs must be provided to all members of the community. They have delivered more than $150,000 in free surgical care through the Donated Dental Service (DDS) and Holocaust Survivor programs. MOSA surgeons chaired the Maryland State Dental Association’s Mission of Mercy, providing $1.2 million of free dental care to 1,200 patients over two days.

During the last 50 years, MOSA has provided thousands of continuing education hours to the dental community.

Additionally, MOSA surgeons annually participate in hundreds of surgery CE hours to stay fully current.

During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, when most dental offices were closed, MOSA offices remained open treating nearly 1,500 emergency patients, relieving inundated hospitals. MOSA maintains the highest standards of infection control for their patients’ protection.

MOSA’s most up-to-date surgical technology includes CT scanning to create computer-generated implant placements and “Teeth-in-a-Day” procedures.

MOSA utilizes full anesthesia monitoring in their offices, which matches that used in hospital operating rooms for all of their IV Sedation/General anesthesia procedures.

Maryland Oral Surgery Associates has been here for 50+ years and with its expanding team of highly trained surgeons will continue to provide first-rate care long into the future.

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Test of Time Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Fisher Lumber D I C K A N D D O N H E R S H E Y, O W N E R S TIM ALLEN, GENERAL MANAGER

“We offer amazing products, great service and care deeply about the community,” says Tim Allen, general manager of Fisher Lumber. Founded in 1894, Fisher Lumber is Montgomery County’s go-to source for building supplies—from lumber, doors and windows, to tools, millwork and hardware. With knowledgeable employees, top-notch service, quality products—and friendly conversation—this iconic retailer offers homeowners and contractors a refreshing alternative to the “big box” hardware stores.

Fisher Lumber is committed to the community, offering expertise and products to Eagle Scouts engaged in building projects throughout the area. Their dedicated staff, with several 40-plus-year employees, includes individuals transitioning from incarceration to the work force. “Our employees give me their all, and I give them mine,” Tim says, a win-win for them and their loyal customers.

H E AT H E R F U E N T E S

525 East Gude Drive Rockville, MD 20850 301-424-6500 tallen@fisherlumber.com fisherlumber.com

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

One hundred years ago, the pioneering spirit of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat inspired the sisters at the Convent of the Sacred Heart on Massachusetts Avenue to open a school, which began with three young women in attendance.

Today, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is inspiring more than 700 girls and young women in grades 1–12 (and a co-ed Pre-K through Kindergarten program) to lead and serve through lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, community, social action and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

Set atop 35 beautifully landscaped acres in Bethesda, Maryland, Stone Ridge offers a peaceful campus for girls to learn, play, pray, compete and grow. Stone Ridge is more than a school. It is a community of learners, friends, educators and leaders.

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9101 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-4322 www.stoneridgeschool.org

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Paley Rothman With our full-service approach Paley Rothman offers clients the personal touch of a boutique law firm while delivering big firm results. Contact us today to speak with an attorney regarding your legal matter.

4800 Hampden Lane, 6th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814 252 N. Washington St. Falls Church, VA 22046

RICHARD GREENHOUSE

301-656-7603 paleyrothman.com

For 50 years, effective advocacy and creative solutions have been the cornerstones of Paley Rothman’s approach to serving our clients. Our attorneys are leaders in their fields.

They have been selected to lead the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Associations and have been elevated to federal and state judgeships. With our diverse workforce and significant community involvement, we pride ourselves on providing innovative solutions and strategic advice and advocacy to advance our clients’ needs.

Our Business Practice groups—which include Litigation, Employment and Commercial Real Estate—focus on helping our entrepreneurial clients achieve their desired results whether through collaborative negotiations or steadfast legal advocacy in the courtroom. We help our international, national and regional businesses clients position themselves

for success and mitigate risk so that they can focus on what they do best.

For the individuals and families that we serve, Paley Rothman’s attorneys take a personalized approach to providing evolving and sophisticated techniques in the face of delicate legal matters. Our Estate Planning and Estate Administration teams combine extensive knowledge to develop multifaceted plans for the disposition of assets with compassion and an understanding of the clients’ goals. Our renowned Family Law practice helps see our clients through the full spectrum of family law issues, from the uncontested to the most complex of cases.

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Test of Time Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

The Markoff Brothers C A L L E VA , I N C .

“Calleva makes the outdoors accessible for all, and our program menu has got something for every adventurer."

For nearly 30 years, Calleva has provided outdoor experiences that inspire personal growth, encourage teamwork and provide a vibrant connecting point for friends and families in the Washington, D.C. area.

Founded as a small summer camp in 1993 by Nick, Alex and Matt Markoff, Calleva has a reputation for excellence and innovation in outdoor education and outdoor adventure. Calleva operates from hubs in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, offering programs that include weekend and travel programs for adults, overnight wilderness experiences for teens, kayaking lessons, summer camp and farm-to-table events.

“Spending time outdoors is a great way to renew and refresh, no matter who you are,” says Matt Markoff. “Calleva makes the outdoors accessible for all. Our program menu has got something for every adventurer.”

DANNEN HIGGINS

Retail and Business Office: 19936 Fisher Ave. Poolesville, MD 20837 301-216-1248 | www.calleva.org

Manion & Associates Architects T O M A N D T I FA N Y M A N I O N

“I started my firm with one employee,” says Tom Manion. “We took residential jobs, small and large additions and renovations.

We developed commercial work with restaurants, office and recreational buildings.” Manion’s work has won numerous AIA local and state awards, Brick Institute and Oliver Owens Kuhn awards. He has been published locally and nationally and has done jobs in Greece and Portugal, among other locations.

Manion enjoys historic preservation, solar work, earth shelters, geothermal and eco-energy projects.

“I truly enjoy meeting new clients, explaining our process and abilities. I am very fortunate to have remained active and in the Top 100 Architects for years. Architecture for me is a creative act requiring cooperation and desire. Architecture is addictive.”

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ERICK GIBSON

Manion + Associates Architects, P.C. P.O.Box 1 Cabin John, MD 20818 301-229-7000 tom@manionarchitects.com www.manionarchitects.com

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Georgetown Preparatory School Students come from every background and hail from local neighborhoods, 14 states and 18 countries.

TONY J. LE WIS

10900 Rockville Pike North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-493-5000 www.gprep.org

Georgetown Preparatory School celebrates its 234th year since Archbishop John Carroll opened the doors of his academy, as well as Georgetown College (later Georgetown University), on a site overlooking the Potomac. By the second decade of the 20th century, the Georgetown Preparatory School relocated from the college campus to the Maryland countryside.

Today, the timely and timeless mission of the nation’s oldest Catholic boys’ school and only Jesuit boarding school flourishes—to form men of competence, conscience, courage, and compassion; men of faith for and with others. Students come from every background and hail from local neighborhoods, 14 states and 18 countries.

This year is particularly energizing and transformational as the school opens a new campus center, residence hall and stadium. These new facilities

will impact the life of every student, providing a meeting place for 379 day and 119 residential students, incorporating 16 faculty families into campus life, creating first-class accommodations for athletics programs and fans, and strengthening Prep’s commitment to bring in the best and the brightest.

“The commitment of our faculty and staff to be present to all our students, not only in the classroom but also across the broad spectrum of our activities and athletics programs, coupled with the uniquely rich diversity of our student body, shapes an unparalleled educational experience both within the Jesuit educational network and among our peer schools” says Georgetown Prep president, Father James Van Dyke, S.J.

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Test of Time Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Glickman Design Build RUS S GLICKMA N, FOUNDER A ND PRINCIPA L

This award-winning design, remodeling and building firm focuses on building homes for life. The team has specialized experience with aging-in-place, perfecting accessible residential living, and universal design that beautifully and comfortably accommodates clients’ day-to-day needs. Projects include single and multi-level additions, kitchen remodeling, home expansions, custom renovations, bathroom additions and outdoor living solutions. Glickman Design Build ensures that a personal connection is established with clients to understand how they live and what they want to create.

Russ Glickman has over 33 years of expertise in designing and renovating homes with successful and beautiful outcomes. He is deeply committed to helping families with special needs children and aging individuals with mobility issues.

They have a long history of winning numerous industry awards and media recognition going back to 1975.

H E AT H E R F U E N T E S

15757 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville, MD 20855 301-444-4663 Info@glickmandesignbuild.com www.glickmandesignbuild.com

Kelly Bohi, Realtor COMPA S S

This December, Kelly celebrated 20 years as a real estate agent in the Bethesda area. Today, she is licensed in Maryland, the District and Virginia—a big advantage for her buyers and sellers, as well as her clients relocating to and from the metro area.

A Bethesda resident for 25 years, she and her husband are raising their three daughters here. Prior to getting into real estate, Kelly worked in tech sales and moved because she wanted to be part of a process that makes a personal difference for people.

Kelly brings valuable relationships and resources for trusted mortgage lenders, relocation services, inspectors, title companies, legal services and contractors. Cheerful and attentive, with a track record of success, she offers great experience working with first-time homebuyers to luxury listings.

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MICHAEL VENTURA

7200 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 920 Bethesda, MD 20814 www.compass.com kelly.bohi@compass.com 301-580-4991

Test of Time

PR OF IL E S

Special A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

2020

Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, Stein Sperling’s areas of practice include business, commercial litigation, construction, tax, family law, estates, trusts and probate, employment law, real estate, personal injury, and

H I L A R Y S C H WA B ; C O U R T E S Y P H O T O

criminal defense.

1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700 Rockville, MD 20852 301-340-2020 www.steinsperling.com

1981 Celebrating its 45th year, Stein Sperling is proud of many achievements but especially its attentive and personalized approach to each client, which has earned the firm a reputation for excellence throughout the metro area and beyond.

Starting in 1978 with just four attorneys and three staff members, the firm has grown to 10 practice areas, 54 attorneys, 79 staff employees and five offices.

“Client service is about listening, empathizing and responding quickly to each client’s needs,” says managing partner Jeff Schwaber. “We understand how legal issues affect clients, often in a very profound and personal way. We want to relate to their challenges, stand in their shoes, and advocate strongly for what’s important to them. That level of understanding helps us create solutions that are meaningful and practical for our clients.”

Stein Sperling’s unique collaborative environment and willingness to step out of traditional boxes underpins its success in handling a broad range of legal matters.

The ability to adapt to any circumstance has allowed them to both weather the challenging climate presented by recent times and assist clients facing the same challenges.

Named by Bethesda Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” in 2021 and 2022, Stein Sperling prides itself on a culture of respect—for both its clients and staff.

Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion creates a culture in which all individuals and groups feel welcomed, respected and supported. This is essential to the quality of client service, personal and professional satisfaction of its lawyers and staff, and relationships within the communities served.

B E T H E S D A M A G A Z I N E . C O M | J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 | 7 5

172 great places to go, things to do and more, as chosen by our editors and readers

BY CARALEE ADAMS, STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE, LIZ FELDMAN, CHRISTINE KOUBEK FLYNN, DAVID HAGEDORN, DAWN KLAVON, AKIRA KYLES, ALYSSA LANGER, LESLIE RICHIN, RENEE SKLAREW AND CAROLE SUGARMAN PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN | TYPOGRAPHY BY LUKE LUCAS

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BEST NEW ROOM WITH A VIEW

HIP FLASK

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EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

A Trend to Squawk About Tough times call for comfort food, and several restaurateurs satisfied th t craving in Montgomery County after the pandemic began with soul-satisfying fried chicken. Among the joints that opened are: Honeymoon Chicken in Ensemble Kitchen Bethesda’s virtual food hall (March 2021); Roaming Rooster in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose development ( June 2022); and Crown Fried Chicken in Silver Spring ( June 2022). Virginia-based chainlet Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken opened two outposts (Wheaton in May 2022 and Rockville’s Travilah Square shopping center in August 2022), with two more slated by early 2023, one on Rockville Pike and the other in Gaithersburg.

Not enough? Check out Silver Spring Wings, which opened in November, and Fryer’s Roadside, a fried chicken and ice cream stand in Silver Spring that opened in August 2021 but was recently taken over by All Set Restaurant & Bar owners Jennifer Meltzer and Ed Reavis (also the chef).

→ENSEMBLE KITCHEN

4856 Cordell Ave., Bethesda ensemble.co

→ROAMING ROOSTER

11586 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, 240-669-7731 roamingroosterdc.com

→CROWN FRIED CHICKEN

1909 Seminary Road, Silver Spring 410-639-5361

→HANGRY JOE’S HOT CHICKEN

10050 Darnestown Road, Rockville, 242-552-6066 2533 Ennalls Ave., Wheaton, 301-942-0352 hangryjoes.com

→SILVER SPRING WINGS

11335 Elkin St., Silver Spring, 202-876-8000 silverspringwings.com

→FRYER’S ROADSIDE

12830 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, 443-594-3209 fryersroadside.com

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

Fried chicken bucket and sides from Honeymoon Chicken

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BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ALMONDS

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY; PHOTOS COURTESY OF HELLO BETTY

Best Faux Surfside Getaway As a kid growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Aaron Spencer says he didn’t have access to a lot of healthy food options. “My breakfast every day was a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich from the bodega,” the Silver Spring resident recalls. In 2018, the now-34-year-old job recruiter became a vegan and soon after launched A-Butter, a terrific tasting almond butter that comes in a variety of fl vors (original, maple and apple cinnamon are our three favorites).

Until 2021, he lived in Boston and had a successful run selling his almond butters at farmers markets and online. Since moving here and switching his production to a commercial kitchen in Takoma Park, Spencer has continued a brisk online business— including national sales. The subtle fl vors and thick, crunchy texture pair well with a whole host of recipes and dishes. Spencer likes his A-Butter in oatmeal, protein shakes, pasta sauces and on pancakes—not to mention his homemade dark chocolate almond butter cups.

In April, Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group opened Hello Betty on the second level of the Canopy by Hilton hotel in the Pike & Rose development, the second location of the seafood and fish-centric, Baja-meets-surfe -culture restaurant that opened in Oceanside, California, in 2014. The Pacific Ocean i nowhere in sight at the North Bethesda outpost, but we still dig the coastal vibe

of the place, which seats 138 inside and 167 on its roomy outdoor patio. A big lure of the restaurant is a 40-foot retired Deltaville Deadrise, a wooden Chesapeake workboat that has been turned into a kitschy 23-seat bar. When the weather is nice, the boat bar, which is closed in the winter, is the perfect place to set out on a three-hour tour of the menu, sipping on charred chili and cilantro margaritas and surfside fiz es (gin, absinthe, lemon, elderfl wer tonic and egg white foam) and snacking on lobster grilled cheese, fi e-roasted oysters Rockefeller, steamed mussels and crinkle-cut fries.

→HELLO BETTY

940 Rose Ave., North Bethesda, 301-389-5840 hellobettybethesda.com

→A-BUTTER is available online at abutterbyaaron. com and at the Olney Farmers & Artists Market the first Sunday of every month. abutterbyaaron.com

Hello Betty captures a seaside vibe throughout its interior (above) and its boat bar (top).

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FOOD & DRINK

Craziest New Way to Eat a Hot Dog Funkier than their carnival cousins, Korean corn dogs offer far more than meat on a stick. Think deep-fried hot dogs drizzled with spicy mayonnaise and sprinkled with hot red Cheetos crumbs. Or how about fried franks coated in churro-flavored cubed sweet potatoes? A longtime street food in Korea, the social media star has gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years, with franchise locations cropping up in many cities, including our area. While American corn dogs are typically dredged in cornmeal batter before deep-frying, the Korean variety is coated with a thick batter of wheat and rice flours, then rolled in panko breadcrumbs and other toppings. But humdrum hot dogs aren’t the only things that get battered up; filling options include spicy, chicken or plant-based sausages; mozzarella or cheddar cheeses; half meat/half cheese; or even, at one location, spicy glass noodles wrapped in seaweed. The toppings and seasonings run the gamut from rice puffs to ramen. And the whole shebang comes with a dip or two, like spicy mayonnaise or ranch dressing. As for the taste, we can’t speak for every combo. But several we tried, Cheetos-coated included, were inexplicably good.

→KONG DOG

12335-H Georgia Ave. (Glenmont Shopping Center), Silver Spring, 301-933-0614 kongdog.us

→SSONG’S HOTDOG

7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda, 240-743-4311 ssongshotdogus.com

→TWO HANDS FRESH CORN DOGS

From left: ramen, hot Cheeto, sweet chili Doritos, churro and rainbow fl vors from Kong Dog

PHOTO CREDIT TK PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

11160 Veirs Mill Road (Westfield Wheaton mall), Wheaton, 240-881-0040 twohandsus.com

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PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

PHOTO CREDIT TK

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EDITORS’ PICKS

PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

FOOD & DRINK

Best New Room with a View

As downtown Bethesda keeps booming, there’s no better place to survey the situation than Hip Flask Rooftop Bar on the 13th floor of the n w Marriott Hotel. Opened last May, the stylish, windowed watering hole offers long-range views of Silver Spring and Tysons Corner, as well as closer-in takes of Bethesda (cranes included). Outfitted in midnight blue, it s a sophisticated spot to sip a cocktail, watch the sunset and feel transported from life below.

→HIP FLASK ROOFTOP BAR (in the Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ) 7707 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-276-7707 hipflask ooftop.com

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KIND

CONFIDENT PREPARED

WES_v3.indd 1 Full page ad template.indd 33

WINNER:

Thank you for your vote!

Best Lower School

WES helps students aged 3 to

Best School with a Religious Affiliation

Grade 8 become kind, confident,

Best Principal

www.w-e-s.org/best

and prepared global citizens.

12/8/22 11:13 AM 12/8/22 12:11 PM

EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

Duck Dish Not to Miss

Restaurateur and Clarksville resident Edward Wong, whose Montgomery County businesses include Akira Ramen & Izakaya and Gyuzo Japanese BBQ, both in Rockville, partnered with Chicago-based chain Lao Sze Chuan to open an outlet of that fine-dining Sichuan estaurant in North Bethesda in October 2021. The star of the show there is chef Lin Yong’s delectable Peking duck, which takes three days to prepare. Six- to 7-pound ducks sourced from a Pennsylvania farm are dunked in boiling water, brushed with a secret glaze and refrigerated for a day. On day two, an air compressor is used to separate the birds’ skin from the muscle (this helps the fat render during roasting) before they’re air-dried for another night. The next day, they’re roasted, suspended from hooks in the oven so the fat melts away easily and the skin crisps evenly. Eight squares of the prized skin resting atop a sprinkling of brown sugar crystals are served as an amuse-bouche; then the duck arrives, beautifully sliced and arranged like roof shingles on a special platter with various accompaniments: julienne scallions, slim cucumber batons, cubes of pickled daikon radish and sweet bean sauce. A bamboo steamer holds 20 ultrathin pancakes ready to be filled, olled and savored. ($88 for a whole duck; $48 for half.)

→LAO SZE CHUAN

Peking duck at Lao Sze Chuan

PHOTO CREDIT TK

20 Paseo Drive, North Bethesda, 301-968-2096 laoszechuandmv.com

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Mango toast at Sweeteria

A Toast to Three Great Toasts

PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY

PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY

Topped toasts (tartines in French; bruschetta in Italian)—basically open-faced sandwiches—are so hot as a trend that they are just as likely to be found at a fine-dining restaurant as they are at a diner or cafe. We adore smoked salmon or avocado toast as much as anyone, but we’ve found three others worthy of attention.

At Bethesda’s Tatte Bakery & Cafe, a thick oblong slice of toasted sourdough bread is slathered with whipped ricotta and goat cheese, draped with several thin slices of prosciutto and topped with basil pesto, a sunnyside-up egg and a cloud of finely sh edded Parmesan cheese. The richness of the yolk, the pesto’s olive oil and the whipped cheeses blend with the saltiness of the ham and Parmesan cheese in a conspiracy of deliciousness. ($12.50).

→TATTE BAKERY & CAFE 7276 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 240-534-2115 tattebakery.com

At Melina, a Greek restaurant in North Bethesda, chef Aris Tsekouras elevates toast to the fine-dining str tosphere on his brunch menu.

For his tuna and avocado tartine, he grills housemade einkorn wheat sourdough bread and spreads it with tarama (roe) cream, a mayoless riff on tartar sauce mad with cured gray mullet roe, olive oil, onions, lemon juice, shallots, capers and pickled cucumbers. Tsekouras tops the toast with sliced pickled cucumbers, avocado and raw bluefin tuna, then finish the dish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Baby gem salad with lemon dressing completes the dish. ($24).

→MELINA

905 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-818-9090 melinagreek.com

Sweet toast lovers would be in heaven at Sweeteria, a dessert shop and cafe on Colesville Road in Silver Spring. It offers arious iterations of sliced toast and French toast, but the standout is loft toast, an ultrathick slice of toasted bread (similar to Texas toast) brushed lavishly with honey and served with various toppings. Our favorite is crowned with slices of fresh mango arranged concentrically to resemble a rose. It’s served with warm sticky rice, a scoop of coconut ice cream and a fluff of mango mousse ($10.95).

→SWEETERIA

8646 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-328-5877 sweeteria.edan.io

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Best Boards

Making an Instagram-worthy, mouthwatering charcuterie grazing board is an art form, and if you do not have that artistic talent or the time to try it out, rest assured that CheezMD has you covered. Owner Melissa Shear styles her picture-perfect charcuterie boards at a commercial kitchen in Silver Spring, filling pl tters with curated gourmet meats, fruit, cheeses, nuts, jam—even chocolate and cookies (why not?). Crackers are thoughtfully kept separate to ensure that they remain crisp, and there is no shortage of creativity when it comes to the designs. (What’s better than Brie? Brie cut into the shape of a tree!) The boards are meticulously wrapped and packaged

A small cheese and charcuterie grazing board from CheezMD

for easy transportation, and they come with a note that says what your board contains and provides serving instructions.

Each board is unique, and you can specify dietary preferences or allergy restrictions. Sizes range from large trays for holiday gatherings and work parties, to mini boxes and individual snack packs for picnics and smaller meetings. Delivery is available for a fee, and gift notes can be added. Shear also offer classes—virtual and in-person—if you are inspired to hone your own charcuterie board skills.

→cheezmd.com | cheezmd@gmail.com | Instagram, @CheezMD

PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE

EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF 61 VINEYARD

BEST NEW PLACE FOR VINO WITH A VIEW Savor the sunny side of life—and a field filled wit sunfl wers—amid 61 Vineyard’s peaceful vistas of vines and hillsides in Damascus, which was a dry town until 2013. That fact inspired the vintners’ “Drytown” sparkling white. Owners Mark and Pam Giganti began planting a test vineyard of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon in 2013 and 2014. Two years later they had four generations of family working the first harvest. The “61” in the name is a nod to the year in which the Gigantis were both born. Today, the winery serves an assortment of reds and whites that can be paired with their delicious hummus, pretzel bread, charcuterie and more. The cozy winery offers se ting inside, or out on the patio.

A wine flight is $15; tasting of five varietals: $20. In autumn, be sure to borrow a pair of snippers to take home a bouquet of sunfl wers. Leashed dogs are allowed on the patio.

→61 VINEYARD A view of the vineyards (top) and tasting room (above) at 61 Vineyard.

28712 Kemptown Road, Damascus 61vineyard.com

Complex, High-Stakes Divorce Calls for Highly Qualified Counsel Jeff Greenblatt is family law experience personified. For more than four decades he has guided his clients through complicated divorce, custody, visitation, alimony, domestic violence and division of assets cases.

Recognized for his skilled, passionate representation, Mr. Greenblatt has received numerous accolades such as Best Lawyers® in America and Maryland Super Lawyers®. Additionally he holds the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and was named one of the top 25 divorce attorneys in the metro area.

People who have family law issues benefit from his counsel.

240.399.7894 / JGREENBLAT T @JGLLAW.COM M ARY LAND | JGLLAW.C OM

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MoCo’s Founding Farmers will satisfy any happy hour appetite with a whopping 15 small bites from $3 to $6. Dig into two hot dog options, ahi tuna bites, glazed bacon lollies, avocado toast, “devil-ish” eggs and much more. Five-dollar beers will seal the deal, or choose wine and cocktails for $7 at this welcoming destination.

Weekdays, 3:30-6 p.m., available at the bar only; 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, 301-340-8783 wearefoundingfarmers.com/location/moco/

Gringos & Mariachis offers delicioso $6 happy hour dining options. Feast on spicy Mexican meatballs, elote loco street corn, roasted vegetable nachos, multiple types of tacos, and assorted sopes. All that and a basket of warm, salty tortilla chips with fresh salsa for every table. Wash it down with $6 classic house margaritas, red or white sangria, or red or white house wines, or get $2 off all draft beers.

6

Heavenly $6 Happy Hours

Shaking off the workday cares and worries at happy hour requires a welcoming ambience, quality beverages and memorable fare, all for a negligible sum. We found six recommendation-worthy happy hours with excellent food and drink options, each for $6 or less. Cheers!

Monday-Tuesday, 4-6 p.m., WednesdayFriday, 3-6 p.m., 4928 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-800-4266; 12435 Park Potomac Ave, Potomac, 301-339-8855 gringosandmariachis.com

You definitely on’t strike out during happy hour at The Eleanor Bowling Lounge, Bar & Grille. For $6 or less, this upscale bowling alley offers “fancy” nachos, four intriguing fl vors of wings and elote loco-style hush puppies, as well as wines, house margaritas, single-mix rail drinks, house mules, lagers and draft beers.

Weekdays, 4-7 p.m., 931 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, 240-641-4955 eleanormd.com

4

Three cheers for Barrel + Crow’s expansive happy hour array. Hungry diners can munch on nine skillfully prepared dishes, including smoked beef brisket sliders, blackened salmon sliders, wings seasoned three ways, “Parisienne” gnocchi, fried calamari and sweet beignets, all for $6. To top it off, wine, draft beer and an eyepopping variety of rail drinks run just $5 in this attractive, locally sourced spot.

Tuesday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., 4867 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-800-3253

5

Silver’s happy hour earns a gold medal for inventive bites and beverages. Diners at the “New American” brasserie can order $6-and-under chimichurri chicken wings, goat cheese bruschetta, hummus, crispy Brussels sprouts, and ciabatta and ricotta. For $6 (or less), enjoy spiked sodas, wines, draft beers, sangria and house spirits.

Monday-Friday, 3-6:30 p.m., Daily, 9:30 p.m.-close, 7150 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-652-9780; 3404 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-851-3199 eatatsilver.com/happy-hours

6

Yard House at Gaithersburg's rio Lakefront touts great food, classic rock and the world’s largest draft beer selection. Rock out with $6-orunder treats like Wisconsin fried cheese curds, Parmesan truffle fries and mini-cheesecake brulee. Pints of draft beer options are $2 off during happy hour, with popular brews like Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra coming in at $6 or under.

Weekdays, 3-6 p.m., Sunday-Wednesday, 10 p.m.-close, 211 Rio Blvd., Gaithersburg, 240-683-8790 yardhouse.com

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN

EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

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PHOTOS BY LAURA CHASE DE FORMIGNY

Best Customer-Fueled Comeback After Mandalay Restaurant’s lease was up at the end of October 2021, owner Kyaw “Joe” Myint closed the Silver Spring restaurant his family had operated for two decades. The plan was to open a new location of the Burmese eatery on Georgia Avenue. That fell through, and as it turned out, so did the deal for a new tenant to take over Mandalay’s old home on Bonifant Street. So Myint posted a note on the restaurant’s Facebook page on Feb. 19, 2022: “To all Mandalay customers: We would like to know how many people want us to reopen…” He included his email address. Hundreds of customers liked, loved and shared the posting, and wrote heartwarming comments. Myint received close to 700 personal emails, he says. These loyal customers “helped me decide to reopen again,” he says. “One customer said her daughter cried when she heard we were closing, then cried when she heard we were reopening.” In July, Mandalay reopened for carryout and delivery only—and in August, at a grand reopening ceremony, the family was presented with a plaque from the Montgomery County Council, several of its members in attendance. “May Mandalay always be fl vorful and spice up each of our days. Welcome back!” it says in part. And on Facebook, the so-happyyou-are-back comments keep coming.

→MANDALAY RESTAURANT, 930 Bonifant St., Silver Spring, 301-250-4078 mandalayrestaurantcafe.com

The green tea leaf salad (top) is popular at Mandalay, operated by (from left) Chef Latt Naing, her husband, owner Kyaw “Joe” Myint, and Myint's brother Saw Myint Jr.

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EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

Besides its variety in gluten-free and vegan options, The Scoop serves a plethora of fl vors.

Best New Array of Ice Cream Options If you have trouble finding dessert option that fit our dietary needs, look no further than The Scoop, a creamery that brothers Mitchell and Timothy Ryoo opened last summer in Cabin John Village. Among the dozens of creative, handcrafted ice cream fl vors, you’ll find plenty of gluten-f ee and vegan varieties. The vegan fare includes a couple of ice cream fl vors made with coconut milk—vegan chocolate bliss, which has a rich chocolate fl vor with a mild coconut finish, and egan maple walnut—and all fi e of The Scoop’s fruity sorbets: mango, passion fruit, peach mango, piña colada and strawberry. The ice cream shop offers mo e than 25 gluten-free options, including those sorbets, a handful of classics (butter pecan, chocolate, mint chip, pistachio, strawberry and vanilla), kid-friendly cotton candy and plenty of contemporary varieties such as Baileys mocha chip, hojicha (a Japanese green tea), pumpkin spice latte, roasted soybean and ube honeycomb. The Ryoo brothers have said they plan to add at least one sugar-free fl vor. It (almost) goes without saying that the traditional dairy-rich, sugar-rich glutinous mainstays have been very well received.

→THE SCOOP, 7909 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), Potomac, 301-296-2159

thescoopicecreams.com

For the indecisive among us, Java Nation serves flights of margarita that rotate with the seasons. Four 5-ounce mason jars sail to your table on a wooden tray, sweating with ice cubes and topped with fresh garnishes. The classic margarita is always included in the mix. Lime-forward and tart, it sparkles with a hint of heat and a touch of salt. Tiny seeds flo t atop the ruby-colored, floral pomegra ate version. The mango margarita, the color of sunshine, is smooth and tropical. In cooler months, look for the ambrosial spiced-apple margaritas, and when the weather warms, guava and watermelon are in the lineup. To prep the drinks, Java Nation’s bartenders infuse rail tequila with fresh fruit and housemade fruit purees. Their signature sour mix combines the juices of lemons and limes, plus agave for sweetness. Available at Java Nation’s North Bethesda and new Kentlands locations, our favorite margarita flights a e $20 regularly, $18 at happy hour.

→11120 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301-

836-6022; 121 Market St. (Kentlands Market Square), Gaithersburg, 240-800-1004 java-nation.com

FROM LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SCOOP; PHOTO COURTESY OF JAVA NATION

PLANE-FREE FLIGHTS TO MARGARITAVILLE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNT BURGER

Best Vegan ‘Milkshake’

Vegan food options are expanding at many grocery stores and restaurants throughout Montgomery County, and we’ve found one fully vegan establishment serving a blended variety of vegan shake fl vors. Whether you’re a plain vanilla fan or want something fun like s’mores, PLNT Burger has a frozen sweet treat to suit you. The vegan eatery got its start in Silver Spring in 2019, and the menu includes vegan versions of burgers, nuggets and french fries—all the fast-food favorites that are even better when washed down by a delicious shake. The “Oatasty” shakes are made with oat milk and come in chocolate, vanilla, s’mores, chocolate-and-vanilla swirl and mint chocolate chip. The shakes hold the familiar sweetness and thickness a dairy lover might find t their favorite ice cream shop.

→PLNT BURGER, 833 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, 240-2669500; 11355 Woodglen Drive, Rockville, 202-933-5414; both are inside Whole Foods Markets plntburger.com

An "Oatasty" mint chocolate chip shake

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EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

The patio outside The Urban Winery's new tasting room

Expanding Zone of Fermentation

→ASTRO LAB BREWING

8216 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 301-273-9684 astrolabbrewing.com

→DENIZENS BREWING CO.

1115 East West Highway, Silver Spring, 301-557-9818 denizensbrewingco.com

→SILVER BRANCH BREWING CO.

8401 Colesville Road #150, Silver Spring, 301-264-7111 silverbranchbrewing.com

→THE URBAN WINERY The garage doors at Denizens let the downstairs bar open fully to the outside.

2315 Stewart Ave., Silver Spring, 301-585-4100 theurbanwinery.com

FROM TOP: PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIASSON MARKETING; PHOTO COURTESY OF DENIZENS BREWING CO

Since Emily Bruno, Jeff Rami ez and Julie Verratti founded Denizens Brewing Co. in 2014— pioneering craft beer in Montgomery County—Silver Spring has been fermenting goodness. Astro Lab Brewing opened there in 2018, with the aim of being local, inclusive and a part of the neighborhood. Silver Branch Brewing Co. opened in 2019, inspired by European and American beer traditions. But these masters of diverse award-winning brews weren’t the only ones putting yeast to good use. The Urban Winery, stemming from a family tradition, opened in 2015 on Bonifant Street. All four establishments were nestled in downtown Silver Spring before The Urban Winery closed in December of 2020. In search of greater production capacity, owners Damon and Georgia Callis relocated two miles northwest, on Stewart Avenue, and reopened this past fall. The new Urban Winery features a tasting room and patio and offers 30-plus wines vinted on-site, plus a otating assortment of Maryland-made wine, craft brews and local distillery products.

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EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

Is Bethesda turning into Paris on the Potomac? Over the past few years, a new bakery or cafe offering French-style treats seems to have popped up around every corner downtown.

What’s behind this trend?

Bethesda is a cosmopolitan community in which many people are familiar with French cafe food and culture, local business owners note. It’s also home to the Rochambeau French International School and a sizable French population.

“People here are highly educated and open-minded. Many have traveled around the world,” says Fresh Baguette owner Florent de Felcourt, who opened his first store in Bethesda in 2013. Travelers are happy to relive Parisian cafe experiences close to home.

Bethesda’s walkability and mix of retail, restaurants and offices is reminiscent of Paris, says Beni Himmich, who opened the cafe Paris in Town with his wife, Diane, in April 2022.

“Whether it is a cappuccino and pastry in the morning, a full lunch at 2 p.m., a business meeting or a little glass of wine with escargots,” he writes in an email, “the French bakery/ cafe concept is a familiar entity that satisfies diverse needs throughout the day.”

All within a few blocks of each other are:

1

2

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FRESH BAGUETTE, 4919 Bethesda Ave.: The bakery famous for its baguettes and croissants originated in Bethesda and now has locations in Rockville, Georgetown and Northern Virginia.

LADURÉE PARIS, 4808 Bethesda Ave.: The luxury bake shop focuses on macarons, cakes, eclairs and croissants.

LEVAIN BAKERY, 4844 Bethesda Ave.: Best known for its rich, cakelike cookies, the bakery also sells cakes, breads and pastries.

5 PARIS IN TOWN 4903 Cordell Ave.: Crepes, salads, sandwiches and pastries are in the spotlight here.

4 MAMAN, 7140 Bethesda Lane: The New York-based cafe famous for its nutty chocolate chip cookies also offers b eakfast sandwiches, tartines, soups, salads and sandwiches.

6

7

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PAUL 4760 Bethesda Ave.: The French chain prepares an array of breads, crepes, macarons and pastries.

TATTE BAKERY & CAFE 7276 Wisconsin Ave.: Along with more explicitly Mediterranean fare, the cafe offers f esh breads and pastries, tartines, soups and sandwiches, and a variety of coffee drinks.

TOUT DE SWEET PASTRY SHOP 7831 Woodmont Ave.: The grandpere of the bunch, specializing in macarons and cakes and other desserts, the pastry shop opened in 2011.

MAP BY GETTY IMAGES; PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

Most French Bakeries in One ZIP Code

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EDITORS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

Most Inventive Take on Tacos

There’s no shortage of good taco joints in our area, but if you haven’t checked out Mexicue, which has locations in New York City, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., we recommend you add its Bethesda outpost to your list. We give them credit for their variety, creativity and seamless fusion of Mexican and barbecue fl vors. They offer t o types of tacos: regular and grilled (which we’d describe as a taco-quesadilla hybrid). Don’t sleep on the pulled pork, burnt ends brisket, jumbo shrimp and lobster tacos, each served on a 5-inch organic corn tortilla (or 6-inch flour tortilla if ou opt for a grilled taco). With smoky fried eggplant, charred broccoli and fried avocado, vegetarian options are not lacking. For those watching their carb intake, tacos can be served in romaine boats as a tortilla alternative. The casual atmosphere, lively decor and music, and large patio make this space well suited for social gatherings; the menu caters to larger groups (there’s an entire “sharing” section) with taco platters, “dip foursomes” and margarita pitchers. Save some room for the cornbread; their dessert version is prepared like French toast—the perfect sweet ending.

Fresh corn, cilantro and jack cheese adorn some of the meaty offering in the tres carnes DIY taco assortment.

PHOTO BY LAURA CHASE DE FORMIGNY

→MEXICUE, 4733 Elm St., Bethesda, 240-540-4900, mexicue.com

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EDITORS’ PICKS

ARTS & CULTURE

Paris Sashay entertained at “The Mother of All Comedy Shows,” which featured women and nonbinary performers.

Top photo: Performers (from left) Rallo Boykins, Rahmein Mostafavi, Kim Villamera, Anna Tirat Gefen and Kim Levone appeared in a show starring immigrant and firs -generation comedians.

A woman, an immigrant and a gay person walk onto the stage at a comedy show. It sounds like the setup to an old-timey joke, but it’s actually the basis for Improbable Comedy, a production company that aims to transform the stand-up industry by giving the mic to historically underrepresented comedians. Shows feature women, immigrants, people of color, indigenous performers, LGBTQ comedians and those who have disabilities. While highlighting diverse voices is important, says co-founder and Silver Spring resident Kim Levone, what’s equally paramount is that performers are truly funny. Improbable Comedy, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022, has presented themed shows, such as “The Mother of all Comedy Shows,” featuring women and nonbinary performers, and “Comedy as a Second Language,” with immigrant and firs generation talents. Last summer, Improbable Comedy teamed with Montgomery Parks to present comedy in local parks. Catch a show at the monthly “Stand Up Silver Spring” performance at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre or this February at the Sweet & Sour Valentine’s Day Show at Busboys and Poets in Takoma Park.

→IMPROBABLE COMEDY is based in Silver Spring, 301-804-0806 improbablecomedy.com

PHOTOS BY RASHAWN GOSS WHITE

Most Inclusive Comedy Show

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PHOTOS BY TERESA CASTRACANE PHOTOGRAPHY

BOLDEST CASTING CHOICE IN A LOCAL PLAY With Jade Jones—a curvy, Black woman who identifies as queer—as Belle and Evan Ruggiero—a dance prodigy who lost a leg to cancer and wears a prosthetic—as the Beast, Olney Theatre Center’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast made national headlines when it premiered in November 2021. The unusual but thoughtful casting challenged audiences to broaden their thinking about who belonged in leading roles and added dimension to the story’s theme of recognizing beauty that is more than skin deep. It was director Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s intention to “smuggle a little extra meaning into this popular entertainment,” according to Joshua Ford, the theater’s director of marketing and communications. The production also clicked with Olney Theatre’s mission to expand access to theater and invite in new audiences. Though its initial run was cut short by the COVID-19 delta wave, the show, again directed by Dodge, returned to the stage for a second run in November 2022.

→OLNEY THEATRE CENTER

2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400 olneytheatre.org

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BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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EDITORS’ PICKS

ARTS & CULTURE

BEST NEW PLACES TO SEE AND MAKE ART

Imagine having a night out with friends and capturing all the fun in pictures. But instead of posting them on Instagram, you develop them from old-school 35 mm film and make beautiful black-and-white prints. That’s the idea behind Sip & Develop, a Silver Spring business that opened in March 2022. It combines the nostalgia and novelty of film with the socializing of a sip-and-paint party (though they don’t sell alcohol). Owner Rashon Robinson loves film photography and kn ws that people want something fun to do. At the studio, customers can shoot pictures with a camera and film p ovided, or have in-house photographers take pictures of them, then get instructed in developing their images.

→SIP & DEVELOP

8501 Fenton St., Silver Spring sipndevelop.com Instagram @sipndevelop

Kensington artists Sarah Renzi Sanders and Angie Meche Kilcullen opened Girls Who Paint, their gallery and community art space, last April with a goal of making art more accessible—to the public and to underrepresented artists. The space feels more like a living room than a gallery. Exhibitions regularly feature the work of local women and artists of color. At pop-up shopping events, women-owned businesses sell jewelry, pottery, candles and the like; the welcoming attitude and wide price range lower the barriers for people who feel intimidated in other art-world settings. Hoping to inspire others to make art, Sanders and Kilcullen offer adult sip-and paint events and after-school art classes for children.

→GIRLS WHO PAINT

10419 Fawcett St., Kensington girlswhopaint.com Instagram @girls.who.paint

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN; PHOTO COURTESY OF GIRLS WHO PAINT

Whether you’ve made a resolution to express your creativity this year, are looking for ways to gather and connect with friends, or are just hoping to try something new, two arts-related businesses that opened in Montgomery County last year offer fun and nonintimidating opportunities to see and make art.

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EDITORS' PICKS

PHOTO BY BRUCE ADAMS

Best Tribute to Local Sports Heroes

SPORTS & FITNESS

Pitcher Walter Johnson, a baseball Hall of Famer, and Shirley Povich, an award-winning Washington Post columnist, are Montgomery County sports legends.

Johnson played for the Washington Senators from 1907 through 1927 and later managed the team. Povich’s career covering sports for the Post began in 1924 and ended in 1998; he was inducted into the National Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Johnson and Povich were friends, and the two are celebrated locally with plaques and building names. Besides Walter Johnson High School, the Bethesda Big Train collegiate summer baseball team honors the right-hander, who earned the locomotive nickname with his size and pitch speed.

The team’s home field in Cabin John egional Park is Shirley Povich Field. And in 2021, a memorial statue of Johnson and Povich was revealed there. Artist Toby Mendez’s life-size bronze sculpture depicts them sitting on a stone wall, looking as if they are frozen in the middle of a conversation. It honors the legacy of each man and the friendship they shared.

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EDITORS’ PICKS

SPORTS & FITNESS

BEST RACE FOR PERKS: SUDS & SOLES 5K JUNE 17, 2023

Suds & Soles 5K, launched in 2016 minus two pandemic years, has a fun evening festival vibe. Run the miles that begin and end in Rockville Town Center and you’re handed a beer right after you cross the finish line. The music-filled outdoo party continues post-race with pizza, local brews—fi e beer tickets attached to each race bib—and awards to the top male and female finishers in open and masters div sions, plus age group prizes.

→mcrrcsudsandsoles.org

BEST FOR FAMILIES: AUTISM SPEAKS 5K / 1-MILE WALK JULY 4, 2023

For more than two decades, families and friends have convened at the Potomac Library dressed in festive gear to celebrate Independence Day on the run. Some have grown up attending the race, whether walking the 1-mile course or running the 5K through shady streets that lead to a long downhill finish. O er the years, runners have raised more than $4 million for Autism Speaks.

Participants receive a T-shirt and Autism Speaks 5K medal. Besides overall and age-based winner categories, prizes are awarded to “Most Patriotic,” “Top Child Fundraiser” and more.

→https://act.autismspeaks.org

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN

Best Runs

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BEST FOR SERIOUS ATHLETES: PARKS HALF MARATHON

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY PARKS

SEPT. 10, 2023

This scenic point-to-point course begins near the Shady Grove Metro and traverses several Montgomery County parks, including Aspen Hill Local Park, Dewey Local Park, Veirs Mill Local Park and Ken-Gar Palisades Local Park, and then finishes near Beach Drive and Grosvenor Lane in Kensington. Experienced pacers guide runners to reach their race goals, which must be under 2 hours and 50 minutes, a 12-minute, 36-second-per-mile pace. Runners receive a shirt, finishers medal, swag from sponsors, and lots of refuel food from Mamma Lucia, including grilled sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns and fresh fruit at the finishers festi al. Awards are given to overall winners, Montgomery County Road Runners Club member winners, masters and age group winners.

→parkshalfmarathon.com

Best Park Renovation

Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park is one of the county’s smallest, but a $1.2 million renovation completed in 2022 packs lots of unique features and community involvement into a mere fifth of an ac e. Named after civil rights leader and educator Edith Throckmorton, the park is located within the historic Ken Gar community in Kensington. A bright yellow, all-weather pingpong table—only the second in a county park—doubles as a picnic table. A box for a mini library of books serves as a storage bin for pingpong paddles. There’s a paved area with a labyrinth design where kids can ride scooters, lots of seating, and a pollinator garden with native plants. The playground includes two climbing structures, as well as a play area made of boulders and logs. The renovation doubled the usable park space compared with the original layout, added native trees and plants, improved erosion controls and installed a boardwalk through the park.

→EDITH THROCKMORTON NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

3925 Hampden St., Kensington montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/edith-throckmorton-neighborhood-park

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EDITORS’ PICKS

SPORTS & FITNESS

As you approach the sea of neon, spandex-clad dancers and blaring music at Z Sweat Dance and Fitness, there’s no overlooking this high-energy workout space. If you enjoy booming Zumba music (ear plugs are available), want to get your heart rate up (and keep it up for a full hour), can forget that you’re exercising, love a good sweat session, and thrive in a group workout environment, this is the workout for you. The small studio has one raised platform for the instructor, and there’s one hourlong class offe ed per day Monday through Saturday (in addition to regular Zumba, the studio offers step classes and Sculpt & Tone classes). Although the studio has a limited number of class times, the tradeoff of this smalle -scale operation is the true community feel; there are plenty of regulars who clearly know the instructors and the choreography—a sign of loyalty and a regular commitment to the studio. If you’re a newcomer, rest assured that this is a lowpressure situation; there’s no emphasis on getting a move “correct” or memorizing the choreography—the goal is simply to have fun dancing (with friends and/or strangers), and if you happen to burn 300-plus calories in the process, that’s a win-win.

→Z SWEAT DANCE AND FITNESS

4834 Boiling Brook Parkway, North Bethesda, 240-480-6602 zsweat.com

PHOTO BY Z SWET DANCE AND FITNESS

Best Zumba Studio

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EDITORS’ PICKS

KIDS & SCHOOLS

All children need to get out of the house, have places to go where they can burn some energy and see and try new things.

But for those with special needs, access to such experiences can be challenging. Here are some terrific options.

TO THE PLAYGROUND Hadley’s Playground, in Potomac’s Falls Road Local Park, was designed to allow children of all abilities to play together.

It features play structures with accessible ramps and swings, and a surface that supports the use of wheelchairs and walkers, as well as bikes, scooters and in-line skates. The park also includes accessible baseball and soccer fields, and accessible exercise equipment.

→FALLS ROAD LOCAL PARK

12600 Falls Road, Potomac montgomeryparks.org/parks-andtrails/falls-road-local-park/

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN

Best Places to Take Kids with Mobility or Sensory Issues

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TO THE MOVIES

TO THE THEATER

Film screenings can be dark and loud, but at sensory-friendly showings, lights stay on and volume levels are moderated.

With locations at Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda, the rio in Gaithersburg and Wheaton, AMC Theatres offer family films in sensor -friendly presentations the second and fourth Saturday of every month.

And the Regal theater in Rockville offers such p esentations in the first sh w of the day on select Tuesdays and Saturdays each month.

The houselights remain dim and volumes are softened, especially for loud or startling sounds, during sensory-friendly performances at Imagination Stage, a local children’s performance center where American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is offe ed during each show’s run and accessible seating is available at each performance.

→IMAGINATION STAGE

4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, 301-280-1660 imaginationstage.org

→AMC THEATRES

amctheatres.com REGAL, ROCKVILLE regmovies.com

FROM TOP: PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGINATION STAGE; PHOTO COURTESY OF WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM

TO THE PUPPET SHOW Professional puppet playhouse The Puppet Co. offers sensor friendly performances of its larger Mainstage shows. Modific tions include softer sound cues and microphone volumes, audience lights kept on and back doors left open for easy breaks. The performers’ energy levels are also calmer, and effects like strobe lights or fog are cut. Tiny Tots shows have short run times—just 30 minutes— and have no dark rooms or loud noises. Many have gentle interactive opportunities, such as singing or movement. While the shows are meant for ages 2-4, older kids are welcome. The company also offers AS interpreted performances.

→THE PUPPET CO., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-5380 thepuppetco.org

TO THE GYM

TO THE AIR Skydiving may seem like an unexpected activity for people with special needs, yet kids of all abilities can still enjoy the feeling of flo ting weightless in the state-of-the-art wind tunnel at iFly, the indoor skydiving facility in Gaithersburg. Instructors can make accommodations for many types of mobility limitations, sensory issues and developmental disabilities.

Designed as an inclusive, nonjudgmental place for kids of all abilities to play in their own way, We Rock the Spectrum opened in September 2021. The play gym features equipment tailored to children with sensory issues, such as swings that spin and rock, a trampoline, a climbing wall and a bumpy slide. It offers daily open-gym pl ytimes and classes, such as a messy art class. Check Facebook or Instagram, or call for hours.

→WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM

7601 Airpark Road, Suite E, Gaithersburg, 301-355-8486 werockthespectrumgaithersburg.com

→IFLY, 9400 Gaither Road,

Gaithersburg, 202-883-4359 ifly orld.com/Montgomery

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EDITORS’ PICKS

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Coolest High School Courses CULTURAL STUDIES

Learning the art of clowning at Washington Waldorf School isn’t all about wearing funny costumes and goofing o . Laurent Andre, who has taught the elective art class at the private Bethesda school for nearly 15 years, says students learn how to express themselves, interact with an audience and amplify what comes their way in an improvisational performance. “There is no script,” Andre says. That can be very scary at first, he adds, but students often le ve the class more assertive, generous and sensitive: “When they finish, th y are stronger.”

AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH FILM What could be better than a class in which you get to watch up to 10 movies? Learning some history along the way. In American History Through Film, students analyze movies and think critically about how they relate to various time periods and societal trends, says Andrew Kozlowsky, a social studies teacher at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. For instance, on his watch list this semester: Dr. Strangelove and a discussion of the Cold War, along with The Birth of a Nation and an analysis of Reconstruction.

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN

Students in a new cultural studies class developed by teacher David Lopilato at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School explore projects beyond the walls of the school. They have conducted Zoom interviews with girls in Afghanistan about their school experiences, have produced podcasts about teen life, and are curating an interactive exhibit about the life of teenagers over the last 100 years that they hope to display at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. “It’s a class where your work matters. Everything we do has the potential to be published, or for others to see,” sophomore Jasmine Ferrell says of the English elective class. “It forces us to put out our best work.”

CLOWNING

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The professional kitchen at Sur La Table hosts family classes as well as those just for kids ages 7-15.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUR LA TABLE

Best Cooking Classes for Kids

Hiding in the back of Pike & Rose’s high-end kitchen store Sur La Table, you will find a large p ofessional kitchen space used for cooking classes. Many of these classes have been thoughtfully designed to cater to kids: Duller knives are used, hot items are always handled with assistance, and step stools are offe ed for those who need extra height. Ingredients are measured out before students arrive. Dirty dishes are swiftly cleaned up by assistants—minimizing clutter and maximizing cooking time (most classes involve making three diffe ent items). Sur La Table programs two types of classes for kids during the school year: kids classes (just for kids, geared for ages 7-15) and “family fun” classes (for kids and parents).

During the summer, there are cooking camp sessions (split up by age groups). Be on the lookout for themed classes as well, which are often seasonal and based on upcoming holidays. Getting kids comfortable in the kitchen at an early age has so many benefits. As Brandi O cutt-Velez, area manager, notes, these classes “prepare them for when they have to start cooking for themselves, whether that starts when they’re a tween, teen or in college. These are life lessons they can utilize their entire life.”

→SUR LA TABLE, 11874 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-230-1503 surlatable.com

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EDITORS’ PICKS

SHOPPING

Best New Store for Children’s Clothing and Gifts Co-founders Maddie Kaufmann and Briana Abedi opened Rue + Roe in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands area in August, creating a store that doubles as a welcoming space for toddler yoga classes, book readings, music and the like. “We understand how hard it is for new parents to connect with other like peers,” Abedi says about their intention for Rue + Roe to be more than a brick-and-mortar store. Kaufmann and Abedi’s connection dates to their student days at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac. Many Rue + Roe items are sourced from women-owned sustainable brands that are eco-friendly. Supersoft bamboo pajamas, mini tweed purses and coordinating sibling styles, including onesies, tees, sweatshirts and baseball caps (some say “Little Sis” or “Little Bro”), are customer favorites. Sizes range from newborn to girls 12/14 and boys size 10. Gifts are wrapped at no charge, complete with a tulle ribbon. Purchases also can be made online.

→RUE + ROE

217 Market St. W (Kentlands Market Square), Gaithersburg shoprueandroe.com Instagram @rueandroe

The Rue + Roe families include, from left, Rosie Kaufmann, co-founder Maddie Kaufmann, Lucy Kaufmann and co-founder Briana Abedi, plus pups Moo Kaufmann (left) and Rue Abedi.

You can’t help but smile, and maybe even laugh out loud, while browsing My Big Finds in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg.

Owner Jodi Rapaport—with help from local high schoolers she hires and trains—has created an environment infused with friendliness and fun. “I wanted this to be a place for people to escape their current state of stress and just explore and get lost in history and fun finds” Rapaport says about the store’s eclectic selection of home decor, clothing and gift items that include a “Dude Wagon” pedal car, onesies that read “Speaker of the House,” six-packs of beer-infused soap, and cheekily labeled candles (example: “The Cool Aunt”). Rapaport spent more than two decades in the brokerage industry before opening My Big Finds, initially as a popup shop, in 2014. The store opened in its new home in May 2022.

→MY BIG FINDS 129 Commerce Square Place (Kentlands Market Square) Gaithersburg, 301-704-4091 mybigfinds.co

TOP PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUE + ROE, BY TATIANA DOVE; BOTTOM PHOTO BY BRUNA GENOVESE

Best Place to Shop for Vintage, Quirky and Fun Finds

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Best Alternative to Mall Fashion at the Mall

PHOTO COURTESY OF FANGYÁNSTORES.COM

If you’re looking to ditch athleisure wear in favor of trendier garb, you’ll find a shoppin experience at Westfield Montgomery mal to steer you in a new direction. Simin Zhu, owner of Fangyán (it’s pronounced fāng yán in Chinese and translates as “dialect”), is sharing 20 emerging Chinese fashion labels. There’s XUNRUO for one-of-a-kind party dresses and WANGREENxCHENCLEAN (WXC) for pushing the fashion envelope. Look to Limone for sophisticated swimwear such as the Tuberose one-piece swimsuit ($108), and to Fansilanen for office ttire, including the camel-colored Nadine bow knit dress ($128). The Bethesda showroom opened last August and offer enchanting dresses, coats, knitwear, accessories—in fabrics from silk to cashmere.

It’s unlike anything else a trip to the mall has to offe . Let’s face it: No one is going to ask where you got those sweatpants.

→FANGYÁN

7101 Democracy Blvd.

(Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda fangyanstores.com

Strategic Estate Planning Designed To Preserve Wealth JGL principal Paul Riekhof has decades of experience assisting clients with wealth preservation planning and trust administration guidance.

240-399-7 899 / PRI EKHOF@JGLLAW.COM MA RY LAND | DI STR I C T OF C OLUM BI A | VIRGINIA JGLLAW.COM

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EDITORS’ PICKS

BEST OF THE REST

Best New Office We Want to Work at

Leave it to a hospitality company to create a workplace that’s thoughtful and welcoming to its own employees, particularly those with children. Marriott International Inc. opened its bright, 21-story, 785,000-square-foot headquarters near Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle in September 2022. It’s easy to see why workers might want to go into the office. A 20-fo tall ultrahigh-resolution video wall in the lobby displays far-flung destin tions, the top floor boasts high tech training areas and views that can stretch to Virginia, and on the wellness floor ou’ll find nurses on staff, treadmill desks, relaxation pods and a 7,500-square-foot fitness center complete with instructors and Peloton bikes. There’s room for 2,800-plus work spaces, all with window views. Among multiple dining options, workers can preorder meals from the food court-style Hot Shoppe. Working parents, particularly, should take note: An expansive day care center that can serve 91 children features a STEM room and a 6,600-square-foot covered outdoor play space. A lactation area includes a refrigerator for breast milk and eight curtain-drawn private spaces that have their own pumping equipment. So, when can we start?

→MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

PHOTO CREDIT TK

PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

7750 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-380-3000 marriott.com

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PHOTO CREDIT TK

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EDITORS’ PICKS

BEST OF THE REST

Best Places for Dogs to Exercise Indoors

If your dog is ready to take the plunge, K9 Aquatic and Wellness Center in Potomac offers half-hour indoor swim lessons ($60) for dogs 4 months and older. Owners can relax on a bench while a swim coach accompanies the pooch in the water. Dogs will do laps or paddle and play with balls or other fetch toys. The facility’s fi e pools are each 28 feet long and 4 feet deep and are heated to 90 degrees. Four of the pools are 4½ feet wide, and one is 9½ feet wide. Dogs from the same family can swim together; otherwise, pools are reserved for just one pet at a time. Reservations are required; towels are provided.

K9 Aquatic and Wellness Center opened its doors in 2016. Owner Dominique Darcis says she’s been swimming her dogs forever and calls it “the best exercise for dogs—it helps build muscle mass that walking does not do.”

→K9 AQUATIC AND WELLNESS CENTER

12948 Travilah Road, Potomac, 240-683-1100 k9aquaticcenter.com

Olde Towne Pet Resort in North Bethesda offers indoor xercise classes for dogs, from a cardio class (that includes running on a pet treadmill) to agility play (with a seesaw, a balance beam and tunnels to explore) to swimming in a 4-foot-deep heated pool. Each class runs about 20 minutes. For an intense workout, there’s an hourlong Iron Dog class for pets to tackle all three activities. Another option: a “Pawlates” class. Trainers work with dogs on their agility and balance as they learn how to use exercise balls and other equipment. Most classes cost $40; the Iron Dog session is $95. Dogs must be spayed or neutered. Most pet owners drop off their pooch for class and return when the session is over. Reservations are preferred.

→OLDE TOWNE PET RESORT, 12230 Wilkins Ave., North Bethesda, 888-475-3580 oldetownepetresort.com

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN

When you’re not in the mood to freeze your tail off, head to these indoor spots to help your pooch burn off some pent-up energy

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WE OFFER MORE THAN OTHER SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES. MORE FOR YOUR MONEY • MORE PEACE OF MIND MORE AMENITIES AND SERVICES Readers’ Pick, Finalist, Best Senior Living Community

Learn MORE reasons to choose retirement living at Riderwood. Call 1-800-610-1560 or

Silver Spring Riderwood.com

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visit Riderwood.com for your FREE brochure.

12/6/22 4:32 PM

BEST BROADWAY DEBUT Montgomery County’s own Myles Frost hit it big last year. At the age of 22, he was the one of the youngest solo actors ever to win a Tony Award, honored as the Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in MJ The Musical. Born in Silver Spring, Frost grew up singing and playing piano and drums. At Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, he acted in productions including Hairspray and performed Jackson’s hit “Billie Jean” at a talent show. In 2017, Frost appeared on The Voice but wasn’t chosen to advance.

He left his audio engineering studies at Bowie State University once he landed his professional debut role playing the mega pop star in MJ.

Newsmakers

BEST HUMANITARIAN BUSINESSMAN Chef José Andrés has expanded his humanitarian efforts to support the people o Ukraine through his World Central Kitchen (WCK). Within 24 hours of the Russian invasion in February, his nonprofit helped distribute f ee hot meals to refugees along the border with Poland. Andrés, who lives in Bethesda, has organized more than 5,000 volunteers working in 550 restaurants to provide meals in the war-torn country. In August, Andrés met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to update him on the work of WCK and highlight the collaborative network providing food delivery throughout the country.

BEST RISING STAR WITH MOCO ROOTS Montgomery Blair High School alum Cynthia Addai-Robinson starred in two big productions released last fall. She played Queen Regent Miriel in the Amazon Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered in September. Then she was a wealthy British bride in The People We Hate at the Wedding, a comedy-drama film eleased by Prime Video in November. Addai-Robinson was born in London and moved to Silver Spring when she was 4. After Blair, she graduated from New York University with a bachelor's in theater.

BEST BUSINESS REBOOT Bethesda entrepreneur Seth Goldman is back in the bottled tea business. The Honest Tea co-founder sold that brand to Coca-Cola in 2011, but in May 2022, the corporation announced it was discontinuing the drink. Then last fall, Goldman and celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn launched Just Ice Tea through Eat the Change, a company the two founded in 2020. The drink (a nod to "justice") is marketed as being produced with organic fair trade-sourced tea leaves and ingredients, and suppliers who are fairly compensated.

BEST HOMEGROWN MLB PROSPECTS Locals are keeping an eye on the rising baseball careers of Matt Mervis and James Wood. Mervis grew up in Potomac, attended Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda and played college baseball at Duke University. The 24-year-old had an outstanding 2022 season as an infielder with s veral minor league teams, including the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in Des Moines. He hit 36 home runs and led minor league baseball with 119 RBIs. Olney’s James Wood finished the 2022 season pl ying outfield fo the Washington Nationals’ single-A affil te team in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Wood was a baseball and basketball standout at St. John’s College High School in Chevy Chase, D.C., before transferring to IMG Academy, a sports prep school in Bradenton, Florida. The 20-year-old started his pro career with the San Diego Padres organization in 2021 and was dealt to the Nationals’ organization in 2022 as part of the Juan Soto trade.

MATT MERVIS

JAMES WOOD

FROST PHOTO BY REGINA MOGILEVSKAYA; OTHER PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

EDITORS’ PICKS

YEAR IN REVIEW

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Voted Best Financial Advisor by the Readers of Bethesda Magazine 7 Consecutive Times

WORST GOVERNMENT EXIT There were a slew of unplanned departures at the Montgomery County Planning Board last fall after allegations of misconduct. An internal investigation, prompted by a whistleblower tip, revealed that board Chair Casey Anderson kept a liquor cabinet in his office at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission headquarters in Wheaton and served colleagues after work hours. Anderson apologized for breaking the policy of having alcohol in his government office. In October, the county council asked the entire board to resign, including Anderson, who had served on the panel since 2011; Vice Chair Partap Verma; and board members Gerald Cichy, Tina Patterson and Carol Rubin.

WORST (ALLEGED) ATTEMPT TO BREACH MEDICAL TRUST News of a Rockville couple being charged with trying to aid Russia in its war with Ukraine read a bit like a foiled plot in a spy novel. In September, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Jamie Lee Henry, a U.S. Army major, and his wife, Anna Gabrielian, an anesthesiologist at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, with conspiracy and the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information.

Prosecutors allege the pair met with someone they thought was connected to the Russian government to pass on private medical notes of Americans in the federal government and military, but that individual was actually an undercover FBI agent. If convicted, Gabrielian and Henry face several years in prison on the charges.

David B. Hurwitz

CFP®, CRPC®, CRPS®, RICP®, APMA®, BFA®

Private Wealth Advisor 4800 Montgomery Ave, Suite 620 Bethesda, MD 20814 in the U.S. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc., All rights reserved.

Direct: (301) 263-8509 Email: david.b.hurwitz@ampf.com davidbhurwitz.com

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READERS’ PICKS

FOOD & DRINK

Melina: Best Restaurant in North Bethesda/ Rockville

Readersʼ Picks

Fitness & Beauty

GYM Life Time Equinox Pulse Fitness YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase BARRE STUDIO Solidcore Barre3 Bethesda Pure Barre YOGA/PILATES STUDIO ExtendYoga Pulse Fitness PureFire Yoga Sweetbay Yoga

SPIN STUDIO SoulCycle Senz Yoga, Barre & Cycle PERSONAL TRAINER Lisa Platnik Marian Lally Debi Schenk BARBERSHOP 7 Locks Barber Jack the Clipper Tran’s Barber Shop Spiro’s Barber & Hairstyling HAIR SALON Bella Bethesda Salon Progressions Salon Spa Store Headlines Hair Designers Aveda Bethesda Salon & Spa NAIL SALON Sandy Nails

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AcquaNails Nails by Tammy

Wild Tomato Mon Ami Gabi

DAY SPA Blu Water Woodhouse Spa–North Bethesda Ohana Wellness Woodhouse Spa–Gaithersburg

RESTAURANT IN CHEVY CHASE La Ferme Lia’s Clyde’s

Food & Drink

RESTAURANT IN GAITHERSBURG/NORTH POTOMAC II Porto Vasili’s Kitchen True Food Kitchen Coastal Flats

NEW RESTAURANT Planta Melina

RESTAURANT IN BETHESDA/CABIN JOHN Woodmont Grill Raku

RESTAURANT IN KENSINGTON/ GARRETT PARK Black Market Bistro Frankly…Pizza!

The Dish and Dram

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

Nearly 7,500 people voted in our online readers’ poll. Here are the winners and the finalists, listed in order of the number of votes received.

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Bella Bethesda Salon has been a staple in the community for over 15 years. Bella Bethesda is not just a hair salon but a place that inspires fabulous hair while allowing our guests to escape their busy lives. Our services go far beyond standard cut and color. We feature services for straightening & smoothing as well as special occasions such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc. At Bella Bethesda Salon, we’re not just committed to delivering great-looking, sophisticated and manageable hair. We arm our guests with the knowledge to maintain their “just from the salon” look in between cuts and color.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE SALON SOON!

Readers’ Pick, Best Salon in Bethesda

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READERS’ PICKS

HEALTH & WELLNESS Henry’s Sweet Retreat Carmen’s Italian Ice & Cafe Sprinkles NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET Grosvenor Market Balducci’s The Market at River Falls MOM’s Organic Market

Health & Wellness

CARDIOLOGIST Jack Flyer Scott Shapiro Daniel Schwartz Barry Talesnick

RESTAURANT IN NORTH BETHESDA/ROCKVILLE Melina Summer House Santa Monica Julii RESTAURANT IN POTOMAC Renato’s at River Falls MoCo’s Founding Farmers Hunter’s Bar and Grill Gregorio’s Trattoria RESTAURANT IN SILVER SPRING Zinnia All Set Restaurant & Bar Parkway Deli & Restaurant Mi Rancho RESTAURANT IN UPPER NORTHWEST D.C. Millie’s Et Voila!

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT Woodmont Grill Wild Tomato Gregorio’s Trattoria SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT The Capital Grille Mon Ami Gabi

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Bistro Provence La Ferme PLANT-BASED RESTAURANT Planta True Food Kitchen Shouk Flower Child BRUNCH MoCo’s Founding Farmers Summer House Santa Monica Silver Tatte Bakery & Cafe SHARED PLATES Spanish Diner Cava Mezze Guardado’s Hawkers Asian Street Food OUTDOOR DINING Old Angler’s Inn Millie’s Zinnia Caddies on Cordell KIDS MENU Silver Diner Millie’s Silver Mon Ami Gabi

HAPPY HOUR Gringos & Mariachis King Street Oyster Bar Caddies on Cordell RESTAURANT BEER SELECTION World of Beer Owen’s Ordinary Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery RESTAURANT WINE LIST Morton’s The Steakhouse Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant Mon Ami Gabi Duck Duck Goose BAR/RESTAURANT TO WATCH A GAME Caddies on Cordell Quincy’s South Bar & Grille Sports & Social BAKERY Fresh Baguette Tatte Bakery & Cafe Sunday Morning Bakehouse Stella’s Bakery ICE CREAM SHOP Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

EYE DOCTOR Rachel Cohn Harry Huang James Heltzer OB-GYN Lori Kaler Tobie Beckerman Jacqueline Apgar Marilyn Jerome Robert Footer ORTHOPEDIST Christopher Cannova Robert Buber Sridhar Durbhakula Gautam Siram PEDIATRICIAN Leila Hall Giorgio Kulp Dana Kornfeld Paul Weiner PODIATRIST Ira Deming Samuel Galitzer Paul Ross Lee Firestone Franklin Polun

VEIN CARE PRACTICE Center for Vein Restoration Capitol Vein & Laser Centers

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLU WATER DAY SPA

Blu Water Spa: Best Day Spa

COSMETIC SURGEON Jennifer Parker Porter Philip Schoenfeld Roger Friedman Joseph Michaels

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The Halem Group Compass Bethesda’s #1 team and ranked by The Wall Street Journal in the top 1% of Agents nationwide, the Halem Group is one of the most highly-decorated teams in the DMV. Each year since 2015, they have been named one of the DC area’s Best Realtors and Top Producers by Washingtonian, and awarded as Top Vote Recipient in Bethesda Magazine’s “Best of Bethesda” since 2010. Margie and her teammates Harrison Halem, Courtney Halem, Elizabeth Meltzer, Lori Silverman, Ashley Townsend, Matt Gloger, and Janet Pitt, are licensed in DC, MD and VA and known for their unrivaled knowledge, exceptional service, and tech-savvy approach to real estate. Whether Margie is advising a first-time home buyer or a seasoned seller, her favorite part of the job remains the same: the enduring relationships she cultivates with clients. For more than three decades, Margie’s service-driven approach and passion for helping people have built an extensive network of contacts that she leverages for her client’s benefit.

Margie is committed to enjoying her family and grandchildren along with local causes, including volunteering at her synagogue, Autism Speaks, & the American Heart Association. Wherever your next real estate journey may take you, there’s no doubt that you want Margie and the Halem Group by your side.

Margie Halem M. 301.775.4196 O. 301.304.8444 margie@compass.com margiehalemgroup.com Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC an as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20814 | 301.304.8444

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READERS’ PICKS

HOME

The Elm: Best Luxury Apartments

URGENT CARE PRACTICE MedStar Health Urgent Care PM Pediatric Care Patient First Primary and Urgent Care AllCare Family Medicine & Urgent Care

IN-HOME CARE Family & Nursing Care Corewood Care Comfort Home Care Montcordia Capital City Nurses

LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS Lionsgate Somerset House II The Lauren The Ritz-Carlton Residences The Darcy

BUILDER Sandy Spring Builders Classic Homes of Maryland Jendell Construction Douglas Construction Group Castlewood Custom Builders

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY Maplewood Park Place Ingleside at King Farm Leisure World Fox Hill Asbury Methodist Village Riderwood

LUXURY TOWNHOMES The Brownstones at Park Potomac Tower Oaks Quarry Springs

INTERIOR DESIGNER Wendy Danziger Natalie Nunes TOBE DesignGroup

GENERAL DENTIST Jason Cohen Jay Samuels Hilari Dunn Richard Hunsinger Jr.

NUTRITIONIST Jen Silverman Elizabeth Blumberg Jessica Murgueytio

PEDIATRIC DENTIST Derek Blank Heather Sholander Karen Benitez Lauren Lewis

PHYSICAL THERAPIST Lambros Georgallas Stacy King Therese McNerney Liz Kahrl

INDIVIDUAL THERAPIST Marjorie Kreppel Jaclyn Halpern MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST Marjorie Kreppel Uzma Knouss Katie Jankowski

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Home

LUXURY APARTMENTS The Elm The Palisades of Bethesda Flats at Bethesda Avenue Maizon Bethesda

REAL ESTATE AGENT Margie Halem Marcela Zoccali Carolyn Sappenfiel Cara Pearlman Dana Rice MORTGAGE BROKER Jonathan Okun Deb Levy Brendan McKay Marion Cantor Masoud Hosseini ARCHITECT Carib Daniel Martin Architecture + Design GTM Architects Anthony Wilder Design/Build Claude C. Lapp Architects

HOME ORGANIZER

Margaret Richey Design Sense Good Order DC PLUMBER Leahy Plumbing & Heating Acker & Sons Len the Plumber Mallick Plumbing & Heating Uneeda Plumbing & Bath Remodeling LANDSCAPING COMPANY Fine Earth Landscape Pineapple Landscaping Shorb Landscaping McHale Landscape Design NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER American Plant Good Earth Garden Market Johnson’s Florist & Garden Centers

PHOTO BY JEFFREY SAUERS, CPI PRODUCTIONS

HOSPITAL FOR CHILDBIRTH Sibley Memorial Hospital Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center Holy Cross Hospital

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Your home as it’s meant to be personal, well-crafted & cherished

Readers’ Pick

Best In-Home Care Provider for voting us Best In-Home Care Provider for the 8th time!

2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023

(301) 588-8200 | familynursingcare.com Licensed as an RSA by the MD DOH, OHCQ, MD RSA License R2519R; MD NRSA ������

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READERS’ PICKS

PETS

Bark Social: Best Dog Park

PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School Geneva Day School Washington Episcopal School Christ Episcopal School PRIVATE SCHOOL –LOWER SCHOOL Washington Episcopal School McLean School Christ Episcopal School Green Acres School Bullis

PRIVATE SCHOOL –UPPER SCHOOL McLean School Bullis Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Landon Holton-Arms School PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION Washington Episcopal School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

St. Jane de Chantal School Christ Episcopal School Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH PROGRAM FOR NONTRADITIONAL LEARNERS McLean School The Siena School The Diener School* SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Danny Vogelman, Washington Episcopal School Nicole Stone, Christ Episcopal School Elizabeth Hamilton, St. Jane de Chantal School TUTORING FIRM Learning Essentials PrepU PrepMatters COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Consulting Service PrepMatters Marks Education Bass Educational Services

*Editor’s Note: The Diener School was founded by Jillian Copeland, who owns Bethesda Magazine along with her husband, Scott.

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SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP Calleva McLean School Washington Episcopal School Geneva Day Camp Kids After Hours

INDOOR PLAY SPACE The Little Towns Children’s Museum My Gym Sky Zone Trampoline Park KID Museum

SUMMER ARTS CAMP VisArts Adventure Theatre & ATMTC Academy McLean School Washington Episcopal School Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School

Pets

DOG BOARDING Dogtopia Blue Dog Boarding and Daycare Olde Towne Pet Resort Bone Jour

SUMMER SPORTS CAMP Tru2Form Hoops SummerEdge at McLean School Landon Summer Top Rank Soccer Academy Camp

DOG PARK Bark Social Dog Park at Cabin John Regional Park Dog Park at Dewey Local Park

CHILDREN’S THEATER Imagination Stage Adventure Theatre MTC The Puppet Co.

DOG WALKING SERVICE A Walk in the Park (TIE) DogOn Fitness (TIE) In Good Paws

CHILDREN’S DANCE STUDIO Bethesda Conservatory of Dance Bella Ballet Dawn Crafton Dance Connection CityDance

VETERINARY PRACTICE FOR CATS Potomac Animal Hospital A Cat Clinic Alpine Veterinary Hospital Canal Clinic

PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

Kids & Schools

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FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 49 YEARS.

The BEST pets.

The BEST clients.

The BEST of Bethesda.

Readers’ Pick, Best Veterinary Practice 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 & 2019

Veterinary Services Boarding Services Grooming Services • wellness pet care • dentistry • surgery • radiology • laboratory • geriatrics • boarding • grooming • special needs animal care

(301) 299-4142

10020 River Road, Potomac, MD | PotomacAnimalHospital.com

Thank you for choosing me, Best Mortgage Broker #1 Producer

Nationwide at Prosperity Home Mortgage Celebrated

20 years

in the mortgage business, all in the DMV

Readers’ Pick, Best Mortgage Broker

Jonathan Okun

NMLSR ID: 221383 Senior Mortgage Consultant Cell: (443) 610-8371 Email: jon@jonathanokun.com Web: www.jonathanokun.com Licensed in DC, MD, & VA

Selected 357 out of 365 times by 6 year old daughter to put her to sleep at bedtime

Funded more than $155 million in purchase loans & ranked Top 75 in the Nation by volume1

2022 13 Time Undisputed Champion “Best Husband She Has Ever Had” *voted by wife

Honored to have received 500th 5 Star Zillow Review

Helped over

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buyers win their dream house in multiple offers

Re-signed lucrative contract to be First Base Coach for 8 year old son’s travel baseball team

1. Rankings published in Mortgage Executive Magazine, Spring 2022 Edition

All first mortgage products are provided by Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. (877) 275-1762. Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC products may not be available in all areas. Not all borrowers will qualify. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Licensed by the Delaware State Bank Commissioner. Massachusetts Mortgage Lender License ML75164. Licensed by the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance. Licensed Mortgage Banker-NYS Department of Financial Services.

Also licensed in AK, AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV and WY. NMLS #75164 (NMLS Consumer Access at http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/) MC221063 Expires 12/2023 ©2022 Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. All Rights Reserved. (11/22)

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READERS’ PICKS

SHOPPING

Flex All Day: Best New Store

PET SUPPLY BOUTIQUE Loyal Companion Bone Jour Elysiem

Shopping

NEW STORE Flex All Day Bonday

WOMEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE Belina Boutique Sassanova Morley Flex All Day Anthropologie GIFT STORE The Blue House Occasions Red Orchard

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SHOPPING CENTER Wildwood Shopping Center Westfield Montgomery mal Pike & Rose CONSIGNMENT/RESALE STORE Reddz Trading New4You Thrift Boutique Kid to Kid HOME APPLIANCES RETAILER (NOT A NATIONAL CHAIN) Bray & Scarff ABW Appliances ApplianceLand Appliance Distributors Unlimited PLACE TO BUY GLASSES (NOT A NATIONAL CHAIN) Voorthius Opticians Wink Eyecare Boutique Colonial Opticians Apex Optical BIKE STORE Griffin Cycle Big Wheel Bikes Terrapin Bicycles

Weddings & Events

EVENT PLANNER Save the Date Jamie Kramer Events Michele Hodges Events

CATERER Fransar Catering Services Ridgewells Catering Heckman’s Caddies Catering Spilled Milk Catering FLORIST Bethesda Florist LuLu Florist Edge Floral Event Designers Suburban Florist Hoover-Fisher Florist WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Bennett Kress Photography Kathleen Marie Ward WEDDING CAKES Fancy Cakes Bakery Stella’s Bakery Classic Bakery

PLACE FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH Woodmont Country Club VisArts Glen Echo Park Lakewood Country Club PLACE FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION Glen Echo Park VisArts Strathmore Woodmont Country Club PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING DRESS BHLDN David’s Bridal Love Couture Bridal Fairytale Brides PLACE TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT RING Boone & Sons Jewelers Mervis Diamond Importers Tiffany & Co Kaufmann Jewelers

PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

VETERINARY PRACTICE FOR DOGS Potomac Animal Hospital Alpine Veterinary Hospital Canal Clinic Bradley Hills Animal Hospital

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T H A N K YO U !

The Cara Pearlman Group

thanks you and everyone who voted for us in this year’s Best of Bethesda campaign. Our team’s mission is to “help everyone find their place in the world.”

With 30 years of collective experience, Cara Pearlman and the team have had the honor of assisting hundreds of buyers and sellers, with the goal of helping them find their place in the Washington, D.C. Metro area.

No matter what your home size, style, or location, we have the team resources to help you reach your Real Estate goals.

See one of our most luxurious listings, and the highest priced listing in Washington, DC in 2022, below!

International Style, Local Luxury 3900 Nebraska Avenue NW 7 BED | 7.5 BATH | 12 ,000+ SF | 6.7 ACRES $1 9, 500, 000 Situated on 6.7 acres of mature gardens and tree covered grounds, this Mediterranean style villa offers the best of both privacy and accessibility, with interior spaces inviting both grandeur and cozy family life. Most recently the home of the Swedish Ambassador, this residence is ideal as a cozy retreat by the hearth or for diplomatic calibre entertaining.

Scan here to see the full property

Cara Pearlman Executive Vice President m. 202.641.3008 | o. 301.298.1001 cara@dcsuburbhomes.com Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 5471 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 | 301.298.1001

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READERS’ PICKS

Best of the Rest

TAILOR Montgomery Custom Tailor S.K. Cleaners and Custom Tailors Bethesda Custom Tailors Rose Custom Tailor HOTEL FOR STAYCATION Marriott Bethesda Downtown Hyatt Regency Bethesda Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Bethesda North

Marriott Bethesda Downtown: Best Hotel for Staycation

AUTO DEALERSHIP Chevy Chase Cars Euro Motorcars Bethesda Fitzgerald Auto Mall Ourisman Honda

COMMUNITY BANK Sandy Spring Bank EagleBank United Bank Founders Bank ESTATE ATTORNEY Adam Abramowitz Frank Baldino Craig Berk Gary Altman WEALTH MANAGEMENT FIRM (NOT A NATIONAL CHAIN) Vintage Financial Partners Chevy Chase Trust Key Wealth Managers

BEST COWORKING SPACE WeWork Industrious Launch Workplaces n

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARRIOTT BETHESDA DOWNTOWN BY GREG POWERS

BEST OF THE REST

SEE WHY MAIZON BETHESDA WAS VOTED BEST LUXURY APARTMENTS,

BY BEST OF BETHESDA 2023!

Discover comforts sure to exceed your expectations & amenities designed to enhance your lifestyle. Through our doors, elegance exudes around every corner. Whether you’re relaxing on the rooftop lounge, cooling off by the pool, or staying active at the f itness center, you’ll quickly come to realize that you could never live anywhere else.

Secure your 1, 2 or 3 bedroom luxury apatment home today!

LUXURYATMAIZON.COM | 4900 MOORLAND LANE, BETHESDA, MD 20814

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Reader’s Pick,

BEST CHILDREN'S DANCE STUDIO, 2023

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8004A Norfolk Avenue Bethesda MD 20814 301-654-2200 11/4/20 9:46 PM

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2020 A Top Vote Getter

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2022 A Top Vote Getter

2021

Winner

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With Gratitude…

It’s a pleasure to provide services for such a wonderful community. We will continue to work hard to maintain our level of excellence for you.

Just breathe…

“Best Day Spa in Maryland”

Services: Brows • Ombré/Powder Microblading • Nails • Massage • Lash Extension • Lash Lift • Medical Grade Peels/Treatments • Facials • Hydrafacial •

-Bethesda Magazine, 2023

Products: ZO Skin Health • IS Clinical • SkinCeuticals • GM Collins• Eminence Organic • Jane Iredale • Niven Morgan • OPI • Essie • Voluspa • Nufree

White Flint Plaza

❀ 5234 Nicholson Lane, Kensington, MD 20895 ❀ BluWaterdayspa.com ⎸ (301) 984-6245

Marcela Zoccali Readers’ Pick, Finalist, Best Real Estate Agent Thanks to all my friends, family, clients, and all of you who voted for me! It’s an honor I do not take lightly!

For the past 20 years, I’ve been totally committed to helping you achieve your real estate dreams and goals, together with my team – the Coleman Group of Compass! I strongly believe in being a fierce advocate for you, in providing unique personalized service, prioritizing quality over quantity, and being an active presence during the process from start to finish. I’m here for you and I look forward to working with you and yours - today and always!

Cheers to a fantastic 2023!

Marcela Zoccali

7200 Wisconsin Avenue

The Coleman Group of Compass

Suite 100

Realtor®

Bethesda, MD 20814

m: 301.275.5978

o: 301-304-8444

Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC an as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814 | 301.304.8444

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2019

Winner

2021

Winner

301.365.3300 DANZIGERDESIGN.COM

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CONGRATS, DR. FERNANDEZ!

BEST VEIN CARE PRACTICE 2022

5-TIME WINNER EDDIE FERNANDEZ MD, RPVI

Professional Theatre, Classes, and Camps for Children imaginationstage.org | 301-280-1660

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Your new home is ready: Maplewood Park Place See why we are the area’s premier resident-owned continuing care retirement community.

Celebrating 25 years of active retirement living.

To learn more about Maplewood Park Place and the unique benefits of resident ownership,

call 301-850-1950

or visit www.maplewoodparkplaceinfo.com 9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814

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Thank you for voting for us Best Pediatric Dentist!!

Harmony Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in Bethesda offers comprehensive dental care for children and orthodontics for the entire family.

We do our best to tailor our treatment to meet the needs and expectations of each family and to create a fun experience that has kids asking to come back!

4818 Del Ray Avenue • Bethesda, MD 20814

w w w.harmonybethesda.com

The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with languagebased learning differences.

THE SIENA SCHOOL— SILVER SPRING, MD Grades 4-12

Top Vote Getter: Best Private School for Non-Traditional Learners 2009, 2010, 2011*, 2013, 2015 Runner-Up: Best Private School for Non-Traditional Learners 2017, 2019, 2021 *After 2011, the category “Best Private School for Non-Traditional Learners” was limited to every other year

www.TheSienaSchool.org

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1300 Forest Glen Road Silver Spring, MD 20901 301-244-3600

THE SIENA SCHOOL— OAKTON, VA Grades 3-10

2705 Hunter Mill Road Oakton, VA 22124 703-745-5900

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Best of the Best

HOME HOME

Sandy Spring Builders, LLC 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2008 Winner, Best Builder 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016 Winner, Best Builder for Custom Homes 2020 Finalist, Best Builder for Home Renovations 2014 Winner; 2018, 2016 Finalist, Best Remodeling Firm 2012 Finalist, Best Green Builder 2012 Finalist, Best Remodeler

4705 West Virginia Ave. | Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-5995 | www.sandyspringbuilders.com Sandy Spring Builders is the premier custom homebuilder in the Washington, D.C. area. For over 40 years, they have built new and done large-scale renovations of award-winning homes, bringing their clients’ visions to life. They have won the Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda award for “Best Builder” every year since its inception, and myriad other awards. They are full-service custom builders and their expertise is unmatched in the industry. They are your builder for life.

HOME

Fine Earth Landscape 2023, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010 Winner, Best Landscaper 2021 Finalist, Best Contractor for Outdoor Living Spaces 2019 Winner, Best Outdoor Living Area Builder

301-983-0800 | fineearth.com

Front Row: Jonathan Hernandez, Fredy Guzman, Makenzie Blocher, Ann CanningSchruben, Jacob Hafner, Joel Hafner, Bernie Mihm, Dorothy Horton, Nathan Leatherman, Larry Reader Back Row: Heather Walsh, Melinda Boswell, Morgan Hafner, Irene Hafner, Georgette King, Judith Petersen

Fine Earth Landscape is an award-winning designbuild landscape company serving the greater Washington, D.C. area. In business for over 45 years, we have built our reputation on excellent personalized service. We use our breadth of resources to meet your landscape needs and to create and maintain your beautiful outdoor environment. Fine Earth offers a complete solution from landscape design and landscape maintenance to patios, walls, plantings and swimming pools.

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Best of the Best

HOME

Andy Alderdice 2019 Finalist, Best Real Estate Agent

4701 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 20816 301-466-5898 andy4homes.com We are thrilled to be included in Bethesda Magazine’s Best of the Best. We know there are many Realtors to choose from to represent you; we never stop striving to be even better and our clients agree. With a combined experience of over 45 years, we are proven and continue to grow and change with the market.

We are always at the forefront of new technology, support, marketing and negotiation strategies.

Integrity. Experience. Commitment. Local.

HOME

The Banner Team The Banner Team: 2021, 2019 Finalist, Best Real Estate Team Long & Foster: 2022 Winner, Best Real Estate Brokerage for Luxury Homes Wendy Banner: 2021 Finalist, Best Real Estate Agent

4650 East West Highway | Bethesda, MD 20814 301-365-9090 Info@BannerTeam.com www.BannerTeam.com

Front row: Emily Moritt, Michelle Teichberg, Wendy Banner, Julia Fortin, Ilene Gordon Back row: Gail Gordon, Ashley Vonada, Pat Karta, Jody Aucamp 1 3 8 | J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 | B E T H E S D A M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Even more than a love of real estate, Long & Foster’s top-producing Banner Team is driven by a love of community and guiding friends and neighbors through the home buying and selling process. The 14-member all-women team is passionate about their Pay it Forward Program, donating a portion of every commission to local charities, hosting community events and serving local organizations. They strive to make buying and selling a home an enjoyable, anxiety-free experience, providing A Team behind every Transaction!

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Best of the Best

HOME HOME

GTM Architects 2023, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008 Finalist, Best Architect 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016 Winner, Best Architect for Custom Homes 2021, 2019, 2017 Winner, Best Architect

7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814 240-333-2000 general-info@gtmarchitects.com gtmarchitects.com Established in 1989, GTM Architects is a full service, award-winning design firm. “ e believe the most important quality of a well-designed home is its ability to perfect the homeowner’s vision. We pride ourselves on being responsive, talented professionals who bring creativity and passion to our work, prioritizing the client’s needs above all else.

Our strength at GTM is diversity, both in style and knowledge, which excites our clients and helps bring their concepts to life.”

HOME

Deb Levy Team – Chase 2023, 2021, 2017 Best of Bethesda Finalist, Best Mortgage Broker 2015, 2013, 2012 Best of Bethesda Winner, Best Mortgage Broker

NMLS ID 481255 4445 Wisconsin Ave., NW | Washington, D.C. 20016 202-702-3262 | Fax: 844-560-8138 deb.levy@chase.com | homeloan.chase.com/deb.levy Experience matters. Markets are constantly changing and strategies for purchasing and financing a home change oo. A native of Montgomery County and lifelong Washingtonian with over 36 years of experience in mortgage lending, Deb Levy of Chase has assisted thousands of homebuyers to finance their homes. Deb is licensed to lend in all 50 states. Chase Bank is a full service bank and has branches throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Disclosure: All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Home lending products offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ©2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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Best of the Best

HOME

Dana Rice Group of Compass 2023 Finalist, Best Real Estate Agent 2018-2021 Finalist, Best Real Estate Team

5471 Wisconsin Ave. #300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202.669.6908 danaricegroup.com Dana Rice Group’s growth has been swift and significant. In just six ears, Dana and her group of fi e full-time agents have sold nearly $800 million of real estate placing them in the top 1 percent of residential real estate agents globally.

Armed with a degree in journalism and a deep history of sales success at Fortune 500 companies, Dana Rice brings a storyteller’s touch and reporter’s insight to the marketing of homes. All Dana Rice Group sellers receive complementary staging services—one of the best ways to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.

HOME

Claude C. Lapp Architects 2016-2022 Finalist, Best Architect for Custom Homes 2013-2023 Finalist, Best Architect 2020 Finalist, Best Architect for Home Remodeling

301-881-6856 Info@cclarchitects.com www.CCLArchitects.com Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC is a distinguished and award-winning architectural firm specializing in cus om residential design. For over 30 years we have helped clients in the D.C. area make their dreams a reality.

Our mission is to provide our clients with the highest-quality design suited for their lifestyles, expectations and budget. Whether you are looking to design a custom home, renovation or addition, we would love to earn your business.

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Best of the Best

HOME HOME

The Halem Group of Compass 2023 Winner, Best Real Estate Agent 2021 Finalist, Best Real Estate Team 2010-2021 Finalist, Best Real Estate Agent

Cell: 301-775-4196 | Office: 301-304-8444 Margiehalemgroup.com Margie@compass.com The Halem Group has been blessed to live and work in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area since the early 1980s. Margie has built her life in the DMV over the past 38 years: Getting married, raising three children, building a successful company and eventually joining Compass as the Founding agent of the Bethesda office in 2018.

Every day we work to bring our clients the best service possible. Our dedication to our clients has brought us over $1 billion in home sales and has earned us the 2023 Best Real Estate Agent designation from the readers of Bethesda Magazine.

BEAUTY

Bella Bethesda 2023, 2021, 2012, 2010 Winner, Best Hair Salon 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016 Winner, Best Salon in Bethesda 2021, 2015 Finalist, Best Place for Men’s Haircuts 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2008 Finalist, Best Hair Salon

4733 Elm St., Second Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 301-718-9111 Bellabethesda.com @bellabethesda Bella Bethesda would like to extend a gracious thank you to our clients for voting us the best salon in Bethesda! It is thanks to your support and our community that we can continue doing what we love: providing unforgettable experiences and some fabulous hair! To better serve our loyal guests this upcoming year, we are attending advanced training so that we can grow with our community and continue to provide you with excellence!

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Best of the Best

LAW

Geoffrey S. Platnick 2022 Finalist, Family Law Practitioner

Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 360-7A Potomac, MD 20854 240-617-0404 www.modernfamilylawfirm.com Geoffrey Platnick (“Geoff”) is Managing Partner of Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield in Po omac, which concentrates its practice exclusively in family law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. As an exceptionally skilled litigator and negotiator, Geoff’s singular focus is achieving his clients’ goals. He is respected for his creative problem-solving and strategic approach to complex divorce, custody and other family law disputes as well as his relentless focus on achieving his clients’ objectives in a manner that suits their unique needs.

HEALTH

Family & Nursing Care 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013 Winner, Best In-Home Care Provider 2020, 2021 Finalist, Best In-Home Care Provider

1010 Wayne Ave., Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-8200 familynursingcare.com Since 1968, Family & Nursing Care has helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to caregivers who help older adults with activities of daily living—including bathing, dressing, mobility assistance, errands, meal prep, light housekeeping, medication reminders, companionship and more.

As a leading resource for private duty home care services, Family & Nursing Care’s mission is to help older adults maintain their independence and quality of life as they age.

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Best of the Best

HEALTH HOME

Renu by Dr. Schoenfeld 2023 Finalist, Cosmetic Surgeon 2021, 2013, 2010: Finalist, Best Cosmetic Surgeon 2022 Finalist, Practice/Place for Medical Aesthetics 2010 Finalist, Best Spa

5454 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1625 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-652-7368 www.renudc.com @drphilipschoenfeld @renu_drschoenfeld Dr. Philip Schoenfeld is a double boarded facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience and a nationally known speaker and educator. He specializes in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, deep plane facelift, facial fat-grafting and eyelid surgery.

Patients worldwide seek his care for complex revision cases. He is a consultant for nonsurgical dermal fille s and neurotoxin. Dr. Schoenfeld’s practice utilizes PRP, proven supplements and the Neograft follicular unit grafting technology for hair restoration.

KIDS & SCHOOLS

St. Jane de Chantal School 2023 Finalist, Best School Principal 2023, 2022, 2014 Finalist, Private School with Religious Affiliation 2021 Finalist, Private School That Did the Best Job with Distance Learning 2020, 2019, 2016 Finalist, Private School — Lower School

9525 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-530-1221 | www.dechantal.org St. Jane de Chantal School, located in the heart of Bethesda, offers Catholic education for children Pre-K through grade 8. Instructional strategies are used to ensure learning is interactive, dynamic and effective. Teaching models include cooperative learning, use of textbooks, Chromebooks, iPads and experimental learning in all disciplines. STEM and fine ar s programs challenge students to acquire new skills. This is a school where children will grow in spirit and in mind.

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Best of the Best

HEALTH

Potomac Audiology 2022 Finalist, Audiology Practice 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 Winner, Best Audiologist

11300 Rockville Pike, #105 Rockville, MD 20852 www.potomacaudiology.com During the past 25 years, Dr. Gail Linn’s daughter, Dr. Tricia Terlep, joined the practice, adding pediatric audiology to its services. Terlep had previously worked at the Georgetown University Audiology Clinic and brought with her the skills she learned there. Dr. Linn and her associates enjoy a good relationship with many of the most respected medical professionals in the area, and with their own devoted patients. These relationships continue to serve them as they go forward into the future of audiology.

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Geneva Day School 2023, 2016 Finalist, Preschool/Day Care 2022, 2020, 2018, 2014, 2012 Winner, Preschool/Day Care 2023 Finalist, Summer Adventure Camp 2022 Winner 2020 Finalist, Summer Day Camp

11931 Seven Locks Road | Potomac, MD 20854 301-340-7704 | genevadayschool.org Geneva Day School encourages a lifelong love of learning through exceptional classes and extraordinary programs for children aged 2 through kindergarten.

Its academic curriculum is powered by STEAM and includes specialized art, environmental education, music, mindfulness and physical education. Staff are passionate and highly trained.

As Potomac’s hidden gem, Geneva is a Maryland Green School with a sprawling campus and nearby creek. An innovative “outdoor classroom” and Monarch Butterfly Waystation invite student-led discovery throughout all seasons.

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Best of the Best

BEAUTY HOME

Progressions salon spa store 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2008 Finalist, Best Hair Salon 2020, 2018, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2009 Finalist, Best Salon N. Bethesda/Rockville 2014, 2008 Finalist, Best Nail Salon

12211 Nebel St. North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-231-8757 progressions.com | info@progressions.com Since 1984, Progressions has brought the best in beauty to the Bethesda area. Our highly-trained team of professionals provide an exceptional salon experience to all our services, from haircuts and color to nails, facials, lash extensions, permanent makeup and waxing. We love Bethesda, and we believe in investing in our team’s education and giving back to our community. We welcome you to come experience the comfortable luxury of our spa, salon and boutique.

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Calleva, Inc. 2023, 2019, 2017, 2015 Winner, Summer Adventure Camp 2022, 2020, 2018 Finalist, Summer Day Camp 2021 Winner, Summer Day Camp 2021, 2020 Finalist, Summer Overnight Camp 2014 Editors Pick, Communal Experience (Dirty Dinners at Calleva)

19936 Fisher Ave. Poolesville, MD 20837 301-216-1248 registration@calleva.org | www.calleva.org Since 1993, Calleva has provided award-winning day camps for ages 5-14 and weeklong high adventure trips for teens. Campers are outdoors all day: adventures abound on the rivers, trails and forests that surround Washington, D.C. Some focus on a single activity like kayaking, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking or fishing. Othe s choose a “sampler” week to try a variety of activities. Pickup-point transportation included. Weekend adventures are also offered for families and adults.

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Best of the Best

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018 Finalist, Private School – Upper School 2023, 2022, 2016 Finalist, 2018 Winner, Private School with Religious Affiliation 2021, 2017 Finalist, Private School for Academics; Finalist, Private School for Girls Sports 2020, 2018, 2014 Finalist, Private School – Lower School 2019 Finalist, Private School for Academics (Lower); Finalist, Private School for Academics (Upper) 2015 Finalist, Private School to get into Harvard; Finalist, Private School for Girls

9101 Rockville Pike | Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-4322 | Stoneridgeschool.org Celebrating 100 years of Sacred Heart education, Stone Ridge is inspiring girls and young women in grades 1-12 (and a co-ed program Pre-K through Kindergarten) to lead and serve through lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, community, social action and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. Set atop 35 beautifully landscaped acres in Bethesda, Md., Stone Ridge offers a peaceful campus for girls to learn, play, pray, compete and grow.

KIDS & SCHOOLS

McLean School 2011-2023 Winner, Private School for Non-Traditional Learners 2023 Winner; 2019, 2020, 2022 Finalist, Private School — Upper School 2020 Winner; 2019, 2022, 2023 Finalist, Private School — Lower School 2017, 2019, 2021 Winner, Private School — Music & Arts 2017, 2021 Finalist, Private School — Academics 2018 Winner, Private School — K-Grade 12 2016 Winner, Private School — Grades 9-12 2016, 2014 Finalist, Private School — K-Grade 8

8224 Lochinver Ln. | Potomac, MD 20854 240-395-0698 | mcleanschool.org McLean School transforms lives. Our small classes and Abilities Model prepare bright K-12 students including those with dyslexia, attention, and organizational challenges for college success.

We recognize and teach to individual strengths, responding to areas of challenge, but never defining students by them. Our expert teachers teach the way students learn and recognize that great minds don’t think alike. McLean’s curriculum encompasses engaging, essential academics as well as the arts, athletics and mindfulness.

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Best of the Best

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Bass Educational Services 2022, 2023 Finalist, Tutoring Firm

4229 Cherry Valley Drive Olney, MD 20832 301-774-5211 info@basseducationalservices.com www.basseducationalservices.com Learning differently should not be a barrier to success. BES has more than 25 years of experience supporting students who learn differently. Whether you are searching for a new school, a gap year/ transition program, or a college, looking for academic or executive function coaching, or if you need ACT/ SAT prep, our staff is here to assist. BES! Learn Differently, Achieve More!

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2014 Finalist, Best Private School with Religious Affiliation 2016 Winner, Best Private School with Religious Affiliation 2020, 2016, 2015 Finalist, Best Private School (Lower School) Lower School 1901 East Jefferson St. | Rockville, MD 20852 Upper School Annette M. & Theodore N. Lerner Family Upper School Campus 11710 Hunters Ln. | Rockville, MD 20852 301-881-1400 | admission@cesjds.org | cesjds.org

CESJDS is the premier JK-12 Jewish Day School with a thriving, diverse, and caring community where each student grows into a confident, compassiona e thinker, engaging the world through Jewish values.

“From the warm welcome each morning, to their amazing teachers who have supported their academic and social growth, to the focus on Jewish values, it has been a fantastic fi st year for our children.” -Natalie, CESJDS Parent Explore CESJDS where Tradition meets Innovation.

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Best of the Best

KIDS & SCHOOLS

Bullis School 2023, 2022, 2020 Finalist, Private School – Lower School 2023 Finalist; 2022, 2020 Winner, Private School – Upper School 2022, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015 Finalist, Summer Sports Camp 2021 Finalist, Private School That Did the Best Job With Distance Learning; Finalist, Private School for Academics 2021, 2019, 2017 Finalist, Private School for Music/Arts; Finalist, Private School for Boys Sports 2019 Winner, Private school for Academics (Lower and Upper) 2019, 2017 Finalist, Private School for Girls Sports 2017 Winner, Private School for Academics

10601 Falls Road | Potomac, MD 20854 301-299-8500 | Bullis.org Bullis is a coed, K-12 independent school that prepares students to be impactful global citizens. Students develop passions and build real-world skills as they explore myriad opportunities in academics, arts, athletics and service. The spirit of joyfulness is evident throughout the Bullis campus as students, faculty and families connect with each other and build meaningful relationships.

Students learn in an environment that offers a demanding curriculum and supportive teachers who champion student growth, accomplishment and well-being.

HOME

Douglas Construction Group 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016 Finalist, Builder for Custom Homes 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013 Finalist, Best Builder 2014, 2012 Winner, Best Green Builder

8429 Fox Run | Potomac, MD 20854 301-983-6947 Doug@dcghomes.com | Dcghomes.com We have been building and renovating unique homes in local neighborhoods for more than 25 years and we recently completed our 200th home! Our mission is simple: to provide our clients with an extraordinary home building experience. Our dedication to client care and dependable communication provides peace of mind throughout the entire process. You will be confident kn wing our unwavering attention to detail, award-winning craftsmanship and commitment to advanced building techniques result in a comfortable and beautiful living space that you will be proud to call home.

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Best of the Best

HEALTH HOME

Comfort Home Care 2015-2020 Winner, Best In-Home Health Care 2022 Finalist, Best In-Home Health Care

121 Congressional Ln., Suite 201 Rockville, MD 20852 4000 Albemarle St., NW, Suite LL15 Washington, D.C., 20016 www.choosecomforthome.com 301-984-1401 Comfort Home Care extends our heartfelt thanks to the seniors and families who voted for us. Serving you is our greatest honor.

Established in 1999, our family-owned agency is a leader in in-home care, serving Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our caregivers are compassionate licensed professionals trained to help seniors age in place with grace. A multi-year award-winning agency, our reputation is for excellent care, open communications and transparency in working with local families.

HEALTH

Montcordia 2023, 2022 Finalist, In-Home Health Care Provider

Western Regional and Corporate Headquarters 2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 240-221-6166 montcordia.com facebook.com/Montcordia instagram.com/montcordia

Left to right: Kiara Wade, Kianna Snowden, Beth Marans, Jodie Stocksdale and Alice Kusi Davies

Montcordia is a full-service, boutique home care and care management agency, customized to meet the individual needs of every client. Our experienced and knowledgeable care teams include Care Partners and Aging Life Care Managers who can create short- and long-term care plans, coordinate medical services and assist in evaluating alternative living arrangements.

Only one percent of all applicants are hired as Montcordia Care Partners. Montcordia delivers on our mission of providing a fi st-class service to seniors.

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STILL GRAPPLING

A former wrestler and high-powered lawyer, Bob Brams has been fighting for his life–and for other patients with brain cancer

BY MIKE UNGER | PHOTOS BY LISA HELFERT

B

efore Bob Brams’ eyelids grew heavy and he drifted off to sleep, he was trying, as always, to stay positive. It was the night of Sept. 14, 2022, and the next morning he was scheduled to undergo an MRI that would reveal whether the tumor in the left frontal lobe of his brain had grown, or whether he could exhale until his next scan four months later.

At 63, Brams is not the athlete he was years ago. That’s understandable. Who among us is? But in his brain—now the venue for a fi ht between life and death—he was as strong as ever, plotting a game plan for victory.

“Oddly enough, it’s like prepping for a wrestling match,” he says of his thoughts that night.

“You’ve got to win. You’ve got to beat this thing.”

The battle that began in late 2014, after an innocuous fender bender led to the discovery of the tumor, will continue for the rest of Brams’ life.

He can accept that. What he won’t do is give in to despair, stop living while he’s still breathing, or fade away without making his mark in the campaign against cancer.

Brams’ successful legal career is over. It was a fatality caused by the tumor and a cavalcade of health crises that followed. He misses his work, but he doesn’t dwell on the loss. Today, he advocates for cancer research. When he’s not raising money to fi ht the disease through the sale and signings of his book Forever Optimistic: Fighting Brain Cancer, Finding Your Best Path, and Leading a Life With Purpose, he’s living the mantra laid out in its pages. He revels in life’s little miracles, as he sees them. Enjoying a lively lunch with old friends. Taking in a pleasant evening with his wife, Kim, and their 9-year-old dog, Leo, on the front porch of their Bethesda home. Watching a wrestling match with their 26-year-old son, Garrett.

“I look at miracles differently than I ever did,” he says. “You have to not set your standards too high for miracles, or you might not have one.”

In some ways, Brams already has benefi ed from several. After two brain surgeries, a hemorrhagic stroke, a coma, a hemophilia diagnosis, radiation and chemotherapy, somehow he’s still here.

And he plans to stay.

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PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

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still grappling “I’m not going to die. trips to the Middle East in the early 2000s. He was I’m just not going to,” he heading the legal team for says defiantly. “You have the new international airto just try to keep going.

What else can you do?” port in Doha, Qatar. It was After the September a very big job. Multiyear, 2022 MRI at Sibley Memodozens of vendors, lots of rial Hospital in Washingcomplexity. Bob handled ton, D.C., he went home the very difficult negotiations, but he had the and waited for the results.

When they came via a human touch. His ability to listen to people and fin video chat about four a solution has always been excruciating hours later, one of his strengths.” his relentless optimism had been rewarded.

Naturally, working on Stable. The tumor had huge cases around the not expanded. globe was all-consuming.

“It feels like I’ve been When he was in town, he’d often come home at 8 p.m., given the opportunity to become more effective in Brams, a former wrestler, keeps a boxing glove autographed by Muhammad grab a bite to eat, then the fi ht against cancer,” he Ali. He admires the late champion, noting he “won all his matches in life (in work well into the night. says. “It’s like you kind of and out of the ring).”

“We would go on vacahave a new lease on life.” tion, and the plane doors just seemed to fit with the way I thought would be closing, and I would sit in the BRAMS GREW UP IN Wilmington, Dela- about life.” seat thinking, Is he going to make it?” says ware, where athletics played a big role After graduating from what’s now the Kim, whom he married in 1989. “We in his life from an early age. He started Quinnipiac University School of Law, would arrive at our destination and there wrestling in the seventh grade, and he clerked in the U.S. Court of Federal would be file oxes in our hotel room.”

Once Garrett and their daughter, Tayimmediately was taken with the disci- Claims in Washington, D.C., which led pline and toughness the sport requires. to a career in government contracts and lor, now 25, came along, Brams someHe was a hotshot in middle school, construction law. He eventually joined how made time for them. He prided himself on never missing winning most of his matches. Then he got to a game or a teacher conhigh school and started ference. When Garrett tasting defeat. Thelosses started wrestling at age hardened his resolve, 6, Brams put a mat in the and by his senior year he basement. was captain of the team “We were down there and posted an undealmost every night,” his feated regular season. son says.

“That’s kind of the Brams was thriving prostory of my life,” he says. fessionally, finan ially and “I start average and get physically. He felt great better.” in December 2014 as he He wrestled for two years at Muhlen- the renowned D.C. fi m Patton Boggs as headed to a routine cardiology appointberg College in Allentown, Pennsylva- a partner, working on high-profile cases ment. While he was stopped on Willard nia, where he says he was both a so-so like the cleanup projects for Hurricane Avenue near River Road, just a few minwrestler and student. Despite his mid- Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. utes from his doctor’s office, a car hit him dling grades, he became intrigued by “Bob got the toughest assignments and from behind. the law. always found a great solution,” says Jeff It was such a minor accident that the “I saw the competitive aspects of it, Craven, his friend and former colleague police weren’t called, and Brams continued winning cases and clients,” he says. “It at Patton Boggs. “I remember one of our on to the doctor. The driver of the other

“You have to not set your standards too high for miracles, or you might not have one,” Brams says.

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car couldn’t have been going more than 25 mph, Brams guesses.

But in the days and weeks that followed, Brams experienced tingling in his neck and finger . He was inclined to ignore it, but the family was set to vacation in Mexico, so out of an abundance of caution, Kim’s uncle, a physician, recommended that he get an MRI before they left.

On Dec. 19, 2014, Brams drove himself to Sibley for the scan. After it was done, he planned to head home to a Hanukkah party the family was hosting, and in a few days to be sitting on the beach soaking up the sun without a care in the world.

WHAT MAT TERS TO YOU MAT TERS TO US You can count on us every step of the way.

KIM WAS GREETING GUESTS when her

phone rang. It was Bob. It’s not a big deal, he told his wife, but the scan had revealed a spot on his brain. You don’t have to come down to the hospital, he said.

“I hung up on him and I came right down,” she says.

Decades earlier, Brams had seen a neurologist after experiencing persistent headaches. An MRI then showed a spot on his brain, which was diagnosed as scar tissue probably caused from his wrestling days. No need to worry, he was told.

But now the spot had apparently doubled in size. The couple’s holiday party went on without them, and doctors kept Bob overnight at Sibley, concerned about a possible seizure. In the ensuing weeks, the Bramses showed Bob’s scan to several doctors, and they received differing opinions on its seriousness. Finally they shared it with a neighbor who was a neurosurgeon. He was sufficiently alarmed that he immediately contacted Dr. Henry Brem, the chief of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, who told Brams to make an appointment to see him as soon as possible.

During an eight-hour surgery on Jan. 13, 2015, at Hopkins, Brem removed as much of the roughly golf ball-size tumor as possible. But he couldn’t get it all.

Brams was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma brain tumor. It wasn’t yet

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still grappling cancerous, but it was an extremely big problem.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 1,200 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with oligodendrogliomas each year. They make up about 4% of all primary brain tumors.

“The problem with these tumors is that t h e y ’r e i n t i m a t e l y involved with the normal brain,” Brem says.

“Th t’s the complicating factor in removing Bob Brams at home with his wife, Kim, and their dog, Leo these successfully. As you go beyond where it’s pure tumor and you “We just had to pray,” Kim says. start to go where it’s brain infiltr ted by After a month at Hopkins, Brams tumor, there’s a need to get the tumor was transferred to MedStar National out, but there’s also a risk of damage to Rehabilitation Hospital in Washingthe brain. In that sense, [Bob’s surgery] ton, D.C., where he stayed for three was extremely difficult.” weeks. He had trauma to his vocal The relative five year survival rate for cords, struggled with his balance and oligodendroglioma is 74.1%, according to had difficulty walking. the National Cancer Institute, but facAlthough he hasn’t regained much of tors including the tumor grade and type, his memory from the months following traits of the cancer, and the person’s age and overall health affect the prognosis.

Brams was asymptomatic before his surgery, and he was lucid after it. But in the neuro-intensive care unit that night, Kim began noticing some odd behavior.

“Bob just didn’t seem right,” she says. “He grabbed the back surgery, and his voice remains damaged of his neck and said, ‘Ow.’ I said, ‘What’s from the stroke and being intubated, wrong?’ He wasn’t making sense. I knew Brams’ condition slowly improved over something was wrong.” the next three years. His health issues Brams was suffering a hemorrhagic forced him to retire from his job as costroke. Despite the fact that the sur- chair of the government contracts and gery was on the front of his brain, this projects group at Greenberg Traurig, was occurring in the back. Brams was the fi m he had joined in June 2014. But put on life support for a week, during he was alive. Th t was most important. which Kim was told that he was the sickPhysical, occupational and speech est patient in the unit. therapy fill d his days. His wrestling

background, both he and Kim believe, played a key role in his resilience.

“We do think everything he went through medically, the nightmare, that discipline of wrestling really helped him with the mindset,” Kim says. “He was so far down he had to come back.”

Despite the fear and anxiety that returned before ever y new scan, Brams remained staunchly optimistic about his future. But in 2018, an MRI showed that a portion of the tumor had enhanced. It was now grade 3—Brams had brain cancer.

A second surgery, this time at the University of California San Francisco, was scheduled. Before it, tests showed that Brams had hemophilia. He wonders if that may have played a role in his stroke following his first su gery.

This time, things went more smoothly.

The five-hour surgery, performed by Dr. Mitchel Berger, who was appointed to President Biden’s Cancer Panel in July, removed more of the tumor, and hours after leaving the operating room, Brams was standing up. Th ee days later he was released from the hospital and walking the hilly sidewalks of San Francisco.

He underwent six weeks of radiation followed by months of chemotherapy. Theradiation damaged his left optic nerve, which affects his sight and depth perception.

Brams, Kim says, is not the same as he was before, and she doesn’t expect that he ever will be. While he looks

According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 1,200 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with oligodendrogliomas each year.

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to be in great shape, he’s physically weaker and tires easily. He has difficulty reading, focusing and concentrating, and has aversions to noise and sunlight. He still struggles with his speech, so when they’re together with others, she often does most of the talking.

The tumor is now stable, according to Brem. But there’s no telling what the future holds. The harsh reality is that years could pass without it growing, or it could grow before the next scan.

“The hardest thing for me personally was watching the guy that was there for me unconditionally my entire life have to be out there like a wrestler fi hting this by himself,” Garrett says. “We’re his teammates; we’re his biggest supporters; we’re going to do everything we can. But at the end of the day, this fi ht is between him and cancer.”

BRAMS HAS ALWAYS HAD a way with

words, both spoken and written. In his previous life, he wrote a book on construction law, and more than two years after his first surgery he began typing his thoughts on his circumstances. Progress was slow, but he found the exercise therapeutic, and began emailing what were essentially journal entries to a small group of family and friends.

Four painstaking years later, Forever Optimistic was released. The foreword is written by Sen. Chris Coons, a fellow former wrestler from Delaware.

Part memoir, part self-help, the book details the ways in which Brams’ life has changed during his ordeal.

“My medical situation has helped to focus my attention on what I believe is important, and my thoughts revolve around a new set of the uncertainties that

have now become very vivid,” he writes.

“Hopefully my new-found perspective can help you in thinking about your own life, especially in times of pain, suffering, and uncertainty.”

The legendary wrestler Dan Gable famously said, “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” Bob Brams has certainly stretched that sentiment to its limit. Nothing in his fi ht has been painless, but the challenges he’s faced have not broken him.

“I wrestled for so long, you start to get a mindset that it makes you tougher,” he says. “My father always used to say in high school before a match, ‘Get the takedown.’ The takedown is beating cancer.

Th t’s my goal.” n Mike Unger is a writer and editor who grew up in Montgomery County and lives in Baltimore.

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PHOTO CREDIT TK

Halle Berry, a hen, emerges from the coop at Gaines Hurdle’s Potomac home. Her hens roll out as soon they are greeted with “Good morning, girls,” Hurdle says.

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HENHOUSE PROUD

I

had been gone only an hour, grocery shopping for our weekly staples on a crisp, sunny Sunday morning in late October. I parked and was walking through the backyard to enter my home when I was met by the welcome committee: Angry Bird and Loudy chirping greetings and trying to run through the chain-link fence surrounding their coops to get to me.

There is no warmer homecoming than a chorus of hen cackles and shuffling feet to let you know how happy they are to see you. This greeting may be self-serving—a

A TREND IN RAISING BACKYARD CHICKENS ELICITS APPRECIATION FOR FRESH EGGS, COLORFUL PERSONALITIES— AND THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

BY JENNIFER TEPPER PHOTOS BY HANNELE LAHTI

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begging for scraps, apple cores and leftovers disguised as hospitality—but it has always melted my heart.

Angry Bird and Loudy are two of our four backyard chickens. My husband, Tommy, and I began raising our fl ck in 2017.

Angry Bird is a 2-year-old Lavender Orpington, a regal, rotund white bird with cream-colored accents and a distinct red comb. She struts around with the confiden e of a runway model, and her name commemorates a heinous crime she committed. She is strong and provides us with about five brown eggs a week.

Loudy is an Andalusian, an active breed with Spanish roots, who loves to forage. With beautiful blue/gray markings in her feathering, she follows our three younger kids around her coop as if she can’t wait to jump onto their laps.

Our 4-year-old son, Union, named her after many nights of struggling to fall asleep due to her incessant chirping. She is a pullet, defin d as a hen under a year old, too young yet to lay. If all goes well, we expect Loudy to produce about four white eggs a week as we head into spring.

Our other two girls are Mo’at and Neytiri, named after the mother and daughter duo from the Na’vi tribe in James Cameron’s movie Avatar. They are Light Brahmas whose fluff has just given way to white feathers accented by brown and black plumage around the neck, feet and tail. Mo’at and Neytiri will be very large birds, nearly 30 inches tall and weighing around 8 pounds. Each will produce about four brown eggs a week.

Th y make my husband and me two of nearly 12 million Americans with backyard chicken coops, according to the American Pet Products Association, which reported a 62.5% growth in U.S. chicken ownership between 2018 and 2020, the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. Millennials and Generation Z are leading the trend.

The reasons for ownership are manifold, according to surveys, experts and

MANY PEOPLE RAISE CHICKENS FOR EGGS OR MEAT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW AND CONTROL WHAT’S IN THEIR FAMILY’S FOOD. PEOPLE LOVE HAVING CHICKENS AS PETS BECAUSE OF THEIR VIBRANT PERSONALITIES.

owners. Many people raise chickens for eggs or meat because they want to know and control what’s in their family’s food. People love having chickens as pets because of their vibrant personalities. Other owners pick their breeds solely based on friendliness and having nice dispositions so they can be used as therapy chickens. And even others say they own chickens because they use their manure as fertilizer for gardening.

Jonathan Moyle, a University of Maryland Extension poultry specialist based in Salisbury, conducts virtual and in-person education sessions on backyard farming and small-fl ck chicken farming. Slots that averaged 20 attendees shot up to 60 to 70 during the height of the pandemic, he says.

“Due to demand, we even offered our sessions twice a day,” Moyle says. Feed stores throughout the state also noted spikes in the sales of chicks, feed, coops and startup supplies, he says.

Demand has fallen from the peak, but the impact remains.

When our family started raising chickens six years ago, we were seeking a more

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Bodhi, one of Jennifer Tepper’s 2-year-old sons, lingers by the henhouses. Angry Bird, a Lavender Orpington, roams and Loudy, an Andalusian pullet, is in her coop.

direct connection to our food. We, like others, have discovered the joy that comes with the experience and the distinct personalities of each of our hens. However, there are stark realities. We might have prevented some death and suffering if we knew then what we know now about housing, feeding and protecting them.

Despite having these hens—who dine on organic feed, apples, compostable food waste and the grubs they dig up for themselves—we still end up at the store, buying eggs for our family of eight.

A hen lays best when the weather is warm, sunlight is abundant and she’s not being “broody.” Th t’s when she stays in the coop, neglects her own feeding and sits on unfertilized eggs because she believes she is going to hatch baby chicks—despite the absence of a rooster. (Montgomery County and, in our case, Rockville zoning laws prohibit roosters in backyard fl cks.)

Angry Bird will have two or three episodes a year when she is highly broody.

To help her readjust, I physically evict her from her coop and lock her out of her nesting area.

Gaines Hurdle relates. Her six hens “pass their broodiness around.” The oldest three are about 4 years old, and their egg-laying has become less consistent.

Backyard chickens have an average life span of six to eight years and usually stop laying around years four and five Hurdle, 60, an interior designer and small business owner, had long dreamed of having backyard chickens. But she lived in Bethesda and says her husband would not comply because of the size of their yard. When they moved to their farmhouse in Potomac in 2018, she could finally ma e her dream come true.

“I not only have the space for my girls, but the house came with a gardening shed that easily converted to a coop and run area for them,” Hurdle says.

Hurdle loves her hens because of their unique personalities. She likes that she controls what her chickens consume and therefore knows what’s in the eggs her family—she, her husband and their two adult children—eat. And now, well, her girls are part of the family.

Hurdle sources her hens as pullets from chicken swaps across Maryland, and she has built a fl ck of diverse breeds.

“My favorite is Phyllis Diller, a Silkie.

She is docile and loves to be picked up and petted. Our ‘alpha female’ rotates between Halle Berry, an aloof but nice Barnevelder, and Madea, our Australorp,” she says. Hurdle also owns Miranda Lambert, a friendly Orpington who likes to be picked up, and Lady Gaga, a skittish Delaware who runs around and squats to signal “succumbing”—deferring to any alpha, human or hen. Angelina Jolie, an Ameraucana, is the lowest hen in the hierarchy in Hurdle’s fl ck. “Being ‘henpecked’ is no myth,” Hurdle says.

Chicken life, she notes, “isn’t all fun and games. I’ve had several tragedies with my hens, from accidents with our hound dogs or just getting their foot caught up on a coop ramp”—resulting in a fatality.

Hurdle recalls visiting a chicken swap in Southern Maryland before the start of the pandemic to get some new pullets

to replace the hens that had died. She described the untimely deaths to a vendor, and has a distinct memory of a young boy, wearing his 4-H uniform, looking up at her and, with no expression, intoning, “Chickens die, lady. Chickens die.”

Tommy and I had no previous experience before deciding to raise chickens. We learned the hard way that the coop doesn’t provide ironclad protection against predators, and that Marek’s disease, a kind of herpes, can kill chicks despite vaccinations. We discovered that determining a baby chick’s gender is hardly foolproof, forcing us to re-home our hen Luisa, who turned out to be Luis.

Common predators include possums, foxes, raccoons and hawks that swoop down and fly away with smaller pullets when the chickens are out during routine coop cleanings.

We have even experienced hen homicide. Angry Bird fatally pecked her adult hen coop mate at the time. We have lost 15 chicks and hens since we started.

As parents, Tommy and I find this aspect of chicken rearing helpful in instilling in our children a sense of reality and connectedness to nature. The various ways chickens die show how the world works and allow us direct examples to explain the food chain, the interdependence of humans and animals, and the few similarities and vast differences between domestic and wild animals.

One morning in 2019, there was a silence when Tommy and I were making our coffee; absent was the normal chirping and chicken talk that fil s the air. We had our coops properly elevated with two types of wire fencing around them.

We thought we had constructed the Fort Knox of chicken living areas. Nevertheless, a raccoon had gotten in overnight. It appeared to have chewed through wiring and dug underground to create enough space to enter and attack the chickens.

All five of our hens, including one of our original hens, Shake and Bake, were slaughtered. Th s raccoon wasn’t even hungry. Th y often hunt for “sport.”

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henhouse proud

Gaines Hurdle’s hens dine on scraps and garden excess in addition to organic feed.

The experience gave us pause, and we felt nearly every stage of grief. We weren’t ready to try raising chickens again until 2021.

REZA SADEGHY, 71, OWNER of Festival

Floors & Remodeling in Gaithersburg, learned early to build a coop and run that are impenetrable. The large coop at his Rockville home is 8 feet wide by 20 feet long, and the attached run is 12 feet wide by 20 feet long. He bought dozens of hens in 2021 for his granddaughter, who was 2 years old at the time. She loves watching them when she visits, he says.

Sadeghy added automated watering and feeding systems, allowing him the luxury of traveling for weeks without worrying about providing for his hens.

While he was constructing this state-ofthe-art facility, he did lose a few chickens to possums and other predators, but he says he recognizes that it is also part of the circle of life. Nevertheless, his secure coop has nearly eliminated untimely losses and gives him and his hens a lot of peace.

“The most relaxing part of my day is when I walk out and into the coop and my girls come and greet me,” he says. “Hey

Hey, my favorite black hen, hops up and sits on my lap. It is the best relaxation and therapy after a day of hard work.”

Jeff Schwartz, 52, of Brookeville, owns Ashton Manor Environmental, a landscape company, and is a “hobby farmer.”

His 17-year-old daughter, Taryn, and 14-year-old son, Max, show sheep and

“ HEY HEY, MY FAVORITE BLACK HEN, HOPS UP AND SITS ON MY LAP. IT IS THE BEST RELAXATION AND THERAPY AFTER A DAY OF HARD WORK,” SAYS REZA SADEGHY.

goats at county and state fairs, and are active in 4-H. Like Sadeghy, Schwartz has built a maximum-security coop for his 15 hens with automated watering and feeding systems. Unlike Sadeghy, Schwartz does not name his chickens. He appreciates the healthy eating that comes from the organic eggs his chickens produce and the exercise of packaging and selling eggs with his kids to his neighbors, but they are not pets to him.

“The chickens are just the chickens, and they serve as my composter since they consume so much of our family’s food waste,” Schwartz says.

Our son Union and his twin 2-year-old brothers, Bodhi and Coda, love feeding the chickens our food waste. Angry Bird runs right up to them when they come holding leftovers. Our boys also enjoy petting Mo’at and Neytiri since they are smaller and can be put on our laps. (We wash their hands thoroughly afterward to prevent disease transmission.)

As much as our hens serve a purpose as composters and egg providers, we treat our girls as pets just like our three dogs. Other than the occasional game of dog vs. chicken tag, the dogs and chick-

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ens leave each other alone. Thedogs will roam the yard and keep predators out.

Montgomery County’s zoning ordinance regulates the placement of chicken coops. They must be in a backyard, at least 25 feet from a lot line and 100 feet from a dwelling on another lot, a restriction that largely prohibits townhouse residents from raising chickens.

Theprospect of backyard chickens was very contentious in Rockville, but a divided city council voted in 2015 to establish rules allowing up to five hens on single family residences upon permit approval.

Gaithersburg also allows hens, up to six unless 200 feet from neighboring homes.

The state Agriculture Department requires fl ck registration, but according to Moyle at the University of Maryland Extension, the rule is hardly enforceable.

He knows of several flocks in the state that are not registered.

Sadeghy, with a bounty of chickens in Rockville, says he has complied with county zoning ordinances but only recently learned that the city has a separate permitting system and a limit of five hens—and he is working on achieving compliance.

Rockville Police Lt. Kenneth Matney manages the city’s backyard chicken permitting process. Rockville has 26 permits currently issued for backyard chickens, up from 20 five y ars ago, he says.

However, he says, “We are pretty certain there are more than 26 chicken owners in the city.”

It is a chilly November afternoon, windier than most, and we are nearing dusk. Union, Bodhi and Coda are wearing their fur-lined Crocs and are chasing Angry Bird and feeding Mo’at and Neytiri. Coda is bossy, and he’s laughing while yelling, “No chickens, NO! Bad chickens!”

as he tries to stop them from chasing him, the physically smallest of our human tribe.

Bodhi is trying to pet and feed Mo’at at the same time, which turns into them playing ring-around-the-rosy, circling the chicken coops. Union is moping around.

A couple of weeks earlier we had found Loudy, the apparent victim of a hawk attack, in the corner of our chicken pen. We had left her and Angry Bird out of their coops for an hour to forage around the pen. We returned to fin Angry Bird with claw marks on her back and Loudy slain.

Today, Union cries. “I miss Loudy,” he says. “I’m mad at the hawks.”

We hug and then walk to Angry Bird’s coop to check for eggs. n Jennifer Tepper is a freelance writer who lives in Rockville and Sparrows Point, Maryland, as well as New Mexico.

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There’s a lot to look forward to this year. Here are some of the events we’re most excited about.

BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE

JANUARY JAN. 28th MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT

You might know him as Saul Berenson from Homeland, or as Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. But before those roles, Patinkin was a Tony Award-winning Broadway performer. In Being Alive, a revue at The usic Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, he performs favorite show tunes and classic American songs. strathmore.org

FEBRUARY

2

FEB. 11th MARVEL’S BLACK PANTHER IN CONCERT Experience Wakanda in a new way at this special screening of the 2018 superhero movie, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing the Oscar- and Grammy-winning score live at The usic Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. strathmore.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF STRATHMORE

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MARCH 3

MARCH 11th ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Fire trucks, equestrian units and various community groups join Celtic dancers and bagpipers in marching through the streets of rio at Gaithersburg’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/ special-events/st-patrick-s-day-parade

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MARCH 24th FAIRYTALES ON ICE

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF GAITHERSBURG BY DANIEL MARTINEZ; OTHER IMAGES BY GETTY IMAGES

See Cinderella, Peter Pan, Rapunzel, Aladdin and other famous fairy-tale fi ures dance, glide, spin and jump at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring in this ice-skating show set to an original soundtrack. mcblogs.montgomerycollege.edu/ cac/fairytales-on-ice-2023

MARCH 28th-MAY 7th THE NATIONAL CAPITAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

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Round House Th atre in Bethesda brings two new world-premiere plays to its stage, On the Far End and Jennifer, Who Is Leaving, in its second National Capital New Play Festival.

Audiences also get the chance to hear readings of new plays in development. roundhousetheatre.org

MARCH 25th KITES OVER CLARKSBURG Bring your own kite or buy one at this annual festival at Ovid Hazen Wells Park, and get ready to let it fl . The fun also includes games and arts and crafts for kids. Local businesses, clubs and associations will be on hand, and festival-goers are invited to bring their own picnics. montgomeryparks.org/events/kites-over-clarksburg

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APRIL (DATE TBD) MONTGOMERY COUNTY GREENFEST

For one of the county’s largest Earth Day festivals, Brookside Gardens in Wheaton brings together kids’ activities like tree climbing, plus painting sessions, plant and tree giveaways, a green artsand-crafts fair, exhibitions from environmental nonprofi s and an electric vehicle show. montgomerycountygreenfest.org

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APRIL 29th CAROUSEL DAY Celebrate the season opening of Glen Echo Park’s historic carousel. In addition to carousel rides, there are things to do throughout the park, including live musical performances, kids’ arts and crafts, and open artist studios and galleries. glenechopark.org

MAY 9

MAY 20th GAITHERSBURG BOOK FESTIVAL

Hundreds of writers, including bestselling authors, awardwinning poets and songwriters, gather at Bohrer Park for the annual Gaithersburg Book Festival, which features discussions with writers, readings, Q&As and writing workshops. gaithersburgbookfestival.org

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MAY 27th-28th HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS Kick off he start of summer at Rockville’s Hometown Holidays at RedGate Park. The two- ay festival features two stages of live music and entertainment by local groups; kids’ activities, such as rides and inflatables; and the Taste of Rockville food festival. rockvillemd.gov/665/ hometown-holidays

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY PARKS, M-NCPPC; PHOTO COURTESY OF GLEN ECHO PARK PARTNERSHIP FOR ARTS AND CULTURE; PHOTO BY KYLE GUSTAFSON; ILLUSTRATION BY GETTY IMAGES

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JUNE 11

JUNE 17th SILVER SPRING BLUES FESTIVAL Expect dancing in the street (really!) at this daylong festival and block party featuring live performances by regional blues bands in downtown Silver Spring.

The vent concludes a week of kickoff concerts at various venues in the area. silverspringblues.com

CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: ILLUSTRATIONS BY GETTY IMAGES; PHOTO COURTESY OF OLNEY THEATRE; PHOTO BY KEN VISSER/MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

12 JUNE 25th PRIDE IN THE PLAZA Th s free, outdoor pride festival returns to Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring for the third year with food, music, vendors and resources focused on the LGBTQ community and other special events. Last year’s festival included a drag duel and vogueing competition. doitforyoumc.org

JULY

JULY (DATE TBD) SUMMERFEST

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Gaithersburg celebrates Independence Day with live music, food trucks, kids’ activities and, of course, fi eworks. Th party, which takes place at Bohrer Park, concludes with a SummerGlo After Party featuring a DJ and glow sticks. gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/special-events/summerfest

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FELA!

Regional stages Round House Th atre and Olney Th atre Center join forces for a production of the Tony Award-winning musical, the first p ofessional production of Fela! in more than 10 years. It tells the story and presents the music of Nigerian performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. olneytheatre.org

AUGUST AUG. 11th-19th MONTGOMERY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR

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The ounty fair truly has something for everyone, from carnival rides, demolition derbies and monster-truck shows to farm animal demonstrations and incredible food you can only get at Gaithersburg’s Montgomery County Fairgrounds. mcagfair.com

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SEPTEMBER 16

SEPT. 15th-17th WASHINGTON UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL The an ual three-day festival on the grounds of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring features Ukrainian music and dancers, food, a beer garden, crafts and children’s activities. ukrainefestdc.com

SEPT. (DATE TBD) SALVADORAN FESTIVAL

OCTOBER

OCT. 7th TASTE OF BETHESDA The an ual festival has been canceled due to weather and the pandemic for the past few years, but when it’s on, it’s on, typically drawing thousands to downtown Bethesda to sample offerings from hundreds of local restaurants. It also features multiple stages of live entertainment. bethesda.org

Live musical performances, traditional food and a rich display of culture are the hallmarks of this annual festival at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, marking both Salvadoran independence and Hispanic Heritage Month. festivalsalvadoreno.com

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OCT. 8th GAITHERSBURG OKTOBERFEST The Ok oberfest in Kentlands combines the best aspects of a traditional Deutschland celebration—beer, German music, Bavarian dancers— with favorite American fall rituals such as pumpkin carving and apple cider pressing. gaithersburgmd.gov/ recreation/specialevents/ oktoberfest

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

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NOVEMBER

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NOV. 18 MONTGOMERY COUNTY THANKSGIVING PARADE th

On the Saturday before Than sgiving, this parade kicks off the holiday season with inflatable turkeys and penguins, fl ats, marching bands and dance groups weaving their way through downtown Silver Spring. Expect an appearance

by Santa Claus and his elves as well. silverspringdowntown.com

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22 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER (DATES TBD) GARDEN OF LIGHTS Brookside Gardens gets a holiday makeover for this half-mile walk-through event. The rounds and flower eds at the 50-acre Wheaton park are adorned with twinkling lights and one-ofa-kind displays, some with holiday themes and others depicting animals or botanical forms. montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ brookside-gardens/garden-of-lights

NOVEMBER (DATE TBD) RUN UNDER THE LIGHTS

ILLUSTARTIONS BY GETTY IMAGES; PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY PARKS, M-NCPPC

Th s festive nighttime 5K run/walk takes place among Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park. The course takes participants through glittering holiday light displays and sparkling illuminated trees. mcrrcrununderlights.com

DECEMBER

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DECEMBER (DATE TBD) MARYLAND YOUTH BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER

With a cast of more than 100, plus lavish sets and costumes, the Maryland Youth Ballet presents the holiday classic at Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center in Rockville. In the past, students from the Silver Spring-based dance school have gone on to professional dancing careers after being cast in leading roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Flower Queen and Snow Queen. marylandyouthballet.org n BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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THE BUDDY SYSTEM

Players, peer buddies and assistant coaches take to the field. From left: Anderson Jones, Mahmoud Abrouk, Rory O’Hara, Sammie Cohen, Annie Cohen, Jay McGowan, Max Alexander and Nyan Varma.

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Open Door Sports aims to create an even playing field—and friendships—for kids with disabilities

BY AMY HALPERN | PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

W

hen Anderson Jones was a little kid, his after-school hours looked a lot different than they do now. He and the other students with disabilities at Bethesda Elementary School were dismissed about 15 minutes before the “regular” general-education students so their paraeducators could get them safely onto their designated special-education buses before the final bell rang. Most afternoons, Anderson tagged along as his mom, Kirsten Jones, took his sister to her array of sports practices.

But shortly after Anderson started sixth grade at Bethesda’s Westland Middle School, Jones learned about a new after-school program in the county that offered soccer and basketball classes to elementary- and middle-schoolers with disabilities. And the program promised something she’d never heard of: one-on-one peer buddies for each player. The peer buddies would be general-education students around the same age who would run after loose balls and make sure their buddies didn’t wander off. And, ho efully, become a friend.

Jones signed up Anderson right away.

FIVE YEARS LATER, on a soccer fi ld outside Bethesda Ele-

mentary, Anderson, now 17, is deftly maneuvering a soccer ball through a throng of players. It’s a crisp October day, and Anderson pauses about 20 feet from the goal, methodically sets up the perfect shot, and kicks the ball fast and straight into the net.

When he raises his arms into a victory sign, nearly everyone on the fi ld charges over to give him a high-five, even the players he’s competing against. A moment later, a player on the other team scores, and Anderson and others race over to offer him a high-five, oo.

“Let’s remember to pass the ball more!” the coach yells out, but it’s clear that coordinating a winning strategy isn’t the players’ priority.

Like Anderson, many of his fellow players have Down syndrome. Others have autism spectrum disorder, are nonverbal, or have other intellectual or developmental disabilities. One needs help walking. Th y range from kindergarteners through high schoolers, though it seems the age and size distinctions hardly matter when they are on the fi ld.

The game they are playing is part of Open Door Sports (ODS), a local nonprofit founded in 2016 to offer after-school sports programs for students in the county with physical, emotional or intellectual disabilities. ODS currently runs 11 soccer and basketball programs throughout the school year, and soccer and bocce programs during the summer. About

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the buddy system 10% of ODS’s players use wheelchairs or walkers.

Thebrainchild of a Bethesda mom with a disabled daughter, ODS has served more than 1,100 disabled children and teenagers in Montgomery County since its inception.

And beginning with its fall 2021 season, ODS programs are free to all participants, thanks mostly to an increase in donations and grants. Some of its programs, particularly at schools in lower-income parts of the county, have more than four times as many applicants as available spots.

On this day, all 10 players and 15 peer buddies are piled into the scrum, including Anderson and his peer buddy, Jimmy Barnard. Anderson and Jimmy have been

ing during the program’s 2017 fall season, he hasn’t missed a session—even during the pandemic. (The program was suspended for the spring 2020 session but started back up in time for the summer session, and continued its programming even as the schools were remote.)

“He does fancy himself a bit of an ODS celebrity,” says Jones, who is usually there to cheer on her son from the sidelines. Some sessions, he plays four days a week.

“We could be out, like in downtown Bethesda, and people come up and say hi to him, and I’m like, ‘Who is that, Anderson?’ ” Jones says. “And he says, ‘It’s a friend from ODS.’ ”

infections. At 18 months, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She didn’t take her first independent steps until she was 3. Now 18, she uses a walker in school and a strollerlike wheelchair on family outings.

Hannah and Libby were 5 when their parents took them and their two older sisters, Grace and Katherine, on the ski trip. Albus had assumed Hannah wouldn’t mind sitting in the lodge while her sisters took a lesson. Sarah and Mark planned to take turns keeping Hannah company and heading up the mountain with her sisters.

But when Hannah asked about skis of her own, Albus knew she had misjudged

Under founder Sarah Albus’ model, the coaches and assistant coaches would have experience with children with disabilities. There would be a large pool of peer buddy volunteers, and the focus would be on after-school hours. friends since elementary school and became peer buddies in seventh grade, when Jimmy signed on to volunteer with ODS. Anderson, Jimmy says, “has always been the happiest person I know.”

Now juniors at different schools— Anderson at Bethesda’s Walt Whitman High School and Jimmy at BethesdaChevy Chase High—they are still paired one afternoon a week during ODS sessions at Bethesda Elementary, and sometimes they get together for dinner and a movie on weekends. “[Anderson’s] confidence has really increased throughout the years. He used to try to score the goal as much as everyone else,” Jimmy, 16, says. “But now he always says, ‘Nah, I want the younger kids to get a goal.’ ” Anderson says he got the idea of passing to the little kids from watching the peer buddies do it.

Anderson considers himself “the MVP of ODS,” he says with a smile. Since join-

THE IDEA FOR ODS was sparked 13

years ago, when Bethesda’s Sarah Albus was on a family ski trip to Pennsylvania.

She, husband Mark and three of their daughters were being fitted for their rental equipment when their fourth daughter, Hannah, tugged on her arm to ask a simple question: “Where are my skis, Mama?”

Albus didn’t know how to answer.

Hannah and her twin sister, Libby, were born nearly four months premature. Th y spent their first 12 weeks of life in the neonatal intensive care unit at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. After three months, Libby was thriving and released. But Hannah had suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and remained in the NICU for more than three additional months.

By the time she was discharged, Hannah had survived six brain surgeries, a heart surgery and several life-threatening

the situation. “I realized I had failed her,” Albus says. She promised her daughter that “moving forward, I would work to find fun activities for her to participate in, just as her sisters did.”

Albus, 49, knows the benefits of team sports. A soccer star at Vanderbilt University in the early 1990s, Albus helped her team win two Southeastern Conference championships and earned All-SEC and All-Academic SEC honors. In 1993 and 1994, while still in college, she played on the B team of the U.S. national soccer team. In scrimmages, her role was to guard star Mia Hamm, she says.

After she and her family returned from the ski trip, Albus signed up Hannah for a flu ry of extracurriculars: Special Olympics, horseback riding, Maryland Youth Ballet. Hannah’s weekends were full of excitement, but her afterschool hours were still unoccupied. She

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would take the bus home from school and wait for her sisters to return hours later from their sports practices.

In 2014, when Hannah was 10, Albus quit her job as a social scientist for a trade association. Soon after, she met some recent American University graduates who had started the Player Progression Academy (PPA), a youth sports program in Washington, D.C. PPA was built around a holistic approach to youth sports rather than the fie ce competitiveness of other local leagues, Albus says. She began working with the organization part time.

Once PPA’s founders met Hannah, they started thinking about adding programs for kids with disabilities, and Albus decided to take the lead. Under her model, the coaches and assistant coaches would have experience with children with disabilities. The e would be a large pool of peer buddy volunteers, and the focus would be on after-school hours, when most kids go off to play team sports while many kids with disabilities sit at home, bored.

Most importantly, she wanted her enterprise to be a nonprofit, she says.

(PPA is for-profit.) Having just spent $3,000 on a high-tech stroller wheelchair for Hannah, Albus was sensitive to the costs incurred by families of kids with disabilities. “You can’t charge $250, $300 for a session,” she says, because their expenses are already profound.

Once ODS was incorporated, Albus contacted Hannah’s alma mater, Flora M. Singer Elementary School in Silver Spring. She hoped to offer her new program in the spring of 2017 to kids in the school’s Learning Center, which has selfcontained special-education classrooms as well as opportunities for immersion with nondisabled peers.

To Albus’ surprise, the principal agreed right away. Albus then contacted four more schools in the county, including Tilden Middle School in Rockville, where Hannah was a sixth grader at the time. All four schools signed on for the 2017 fall season.

Theprogram has grown to five public and three private schools in the county.

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the buddy system

Hannah Albus with her mom (and coach), Sarah Albus

Most ODS programs are open to all children with disabilities, regardless of where they attend school. ODS also offers four programs a week at Sacred Heart School in Washington, D.C., for finan ially challenged kids of all developmental levels.

Though Albus runs most of ODS’s seven-week sessions herself with the help of an assistant coach, the organization now employs a handful of other coaches who lead a few of the sessions.

In the spring of 2022, ODS introduced a six-week-long weekend program at Silver Spring’s Sligo Middle School called Game Day, for players ready for a higher level of competition. Anderson is a Game Day regular. “He likes that it’s fast-paced and lots of action,” Jones says.

THE PEER-BUDDY COMPONENT has

turned out to be one of Albus’ favorite parts of ODS. She’ll never forget the first time Hannah was invited to one peer

buddy’s birthday party. “I bawled,” Albus says. “Th t was a thing I didn’t expect to be so powerful.”

These days, Hannah, a senior at Bethesda’s Walter Johnson High School, still participates in ODS. When she’s not on the fi ld, she often accompanies her mom to sessions so she can cheer on the players. “It makes them feel good,” Hannah says.

On this fall afternoon, her two peer buddies stand on either side of her, holding her hands while she cautiously moves through the warmup drills and the agility course, complete with fl xible low hurdles and hoops to hop through. Like many players, Hannah has a tough time jumping with both feet. “We try to get a bit of physical therapy in,” says Albus, who is known by all as Coach Sarah.

“Good try, Hannah Banana,” Albus says to her daughter during the next exercise, after Hannah’s slow, careful

setup nearly earns her a goal. “Than s, Mom,” her daughter replies as her peer buddies lead her back to the sideline, where the other participants and buddies wait patiently.

Each player will take a turn yelling “ball,” and an assistant coach will roll one over to them for a chance to score. Thedrills take up most of the hour, with the last 15 minutes reserved for playing a game.

It’s not just the players who benefit from ODS, but the peer buddies, too, Albus says: Th y earn the studentservice-learning (SSL) hours that are required for graduation from Montgomery County public high schools, and, more importantly, develop empathy, understanding and friendships they otherwise wouldn’t get to make.

Anderson’s sister, who plays basketball year-round on an AAU travel team, is now in her second season as a basketball peer buddy with ODS. Finley, 12, says she’ll never forget when her buddy scored his first basket and everyone started to cheer.

“I was really proud,” she says.

“We have peer buddies who come in nervous,” Albus adds, recalling a “sweet middle-schooler” who arrived on his first day with his hoodie up, his shoulders shrugged and his body language defensive. Don’t worry, Albus told him, you are just here to be their friend. It’s all about positivity. By the next session, she says, “He was holding his new peer buddy’s hand, because that’s what she needed. She would look for him every day.”

“The students that volunteer, they become a lot more comfortable with the kids with special needs,” says Anderson’s peer buddy Jimmy, who also serves as an assistant coach for ODS. Sometimes, Jimmy adds, when a peer buddy and player go to the same school, their friendship goes with them. “It just takes down that barrier,” he says. n Journalist Amy Halpern has worked in print and television news and as the associate producer on an Emmy Award– winning documentary. She lives in Potomac.

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Wes Unseld Jr. A CONVERSATION WITH

THE WIZARDS COACH TALKS ABOUT GROWING UP IN A BASKETBALL FAMILY, PASSING UP WALL STREET AND LIVING AMID THE WILDLIFE OF POTOMAC

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BY MIKE UNGER

asketball is in Wes Unseld Jr.’s DNA, but it wasn’t necessarily his destiny. The 47-year-old head coach of the Washington Wizards knew at a young age that he wouldn’t be following his legendary father’s footsteps onto an NBA court. He was a good player at small-time (when it comes to basketball) Johns Hopkins University, where he was a two-time captain and ranked 15th in program history in scoring when he graduated with a degree in economics in 1997.

The younger Unseld thought he was headed toward a career on Wall Street until his dad, a one-time Hall of Fame player who was then general manager of the Wizards, persuaded him to take an internship with the team. He started on the ground floor but knew after a few weeks that Wall Street would have to wait.

“I fell in love with the competition,” Unseld says.

Despite his famous name, nothing was handed to him. The elder Unseld, who spent his entire playing, coaching and front office career with the franchise, was a modest superstar who believed in hard work and education. He made sure his son learned every aspect of the business. Unseld Jr. started his professional journey as a scout, then worked as an assistant coach for the Wizards and three other teams in the league for a total of 16 years before Washington hired him as its head coach in July 2021.

The job was the culmination of decades of sweat and perseverance.

“This is truly an honor, to get an NBA coaching job,” he said at his

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PHOTO BY JIMELL GREENE

Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. at the team’s practice facility in Southeast D.C.

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Unseld (from left) looking on at a Nov. 7, 2022, game against the Charlotte Hornets; talking with forward Rui Hachimura as the Wizards played the Dallas Mavericks three days later; reacting during an Oct. 21, 2022, game versus the Chicago Bulls; at the Mavericks game. As one of only 30 NBA head coaches, he says, “I’m blessed.”

We’re 48 hours away from the start of the season. What are your emotions at the moment?

The e’s a little bit of angst. I think it’s a natural kind of back-to-school feeling. I like where this group is. It’s exciting to see how all the pieces will fit together.

We’ve had a good summer and a good September, a solid training camp leading up to the start of the regular season.

Everyone is itching to go. Th y’ve put in a lot of work. Th y want to see the fruits of that labor.

You were raised in Baltimore County.

What were the values that your parents instilled in you and your sister?

Very simple: Be a good citizen. Be a good student. Those were the two themes.

Regardless of what we were into, what we were doing, just treat people the right way. Just very basic things that sometimes get overshadowed. Although [my father] played a prominent role in his profession, he never overlooked those little things. Be on time, work hard and you’ll get what you deserve.

Was there a moment when you first realized how famous your dad was?

I don’t remember one specific moment, but there were times when we were kids— obviously this was before social media and everyone had cameras on their phones— but we’d go to dinner as a family and quite often he would be gracious enough to sign autographs and speak to people. …I remember him telling my sister and I, ‘It costs nothing to say hello.’ It’s just a simple gesture. He had an understanding that he was in a privileged position, and within the position came a responsibility to be a good steward of the community and conduct himself in a professional manner. He took that to heart. It was a lesson for us, certainly for me in this business, that humility is not lost.

How involved was he in molding you as a player growing up?

He wasn’t that involved at all. I think he did that intentionally. He was concerned about the undue pressure that would put on a kid. The e were times I did hear parents of other kids make comments like, ‘You’ll never be as good as your dad.’ I’m 6, 7 years old. So he really tried to step back, let me be coached. He didn’t want to overshadow the coaches, didn’t want

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

introductory news conference in July 2021. “Certainly, for it to happen here makes it that much more special. I put in a lot of hours to get to this point. For this opportunity to unfold is so gratifying.”

Unseld’s Maryland roots run deep. He grew up in Catonsville, just outside of Baltimore, where his father started his career as a member of the NBA team then known as the Bullets. (The franchise moved to the Washington area in 1973 and changed its name to the Wizards in 1997.) His mother, Connie, founded a private school in Baltimore, where his sister, Kim, still serves as the principal.

Last year, he and his wife, Evelyn, purchased a home in Potomac, where they live with their 10- and 8-year-old children.

We spoke to Unseld at the MedStar Health Performance Center, the Wizards’ training facility in Southeast Washington, D.C., after a practice in October. He was eager to put last season’s disappointing 35-47 record behind him. Two days later, the team got off to a promising start: The Wizards won their opener, defeating the Pacers 114-107 in Indiana. This interview has been edited and condensed.

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to become the center of attention, which I can appreciate now.

You would end up attending Johns Hopkins University. Was that a basketball decision, an academic decision, or both?

I had no intention of staying that close to home, but I had a really good experience as I visited with the coaching staff, with some of the other recruits in my class. I knew at an early age that I wasn’t playing professionally. Just being around it, you had a pretty good insight on what that entails. For me, it was more about education. Thethought was to go through school and be able to play at the collegiate level. I enjoyed that experience.

Your first “job” in basketball was as an intern for the Wizards. What did you learn?

I did everything. My dad, as the general manager at the time, said, ‘You have to learn the business.’ So I interned in every department. The first thing he gave me was the collective bargaining agreement. He said, ‘You’ve got to read it and you’ve got to know it.’ It’s a lot of legal jargon, which gets a little confusing, but I learned the basics. I interned in marketing, sales, PR, human relations

—every facet of the business. Now in the position that I’m in, I have an appreciation for everyone and what they do to help make our jobs easier. It also helps me in my working relationships with those departments because I understand the struggles they have to go through.

When did you start thinking about coaching?

It didn’t start until my fifth or sixth year in. I was an advance scout, basically sending back reports as I’d go out and see teams, trying to help our team prepare for their next opponent.

You start watching so much film and so many games, you’re kind of pulling in different philosophies. You look at certain coach-player relationships and think, I like this; I don’t like that. You’re always writing things down and stealing different ideas. You start formulating ideas, even though you don’t really do it consciously.

All of a sudden you have a notebook full of stuff. I think that’s where it kind of clicked for me. The relationship I had with the [coaching staff ] allowed me inroads to jump from the scouting realm to assistant coaching.

You were an assistant coach for 16 years.

What’s life like for an assistant coach in the NBA? The e’s a lot of film study, a lot of player development work. A lot of it is being prepared for practice, being prepared for opponents. Finding ways to build connections and relationships with players. I think the benefit I had was the staffs I worked with gave me tons of opportunities and helped me find my voice. It helps build credibility amongst the players. It gave me confiden e to do the job.

It’s a lot of long hours. Not quite as long as mine now, but close.

You interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies before the Wizards. What did you learn during that process?

Some of them are very direct as far as you’re going to meet the ownership, you’re going to be with the president and GM and that’s it. The e’s others where it’s a large group of people and you have to go through a long vetting process. One takeaway is you have to be prepared for anything. What it boils down to is they already know you.

You’re just there to confi m what they think they know.

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interview ABOUT WES UNSELD JR. AGE: 47 LIVES IN: Potomac EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in economics from Johns Hopkins University PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Scout for the Washington Wizards (1997-2005); assistant coach for the Washington Wizards (2005-2011), Golden State Warriors (2011-2012), Orlando Magic (2012-2014) and Denver Nuggets (2015-2021); head coach of the Wizards since July 2021 FAMILY: Wife, Evelyn; daughter, Layla, 10; son, Westley, 8

What was different with the Wizards?

Why was this the right time and fit?

I don’t know. (Laughs.) Th t’s probably a [General Manager] Tommy [Sheppard] question. A lot of it has to do with the amount of success we had in my previous position (as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets). When there’s a coaching change, you look at the landscape, you’re looking at what everyone else is doing. If a team has had success, you want to draw from that and find some type of commonality. Can we mirror that success here?

Your dad passed away in 2020. What do you think he would say about you being the coach of the Washington Wizards?

I think he would be extremely proud, but he would think I was a bit nuts to jump in and do what he did for a number of years.

(Unseld Sr. coached Washington—with limited success—from 1988 to 1994.) It was a struggle for him because I think the mindset of some of the guys he was coaching and his approach were different. He got a lot out of the groups that he had. Th y were tough, they played physical, they were in great condition, but it’s really hard to win in this league. Him as a former elite player, I don’t know if all the players he coached had the same work ethic, had the same mindset. I think that kind of ate at him at times.

What did you learn last year about being a head coach in the NBA? There are so many other layers that go

Even the best NBA teams lose a solid number of games. How do you deal with losing?

It’s not easy. The one takeaway is how we lost. If we’re not competitive, if we’re not doing the things we’re supposed to be doing, that’s where the frustration comes.

If we did everything right, if the process was solid and you just didn’t make shots, or that team excelled, you know, you’re not going to win them all. But if we’re not playing the right way, we’re not moving the ball, we’re not defending, if there are certain tactical things we’re not doing, that’s when the frustration fil ers in.

We hear the term “culture” a lot in sports.

What does it mean to you, and how do you go about establishing your culture in an organization?

I like the term culture, but I think it’s often overused when it comes to sports.

PHOTO BY JIMELL GREENE

Did you think it wasn’t going to happen for you?

I stopped worrying about whether or not it would happen. I was a lead assistant, I was an associate head coach, making a great living, working with terrific people, unbelievable players on a winning team.

So if this is the worst it gets, this is terrifi .

beyond basketball. The staffs have gotten much larger. The e’s got to be constant communication. Managing the players is one thing, the basketball piece is one thing, but making sure that the messaging is the same, that we’re all pulling in the same direction. We have a terrific staff hardworking, very good at what they do, but you still have to make sure it aligns with your vision and your direction.

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I think the assumption is that you can just acquire it. I don’t think that’s the case. It takes years to continue to build.

Things can collapse in a moment. For me, I look at culture as an accumulation of your habits. If you’re consistent with your habits, if you care enough to do them, that becomes your culture and what you’re identifi d with. It’s not something you just put a stamp on and say, ‘Th s is our culture.’

I’m sure there’s a lot of stress being a head coach in the NBA. What do you enjoy most about it?

The e is a lot of stress. (Laughs.) Teaching, honestly. When you see that light bulb moment and guys get it and grasp it. Th t’s probably the most rewarding.

Do you have specific goals for this season?

I do have some internal goals that I’ve not shared with anyone. Bottom line,

our goal is to be better than we were a year ago. From top to bottom. Win-loss column, in our efficiency, how we travel, how we practice. Be better in every facet of the game. I think that will help translate to wins. I don’t know what number that is, but I do think that we have a lot of untapped potential.

You live in Potomac with your family.

What do you like about living in Montgomery County?

We purchased out there in March and we moved in in June. Just the privacy.

We’re in an area that’s tucked away. It’s very peaceful. We’re in a wooded area, so we see deer and fox and animals running around. It feels like a sanctuary. It’s very relaxed. You can step back a little bit from the rat race and relax.

We have plenty of areas for the kids to play. We’ve got a little sport court, a pool, so it’s like their own little park.

What does the Unseld family do for fun together?

We love movies. It was tough getting through COVID because we couldn’t go to the movies. Movie night, whether out or just throwing something on TV and popping some popcorn, all of us enjoy that.

Do you ever have a moment when it hits you and you think, Wow, I’m the coach of the Washington Wizards?

Quite often. The e are times when I’m out running errands and people want to stop me and ask for autographs. I’m like, ‘Mine?

Are you serious?’ You do sit back and think, There are only 30 of these [jobs] in the world, and I’m blessed to have one of them. I certainly don’t take it lightly. I do understand and realize how fortunate I am. n Mike Unger is a writer and editor who grew up in Montgomery County and lives in Baltimore.

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Weddings of the

Year

Four of our favorite celebrations of 2022, with everything from a groom’s grand entrance on horseback to Elvis-in-a-bathing-suit photo ops

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PHOTO BY SAM HURD

JC and Vannyda Mbimba on May 14, 2022 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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Leap of Faith A CHEVY CHASE COUPLE’S NATURE-FILLED WEDDING TOOK EQUAL PARTS INSPIRATION FROM JEWISH AND INDIAN CULTURES BY DANA GERBER

The couple: Emily Mirengoff, 34,

grew up in Bethesda and graduated from Walt Whitman High School. She is a communication specialist at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C. Srikanth Damera, 32, grew up in Rochester, New York. He is a medical student at Georgetown University. Th y live in Chevy Chase.

The introduction: In January 2018, Emily and Srikanth matched on a dating app called The League, where one of Emily’s profi e photos was a shot of her twirling in the Swiss mountains, a reference to The Sound of Music. Srikanth messaged her, “Is it just me or are those hills alive?” Emily was impressed.

“I was like, ‘Hey, he got it!’ ” she says.

Soon after, they went on their first date at Service Bar in D.C., and the conversation flowed. “It was good back and forth.

If you've been on dating apps, sometimes it's very one-sided,” Emily says.

The proposal: On April 17, 2021, on Emily’s dad’s birthday and the day before Emily’s, she and Srikanth went to a family lunch at Emily’s sister’s house in Reston, Virginia. During the meal, Srikanth turned to her and popped the question. “He knew that I would think it would be on my birthday, so he punked me and did it the day before,” says Emily.

“And I was sincerely surprised.” tied the knot on June 19, 2022, at Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion in Chevy Chase with about 150 guests present.

“Sri’s ideal was to get married in the middle of the woods. My ideal would be an old historic house or structure,” Emily says. Woodend was the perfect middle

PHOTOS BY SHELLY PATE

The ceremony: Srikanth and Emily

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ground. The ceremony took place outside in an area called the Grove. Dinner was a tented affair off the house, and dancing was in the mansion’s foyer. Emily’s high school friend Ashwin Shandilya officiated the ceremony, and the couple recited their own vows on the beautiful, sunny day. “Some guests joked that clearly we needed both the Hindu gods and the Jewish gods to bring about such a miracle of weather,” Emily says.

ish wedding contract; the presentation of the mangalsutra necklace to the bride, a Hindu custom that signifi s marriage; and a baraat, an Indian ritual where the groom travels to the wedding on horseback. Some customs lent themselves well to both cultures, such as a wedding canopy, which took inspiration from the chuppah in the Jewish faith and the mandap in the Hindu faith.

The cultures: When the couple

Alexander ball gown with tulle, lace and a chapel-length train from Ellie's Bridal Boutique in Alexandria, Virginia. “I liked that it was a little bit more detailed than a classic white dress,” she says. She also donned fresh jasmine flowers in her hair, a tradition for south Indian brides, and henna tattoos of the Ohm symbol on one wrist and the Star of David on the other.

embarked on the wedding planning process, it was a given that their respective cultures—Emily is Jewish, Srikanth is Hindu—would be front and center. “It was predictably challenging at times to figure out the right balance to strike,” Srikanth says of their effort to create “a union of the two ceremonies, because it's the union of the two of us.” Among the traditions included throughout the day were the signing of the Ketubah, the Jew-

The dress: Emily picked a Justin

The music: Srikanth curated three playlists: one for the baraat, one for

cocktail hour and one for the reception.

“I wanted to DJ the wedding, but I was told that I could not do that,” he says.

“So the second best was to hire somebody to press play on my music.” For their first dance, the newlyweds swayed to “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” a song from one of Srikanth’s favorite Bollywood films as a child, before guests grooved to throwback hits like “Mr. Brightside”

by The Killers and “One More Time” by Daft Punk.

The menu:

In keeping with the multicultural theme, the couple turned to both a Western caterer and an Indian caterer. Cocktail-hour appetizers included vegetable samosas and a strawberry-and-goat-cheese crostini, and for entrees, guests had the choice of a curry trio, sauteed chicken breast paired with mushrooms, or pomegranateroasted salmon. The couple opted for a dessert bar fill d with treats like creme

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brulee spoons, fresh fruit skewers and mango mousse. “I just thought it would be more fun than cake,” Emily says.

The flowers: “I knew that his family would be in bright col-

ors, because Indian weddings are bright, famously,” Emily says, so she wanted the blooms to be vibrant and joyful. Florals like flame-orange pincushions, hot-pink freesias and purple veronicas made the bridal bouquet pop with color, and similar blooms appeared in gold vases on each reception table.

The special touches: During cocktail hour, kids and

adults alike were entertained by outdoor games of backgammon, Jenga and cornhole. A Polaroid was available during the reception for guests to snap photos, adding “a nice vintage feel,” Srikanth says. Emily, who pours candles as a hobby, whipped up two custom blends to serve as party favors. “I really wanted to give people something personal,” she says.

The honeymoon: Srikanth’s medical school schedule put

The vendors: DJ, Chris Laich Music Services; drinks, Ace

Beverage Fine Wines & Spirits; event planner, Kristi Hartig of Glow Weddings and Events; flo ist, Elegance & Simplicity Inc.; food, Catering by Seasons and IndAroma; hair and makeup, Updos for I Dos; horse, Harmon's Horse Drawn Hayrides and Carriages; photographer, Shelly Pate Photography; rehearsal dinner, Masala Art; venue, Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion.

PHOTOS BY SHELLY PATE

the honeymoon on hold, but they have a trip booked for January to Patagonia in South America, where they plan to hike the scenic W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park.

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weddings of the year

Destination ‘I Do’s’ THIS BETHESDA PAIR TURNED THEIR WEDDING INTO A FAMILY VACATION, THEN CONTINUED THE PARTY BACK AT HOME BY KRISTEN SCHOTT

Bethesda and graduated from Walter Johnson High School in 1994. She represents District 16 in the Maryland House of Delegates and is the vice chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Stephen Taylor, 53, grew up in Spring Valley, New York, and moved to Montgomery County after earning his chiropractic degree about two decades ago. He owns Family Back & Neck Care Center in Montgomery Village. They live in Bethesda with their four teenagers, Jordyn, Dylan, Maeve and Leo.

The introduction: Stephen has Ariana’s

cousin, Margaret Dayhoff-Brannigan, to thank for bringing them together. Dayhoff-Brannigan was sifting through Ariana’s matches on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel to find her the “right” man. “Thepeople I was dating were

interested in me because of my work,” Ariana says. “People for whom politics is a hobby fin it glamorous.” Stephen’s politics-free profil made him a prime candidate. The two went on their first date at Mon Ami Gabi in August 2018. Th y talked about the past, the future and what wine to pair with steak—Stephen had ordered a white wine, and Ariana teased him that it should be red. “It was a cute little conversation,” he says.

The big move: In the two years before get-

ting engaged, the couple started taking steps to solidify their future. One of the biggest moves was combining households. Th y were purposeful about buying a new house together rather than moving into one or the other’s house; they wanted the kids to feel comfortable about the decision, too. “We made sure they

PHOTOS BY KATE LEWIS

The couple: Ariana Kelly, 45, grew up in

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looked at the house before we bought it and were excited, and it has a lot of fun places for teenagers to hang out,” Ariana says. “It was perfect because then COVID happened and we were trapped at home.”

The proposal: The couple got engaged in 2020 after living together for a little over a year. It wasn’t traditional: Ariana simply said it was time to get married. Stephen, who is a bit more old-fashioned, according to Ariana, said it was the “man’s job” to propose. Ariana, in turn, called him a sexist. But he got his way and popped the question the next week, getting down on one knee in the living room with a vintage sapphire ring.

The ceremony: As with their home, Ariana and Stephen were intentional with their wedding. First and foremost, they thought of their children. “We wanted them to feel like we were moving forward together,” Ariana says. Th pair also didn’t want to plan a big reception in the middle of COVID. So they decided to do a destination wedding in Hawaii—starting with a trip to the Big Island and ending with a ceremony on a rugged clifftop in Hana on Maui, overlooking the ocean. “I thought it was metaphorically beautiful to get married on a rocky cliff” Ariana says. “Thecliche is the white sandy beach—maybe that’s your first marriage. By the time you’re brave enough to go through it a second time, you understand there are challenges that come with the beauty.” On hand for the union, which took place on Jan. 1, 2022, were their four kids and officiant Kameran-James Kealoha Kamalu Fernandez, who doubled as the ukulele player. Right after he pronounced Stephen and Ariana husband and wife, one BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 189

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weddings of the year

The reception: On May 1, Ariana and Stephen held

their reception at Pinstripes in North Bethesda with 100 friends and family members, plus elected officials. “We were going back and forth about whether we should have the reception, but I’m glad we did because it was touching,” Stephen says. “It was the first time that my family met her family. It was great to have them all together.” The theme?

A modified luau, with tropical flow rs (protea, orchids and others in pink, orange and green hues) and photos from the ceremony as the centerpieces, plus a photo booth with cardboard cutouts of Elvis in a bathing suit and then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—in honor of Ariana’s daughter, Maeve, a fan of the congresswoman.

The entertainment: The couple paid homage to Ari-

ana’s heritage with Irish dancing and music from Celtic Music for All Occasions, which also played the tunes for the Jewish couple’s hora—all while wearing Hawaiian shirts and leis.

The menu: Thebrunch menu included appetizers such as

tenderloin sliders and pigs in a blanket. For the main course, guests ordered from the omelet bar and dined on waffles,

breakfast potatoes and bacon. Tropical sangria was the signature drink. For dessert, an ice-cream bar supplemented a giant Napoleon cake by Stella’s Bakery.

The special touch: Thekids led an extended toast com-

plete with a trivia game about their mom and dad. “It was so sweet to see the four kids up there talking about how they liked this family that we built together,” Ariana says.

The favors: Guests went home with mugs bearing what

Ariana calls “cheesy resort pictures” of the family in front of an “aloha” sign during their vacation.

The vendors: Cake, Stella’s Bakery; invitations, Evite; catering, Pinstripes (North Bethesda); ceremony florals, Hala Tropicals; reception flora s, Petals to the Metal Florist LLC; entertainment, Celtic Music for All Occasions; hair and makeup, Maui Makeup Artistry; ceremony photography, Kevin Brock Photography; reception photography, Kate Lewis Photography; photo booth, Good Vibrations Entertainment Services; bride’s ceremony dress, Sottero & Midgley from Urban Set Bride; bride’s reception dress, Sachin & Babi from Anthropologie; bridesmaids’ dresses, The Dessy Group; groom’s attire, weddingtropics.com and Suitsupply; wedding bands, Tiffany & Co.

PHOTOS BY KATE LEWIS

of the kids shouted, “Group hug!” It was one of Stephen’s favorite moments.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Prenups: Who Needs ‘Em? A prenuptial agreement is like an insurance policy; you hate dealing with it and you hope never to have to use it, but if you wind up needing it, you are very glad to have it. Nobody wants to contemplate the end of a marriage before it has even begun. However, having a prenup in place protects against unforeseen problems by anticipating and resolving certain potential eventualities. This can help in removing anxiety and providing comfort and certainty in a variety of contexts going into a marriage. A few examples follow.

This Is Your Spouse’s Second Marriage. Someone who has said “I Do” before may have strings attached – like it or not. How will your partner finance ongoing alimony payments to his or her first spouse? Does your intended spouse own property with a former spouse or owe a duty of child support? A prenup can address how these expenses will be paid.

You or Your Partner Have Children from a Previous Relationship. Couples with children from previous relationships often use prenups to earmark marital and non-marital assets for those children. In most states, including Maryland, property acquired during the course of a marriage is considered “marital property” and, in the absence of a prenup, is subject to broad-brush rules with regard to asset division at the time of divorce or death. Use of an effective and enforceable prenup can proactively address these issues and significantly mitigate conflict between the children and step-parent – now and in the future.

You Bring Significant Assets, or Your Spouse Brings Significant Debt, to the Marriage. People who have established their careers and have – or one day will have – significant assets (business interests, savings, retirement or other investments, family inheritance, real property, etc.), may need to consider the degree to which it is important to designate those assets as separate from shared marital property. Similarly, your partner may bring to the marriage substantial

debts (education loans, outstanding mortgage debts, etc.). In either case, a prenup is a crucial mechanism for preemptively addressing how these matters will be handled, and can establish clear rules for distinguishing what is marital and what is nonmarital, without comingling.

You Have Relationship Baggage. Whether your parents divorced or you yourself have been unlucky in love in the past, designing a prenup can bring important comfort to the already anxiety-provoking process of preparing for marriage. As a legal contract, a prenup may give you - and your partner - added confidence, comfort and security as you prepare to walk down the aisle.

To establish a prenuptial agreement, it is recommended that each person retain their own lawyer to represent their individual interests. An experienced family law attorney is helpful in anticipating sources of conflict or disagreement given their detachment from the emotions of the impending marriage. In addition, attorneys who practice in areas of estate planning, tax and business law can add helpful perspective, as each of these professionals will encourage unique and case specific considerations based on their areas of practice.

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Monica Garcia Harms chairs the Family Law department at Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC. Her thorough knowledge and understanding of her clients’ circumstances and needs distinguish her approach to the practice of family law. Monica represents clients in complex matters including pre and post nuptial agreements, divorce, contested custody, support and property allocation. She can be reached via email at mharms@steinsperling.com.

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weddings of the year

New Traditions HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS HONORED THEIR CAMBODIAN AND AFRICAN BACKGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THEIR FESTIVITIES BY KRISTEN SCHOTT

Kong), 29, grew up in Gaithersburg. She is a senior associate in governance oversight at Fannie Mae. JC Mbimba, 29, was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved with his family to Gaithersburg when he was 7. He is a clinical pharmacist at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital. The couple lives in Gaithersburg.

The introduction: JC was not in a good mood

when he met his future bride at her high school lacrosse game. His friend, also a lacrosse player, had dragged him to the match. “I probably didn’t make the best impression,” JC says. Regardless, they hit it off. Th y were friends first before they began dating in 2010, during their junior year of high school. Thei first date: mini golf at Bohrer Park and milkshakes at Silver Diner.

a mutual friend asked the couple to pose for portraits for his photography portfolio. JC realized it would be a perfect opportunity to propose. He set the occasion for July 2019 at the National Arboretum, after Vannyda returned from visiting family in Cambodia. A twist? “When she was away, she was texting me that she was having dreams that I proposed and she hated the ring,” JC says. But the psychic energy didn’t deter him. He surprised Vannyda by getting their friends and family to hide around the National Capitol Columns and come out once he got down on one knee. Theday before the proposal, he had recreated their first ate.

The cultural ceremony: Thepandemic delayed

the wedding twice to mid-2022. It was important to Vannyda and JC to pay homage to their respective cultures.

“I always pictured myself having a Cambodian wedding,

PHOTOS BY SAM HURD

The couple: Vannyda Mbimba (maiden name The proposal: JC’s plan began to take shape when

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weddings of the year

The wedding: On June 3, the couple

said “I do” at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Frederick and held an evening reception in Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge Golf Club in Myersville. Vannyda describes their theme as “romantic summer garden.” Thecolor scheme was coral, gray, cream, pink and green. Tall trumpet vases fill d with hydrangeas, cream and pink roses, Italian ruscus and greenery served as the centerpieces. “Guests told us they were the perfect height so they

the signature drink. The 156 attendees dined on filet, mushroom ravioli or flounder stuffed with lobster. And there were not one but two cakes: lemon-raspberry for him and Jamaican coconut rum for her. A dessert table was laden with mini fruit tarts, eclairs, chocolate chip cookies and raisin cookies.

The reception: Thecouple hon-

could have a conversation at dinner,” the bride says. For table numbers, the couple used pictures depicting them at that age.

The sweetheart table was decorated with Vannyda’s bouquet and a neon-sign backdrop that read “The Mbimbas.” And, on a table toward the entryway, the couple placed photos of their grandparents and other family members who had passed.

The menu: Appetizers included goat

cheese crostini and chicken and waffles.

Strawberry “Marry Me Margaritas” were

ored their parents during their parent dances. For hers, Vannyda changed into a custom dress of Cambodian fabric, and her dad wore a shirt made from the same material. For JC’s dance, his bowtie matched his mother’s traditional Congolese ensemble. “At one point, I started crying, then she started crying, then the whole room started crying,” JC says. “All the important women in my life came out and danced with us, too.” One of JC’s favorite elements of the ceremony was the exotic rental car—an Audi R8. “It was my favorite car growing up,” he says. “I got to keep it for the weekend, so that was awesome.” For Vannyda, one of the most special moments came as the sun sank from the sky in a spectacular sunset. Their best man, Rhyen

PHOTOS BY SAM HURD

and he always pictured himself having a church wedding,” Vannyda says. So they did both, beginning with an intimate Cambodian ceremony on May 14 in the Germantown backyard of Vannyda’s sister-in-law, Yolande Mbimba. During the groom’s procession, his family brought gifts for the bride and her kin.

During another traditional ceremony, guests pretended to trim the couple’s hair. “It symbolizes getting rid of your dead ends and old life and embracing your new married life,” Vannyda says.

Thefestivities ended with a literal knottying—friends and relatives tied a red string around the couple’s wrists and offered a blessing.

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Kinnear, brought the couple outside to see the gorgeous scene. “Then we turned around, and all of our guests were on the back patio enjoying the sunset, too,” she says. Th DJ ushered everyone out so Vannyda and JC could have a private dance to Michael Bublé’s “Save the Last Dance for Me.” Afterward? A sparkler exit.

Vendors: Cake and desserts, Classic Bakery; invita-

PHOTOS BY SAM HURD

tions, Basic Invite; catering, Musket Ridge Golf Club; fl rals, Events by Jemie; entertainment, Just-Ice the DJ; event planning, Melody Wardak and Victoria Tucker (day-of ) of Musket Ridge Golf Club; hair and makeup, Metropolitan Makeup & Hair LLC; photography, Sam Hurd; videography, Paperboys; bride’s dresses, Madison James from Couture Bridal of Maryland (ceremony) and Designs by Victoire (reception and groom’s bow tie); bridesmaids’ dresses, Azazie; groom’s attire, State & Liberty; cake topper, Rawkrft from Etsy; wedding bands, Masica Diamonds (bride) and Georgios Collections (groom).

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Hoppy Ending AFTER YEARS OF DATING LONG-DISTANCE, A GAITHERSBURG COUPLE PLANNED A BARN WEDDING FEATURING AN ABUNDANCE OF FLOWERS, A DESSERT BAR AND A BESPOKE BEER CAN BY DANA GERBER

28, grew up in Gaithersburg and graduated from Quince Orchard High School. Zach Duffy, 31, grew up in Boston. Th y both work as government consultants for Booz Allen Hamilton and live in Gaithersburg.

The introduction:

Gabby and Zach met through mutual friends in 2012, when Gabby was a freshman at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Zach was a junior. The pair kept in touch even after he graduated, enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. Th y went on their first date in 2016 when Zach came to Boston while on leave, but they didn’t make their relationship official until Gabby visited Zach in San Diego the following March. Th y dated long-distance for a few years. “You had to really rely on communication,” Gabby says, adding that they exchanged more than 10,000 emails before they moved in to a Rockville apartment together just as the pandemic was starting. “We got to know each other probably more quickly than if we were in person.”

The proposal: Gabby’s family has a longtime

tradition of going to Downtown Crown Wine & Beer in Gaithersburg every Friday night, which Zach joined once he was local. In October 2020, Zach arranged with the owners to display “Gabby Will You Marry Me?” as one of the beers listed on tap. The brew was described as being a “Maryland IPA with West Coast Flavor,” a nod to their long-distance beginnings, with an ABV of 20.22%, since they knew they wanted a 2022 wedding.

“Eventually, she saw it, and she turned around and was like, ‘Oh, wow, this is happening,’ ” Zach recalls.

The ceremony: Thecouple wed on May 21, 2022,

at Sweeney Barn in Manassas, Virginia, with about 140 guests present. “I always wanted a barn wedding, but not your rustic, slats, dirt barn wedding—more of a refined, renovated barn,” Gabby says. Her uncle officiated the outdoor ceremony, and the pair wrote their own vows, which included plenty of inside jokes and references to their favorite shared movies and TV shows. “We just spoke to each other's personalities,” Gabby says.

PHOTOS BY STEVE CANNING

The couple: Gabby Duffy (maiden name Paolini),

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The dress: In search of something “funky, something that The music: For the newlyweds’ first dance, the 10-piece

you don't traditionally see,” Gabby visited Love Couture Bridal in Park Potomac with her mom to try on dresses. She picked out a blush-pink ball gown with floral detailing. “My face did get a little red—I think that was the closest to the Say Yes to the Dress crying moment,” Gabby says. To complete the ensemble, she donned a pair of sparkly Keds sneakers, which she kept on even after switching to a long-sleeve, open-back dress for the reception.

The flowers: To achieve Gabby’s “enchanted forest” vision, William Thom s Floral set up a lush arch over the altar, festooned the aisle with flowers and constructed a pergola atop the head table in reception, incorporating blooms like roses, hydrangeas and eucalyptus. “The only time the entire wedding that I teared up was seeing the room and the flower ,” Gabby says. An outdoor escort wall—with a banner that read “You’re Simply the Best,” a reference to a romantic moment in one of the couple’s favorite TV shows, Schitt’s Creek—guided guests to their reception seats with place cards tied to petite vases of flower .

Free Spirit band crooned “Simply the Best” by Noah Reid—a callback to the couple’s escort wall. Afterward, the band got guests grooving with hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “No Diggity.” “It did feel like a concert at one point,” Gabby says.

Th bride’s favorite moment from the big day was standing next to Zach just after seeing everybody dancing to a rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’. ” “He just turned to me and was like, ‘Wow,’ ” she recalls. “Everything had just come together.”

The menu: During cocktail hour, guests munched on

passed appetizers of mac-and-cheese bites and Hawaiian tuna poke, plus fare from charcuterie and guacamole stations. The plated dinner included asparagus and beet ravioli, jumbo crab-stuffed prawns and short ribs with fried shallots.

The self-proclaimed “anti-wedding cake” couple opted for a dessert bar instead, serving up confections like red velvet cake pops, mini cheesecakes and s’mores cups. The standout late-night bite was the “pizzarita,” a Clark University delicacy

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that combines a chicken parmesan and a quesadilla. After the reception wrapped up around 10 p.m., shuttles took guests to the nearby Three Monkeys Pub & Chophouse, where midnight snacks and an open bar kept the party going into the wee hours.

The drinks: Two specialty cock-

tails named after the couple’s cats (“Th Harry,” a tequila concoction, and “Th Har vey,” a bourbon mixture) were offered at “Bailey’s Bar,” named after their dog. The couple’s love of craft beer was also on full display: Aslin Beer Co. in Alexandria designed a customized beer label for the pair, featuring their wedding hashtag, “#TillDuff oUsPart,” on cans of IPA. “It was defini ely a talking point,” Gabby says.

The honeymoon: The day after

the wedding, the newlyweds flew to Denver for their honeymoon, spending four days hiking and checking out local breweries. In October, they did a “part two” in Amelia Island, Florida, lounging by the pool and playing golf.

Monkeys Pub & Chophouse; band, Free Spirit by Entertainment Exchange; beer, Aslin Beer Co.; catering, Occasions Caterers; dress, Love Couture Bridal; floral and decor, William Thom s Floral; hair and makeup, Georgetown Bride; hotels, SpringHill Suites Gainesville Haymarket and Tru by Hilton Manassas; invitations and menus, Kelly Joyce Design; lighting, Atmosphere Inc.; planning and design, Michele Hodges Events; photography, Steve Canning Photography; rehearsal dinner, The Black Sheep; signage, LeahLetters; suits, Men's Wearhouse; transportation, Reston Limousine; venue, Sweeney Barn; videography, Bowen Films. n

PHOTOS BY STEVE CANNING

The vendors: After party, Th ee

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BOB GRAVES Associate Broker

• A Realtor® since 1980 • Taught 34 years at Parkdale High School • Specializes in listing homes, loves to renovate homes and see them sold 301.538.9337 | Bob.Graves@LNF.com N Potomac-Rockville Office 301.975.9500

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• Over 12+ years in Real Estate • Licensed in Maryland • Speaks: Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, English • Specializes in interior design and finding economical deal for clients 301.537.3328 | Najam.Chaudhry@LNF.com

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Realtor®

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TERESA BURTON m 240.285.7493 | o 301.469.4700 Teresa.Burton@LNF.com | TeresaBurtonRealEstate.com Relocation Specialist Top Agent Network A full-service Realtor® in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia — nothing is too small or too big. Teresa attributes her success not only to her passion for homes, but also to her intuition regarding the psychology of buying and selling. Her business has grown successfully and consistently thanks to the repeat business of happy clients and their introductions to friends, family and neighbors. This track record is only possible because Teresa delivers both results and an enjoyable experience.

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KIMBERLY CESTARI c 202.253.8757 | o 202.966.1400 KimberlyC@LNF.com | kimberlycestari.com As Long & Foster’s No. 1 agent company-wide, Kimberly Cestari’s name and face are synonymous with real estate. Her reach extends beyond Chevy Chase, the place she’s called home for 25 years, just as her commitment to her clients extends beyond settlement.

Kimberly’s passion for real estate began when she bought her first house after college. Since then, she’s bought and renovated eight homes, and constructed one, so she knows houses — inside and out. Clients benefit from skills she gained as a successful marketing executive and as a former interior designer, her complimentary home staging and preparation is known for creating brilliant before and after effects with stellar sales results.

Recognized as an expert in real estate and home enhancements, she’s the go-to source for current and past clients on everything from A to Z in real estate. From search to settlement and beyond, her vast knowledge and clever negotiating ensures smooth transactions for her clientele every step of the way.

LAUREN KLINE c 301.518.9005 | o 301.907.7600 lauren@laurenklinehomes.com With an MBA and 20+ years of experience in market research, Lauren is uniquely qualified to understand real estate market data and translate it into powerful marketing strategies for sellers. A native New Yorker, she has lived in the D.C. area since 1977 and raised three daughters here.

Although she specializes in Bethesda, North Bethesda and Potomac, her knowledge of the neighborhoods, amenities and schools throughout the DC Metro area is invaluable to buyers, who are also assisted by her large network of loan officers, inspectors and home contractors. Lauren is a passionate advocate for her clients, tailoring her services to their unique needs and working tirelessly to represent their best interest. With 17 years of real estate experience, she enjoys a steady flow of referrals, repeat business and many loyal clients “for life.”

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interior design. architecture. home sales.

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

home

A peaceful bath in Hrishi and Amrita Hari’s home. For more, turn to page 206.

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home | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS 2 1

THE BRITISH ARE COMING English country kitchens are trending, but you don’t have to be an Anglophile to appreciate their warm, vintage charm

BY CAROLYN WEBER

3

English Green, shown here on the Thornton door from Kraftmaid Cabinetry, is available on maple or an engineered wood called EverCore, which provides the smoothest surface for paint. The approximate cost is $400 per linear foot, through KBR Kitchen & Bath in Bethesda ARTSY ADDITIONS Including artwork in the kitchen makes it feel like an extension of (301-718-2800, kbrkitchenandbath.com). the living spaces. Artist Matt Adrian’s bird portraits are just the thing to display on an open shelf. Find the series of portraits, priced from $68 to $118, at Red Orchard in Bethesda (301-571-7333, redorchard.com).

TOUCH OF BRASS Kitchen task lighting doesn’t have to be boring. The Claremont sconce features a pivoting arm to direct light to just the right spot. Each goes for $398 at Serena & Lily on Bethesda Row (240-531-1839, serenaandlily.com).

2

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COURTESY PHOTOS

1 MOODY HUES Darker colors such as charcoal and hunter green are among the favorite hues for heritage-inspired country kitchens.

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5 4 TIMELESS TAPS This antique-inspired faucet, a two-hole bridge kitchen sink version from Kohler’s Artifacts collection, has cottage

charm to spare. Choose from eight finishes, including this Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass for $1,150, at The Kohler Signature Store in Bethesda (240-534-2688, kohler.com).

COTTAGE CLEAN Too pretty to be tucked away in a scullery, the Mitzy single-basin fireclay sink from Signature Hardware has a fluted apron-front design and comes in white, black and biscuit (pictured). It’s $1,049 through Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery in Rockville (301-424-1393, ferguson.com).

HERITAGE HEARTH The AGA cast-iron range is a British tradition. This one has a glossy enamel finish that comes in 16 colors and retails for $23,000 at ABW Appliances in North Bethesda (301-770-8579, abwappliances.com).

FOLKSY FOCUS These 18-by-18-inch tiles feature a weathered matte finish with a folk art-style star motif. They sell for $8.59 per square foot at The Tile Shop in Rockville (301-610-5070, tileshop.com).

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WASHROOMS THAT WOW

Four local families remodeled and reimagined bathrooms to better suit their personalities and lifestyles, no extra square footage required

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

BY CAROLYN WEBER

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FOREST BATHING IN 2019, when Hrishi and Amrita Hari

first laid eyes on the house that would become their family’s home, they were awestruck. Thecouple wasn’t really looking to move but couldn’t resist the striking one-of-a-kind wood and stone structure with fl or-to-ceiling windows on a private wooded lot in Potomac’s MerryGo-Round Farm neighborhood. “This home was unlike any I had seen in the area,” Hrishi says. “It’s ensconced in the forest and has a stream and a pond and is out of this world.”

The house had all the elements of a place they could call home forever, but it needed some modifi ations to fit their lifestyle. It only had three bedrooms, and they required more space for their growing family, which now includes a 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, as well as members of their extended family who come and stay for months at a time.

The Haris contacted Jim Rill of Rill Architects in Bethesda, who designed the home 13 years ago. “We nicknamed it the ‘tree house,’ because everything ties to the natural surroundings,” Rill says. Th couple didn’t want to change the aesthetics or the footprint, and found the architect very thoughtful when discussing the possibilities for adding another bedroom and bathroom. Th y all agreed that the light-fill d space on the third fl or, which the previous owners had used as an art studio and a sanctuary for their pet cockatoos, would make a great primary bedroom and bathroom suite.

The primary bath in Hrishi and Amrita Hari’s home

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The outstanding feature of the room is a large skylight. “I thought it would be magical to have the shower there,” Hrishi says. Rill designed a generously sized 9-by-4-foot walk-in shower in the space, with a bench tucked into the window dormer. The Haris brought in designer Laurie McParland, who owns an Olneybased design firm, to help with the bathroom finishes. “We used full slabs of Carrara marble on the shower walls and an accent tile to bring attention to the window and bench area,” she says.

A wall of clear glass separates the

shower from the minimalist soaking tub that fl ats in the middle of the room.

The Haris felt strongly about including a tub so the bathroom could work for the whole family. “We use it every single night,” Hrishi says. “The little kids love playing in the bathtub.”

The sleek glass and stone elements are tempered by the richness of natural wood on the walnut vanity and in the open shelving. The vanity is centered opposite the skylight, enabling the two wall mirrors to catch the refl ction of trees in the yard. Brass fin shes add

warmth and echo those found elsewhere in the home, and nickel faucets add an eclectic mixed-metals style.

The reinvigorated room allows the homeowners to harmonize with nature, enjoying the views and natural light with the luxury of privacy and climate control. “People love the idea of embracing the outdoors while being comfortable,” Rill says. Showering in the skylight is just as magical as Hrishi imagined. “I see birds fly by,” he says, “and in the fall I watch the leaves fl at around.”

“WE NICKNAMED IT THE ‘TREE HOUSE,’ BECAUSE EVERYTHING TIES TO THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.”

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

The walnut vanity in the Hari primary bath

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THE RIGHT LIGHT

PHOTO BY JOHN COLE

IN HOME REMODELING, one thing tends

to lead to another. After Courtney Surls and Mark Caylor entrusted a basement renovation and a living room update to the team at Bethesda-based Anthony Wilder Design/Build, they weren’t quite fin shed.

“We thought: If we’ve done all this remodeling and reconfiguring on the lower and main levels, is there anything we want to change about the house upstairs?” Surls says. The answer was yes. The cramped and outdated primary bathroom of their 1942 brick colonial in Northwest D.C.’s Kent neighborhood was next on the list.

At just 86 square feet, it’s not a big space, but with some creative planning, designer Kirsten Gable was able to work within the existing footprint. She gave the clients everything they wanted and left plenty of room for two people to use it simultaneously. “It doesn’t have to be bigger to be better,” she says.

The first step was to free up some square footage by removing the gardenstyle soaking tub that was beneath a pair of windows. “We never used it, and it blocked our access to the windows,” Surls says. A cramped water closet was next to go, along with an enclosed shower that was both tiny and dark.

With a clean slate, Gable’s new plan came together. “The goal was to keep it as open as possible to capture the natural light,” she says. The new shower, 3-feet-9-inches by 4-feet-6-inches, has a glass door and two types of tile—a largeformat 16-by-48-inch white tile on two walls, and a mother-of-pearl and Th ssos marble hexagonal mosaic in the soapand-shampoo niche and wrapping the third wall. Th t wall holds the plumbing and divides the shower and the toilet area, providing privacy to both spaces.

A wood-look tile fl or contrasts with all the white and gray in the room. “It’s durable and adds warmth and depth and a textural look,” Gable says. She ran the 8-by-36-inch planks into the barrier-free shower for a seamless transition.

The new furniture-style white vanity has double sinks and double wall mirrors.

“In a more traditional space, two mirrors are preferable,” Gable says. In addition to overhead lighting, linear wall sconces provide task lighting and pick up on the polished nickel hardware and chrome faucets.

A second vanity on the opposite wall gives Surls a dedicated place to sit and apply makeup and blow-dry her hair, something that was at the top of her wish list. “I like to multitask while I dry my hair,” she says, “so now there is a sightline to the bedroom TV so I can watch the morning news at the same time.” The Carrara marble-topped vanity has a broad surface and plenty of storage to prevent counter clutter.

Gable didn’t want to stray too far from the overall feel of the house, so she settled on a timeless look with a muted color palette. Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl paint picks up the tones of the Carrara marble, and the mirrors and shimmery iridescent tile refl ct the natural light from the large windows. “My favorite thing is the color scheme, which is a blank slate that changes colors with the seasons,” Surls says. “It’s so relaxing and gives me peace.”

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washrooms that wow

DOUBLE TAKE NADIA SUBARAN IS NO stranger to dis-

Nadia Subaran designed this Jill-and-Jill bath for her two teenage girls.

cerning clients. The principal and senior designer at Aidan Design in Silver Spring has created dozens of new kitchens and bathrooms over the years. Her latest project, however, was in her own home, a 1950s ranch house in Bethesda, and the customers were her two teenage daughters.

This was to be the second renovation of the daughters’ bathroom—the first was 13 years ago, when the girls were small. Subaran reconfi ured and enlarged the space then by stealing some square footage from a closet in an adjoining bedroom. “We did it quickly, because we needed to move in,” she says.

Now 16 and 17, the girls wanted to do something fresh and different and more in keeping with their stage of life. Thei bedrooms are on either side of the shared bathroom, so the redesign was meant to be a bridge between their two styles.

“Th y have their own aesthetics, so they collected tons of Pinterest inspiration photos,” Subaran says. Her younger daughter’s room is fresh and modern, with white and brass and blush-colored accents. Her older daughter favors a more romantic style, with layered bedspreads and a wicker pendant.

With direction from her “clients,” the designer mom wanted to push the envelope a bit and go with two tones of blush-y 2-by-8-inch tile on the shower walls for an ombré effect. It’s fun and feminine, but also blends with the midcentury style in the rest of the house.

Rather than use a blush wall paint that would be too matchy-matchy, she

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PHOTOS BY ROBERT RADIFERA

chose an unexpected neutral in Sherwin-Williams’ Silver Peony. The pale lavender reads differently depending on the time of day and light, and complements the cool tones of the Carrara marble countertop.

The natural stone tops an eight-foot vanity, which has several deep storage drawers and one elegant vessel sink. Subaran isn’t a huge fan of double sinks, reasoning that the large amount of counter space is more valuable than having a second sink. Gold accents on the faucets, mirror and lighting add warm color and shine, and modern fl ating shelves provide even more storage and display space for accessories.

Subaran saved time and money by keeping the room’s dark gray porcelain fl oring. It goes with anything, is easy to clean and doesn’t show dirt. “A marble fl or would have been too precious,” she explains. “We have big German shepherds with no sense of personal space, so it was a practical choice.”

Her advice on creating bathrooms for children is to consider the goals for the space and to gauge expectations for the life of the remodel. “We got more than a decade out of the first one, so getting the layout right then was important,” she says. “Th s time was more of a refresh.” Subaran and her girls are thrilled with their updated bathroom, which is perfect for them now and sophisticated enough to stand the test of time.

GOLD ACCENTS ON THE FAUCETS, MIRROR AND LIGHTING ADD WARM COLOR AND SHINE, AND MODERN FLOATING SHELVES PROVIDE EVEN MORE STORAGE AND DISPLAY SPACE FOR ACCESSORIES.

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BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL THERE’S OFTEN A SENSE of joy (and

relief ) when a major kitchen remodel is completed. But sometimes the nearby rooms can start to look shabby in comparison. Jo and Sri Ramachandran know the feeling. They had just fin shed renovating the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room of their 22-year-old Rockville home when they started taking stock of the adjacent powder room. “We had invested a lot into the kitchen, and it made sense to address this other visible part of the first floor now,” Jo says.

She’d been working with designer and architectural specialist Kate Adams of Case Architects & Remodelers in Bethesda, and Adams was ready to keep going on the latest project. Thebathroom was small and plain, with poor lighting and less-thanstylish builder-grade fin shes. “It had been refreshed recently, but you can only do so much with paint,” Jo says.

The homeowner knew she wanted to jazz it up with wallpaper, so she began scouring the internet for the right pattern. “It needed to relate to us and speak to our tastes,” she says, “and

SHE FINALLY LANDED ON THE PERFECT DESIGN, A LARGE-SCALE OVERALL PRINT IN A RICH COLOR PALETTE DEPICTING SCENES FROM A WEDDING PROCESSION IN AN ANCIENT FORT CALLED AMER IN JAIPUR, INDIA.

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Jo and Sri Ramachandran’s powder room

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washrooms that wow

I wanted it to look glam.” She finally landed on the perfect design, a large-scale overall print in a rich color palette depicting scenes from a wedding procession in an ancient fort called Amer in Jaipur, India. “I fell in love with it,” Jo says.

“We had vacationed in that region and had a great time, and the motifs were authentic.”

Thewallpaper, called Dara, is by French designer Manuel Canovas and manufactured by Cowtan & Tout. It’s available in three background colors—white, black and taupe. Jo chose black for maximum impact and drama, but second-guessed herself at firs . “My family wasn’t sure, but Kate urged me to go with my instincts, and I am so glad that I did,” she says. It’s a fun contrast to the kitchen, which is light gray and white.

“The kitchen is all serene neutrals, but then you walk into the powder room, and bam!” Adams says.

Thebold print became the jumping-off point for the whole room. A bulky sink cabinet would have blocked the wall, so in came a porcelain console sink with a brass towel bar attached and enough surface space for accessories. Adams specifi d more gold tones for the faucets, sconces and custom mirror.

Using wallpaper is a relatively easy way to transform a boring powder room. “It’s a good spot to go with something totally different than you have elsewhere in the house,” Adams says. Her client’s powder room is anything but dull now. “It looks so special,” Jo says. “It makes me smile every time I look at it.” n Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design.

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home | by the numbers

Data provided by

OCTOBER’S MOST EXPENSIVE at A peek rea’s f the a some o pensive x most e sold n rece tly s house

HOME SALES

SALE PRICE: SALE PRICE:

$8 million LIST PRICE: $8.7 MILLION

Address: 9009 Congressional Court, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 125 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 8 Full/Half Baths: 9/3

$4.2 million LIST PRICE: $4.3 MILLION

Address: 9909 Logan Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 132 Listing Agency: Realty Advantage Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.9 million

LIST PRICE: $3.2 million Address: 6911 Radnor Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 88 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE:

$4.5 million LIST PRICE: $4.5 MILLION

Address: 6223 Kennedy Drive, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 29 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.9 million

LIST PRICE: $2.9 million Address: 8408 Rapley Ridge Lane, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 15 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 7/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.9 million SALE PRICE:

$3.4 million

LIST PRICE: $3 million Address: 6315 Tilden Lane, Rockville 20852 Days on Market: 120 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 7/2

LIST PRICE: $3.4 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

$2.9 million

LIST PRICE: $3.3 million Address: 11020 Rosemont Drive, North Bethesda 20852 Days on Market: 75 Listing Agency: The Agency DC Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/3

COURTESY PHOTOS

Address: 5605 Midwood Road, Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 16 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

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SALE PRICE:

$2.8 million LIST PRICE: $2.8 million

Address: 5619 Marengo Road, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: None listed Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.7 million LIST PRICE: $2.7 million

Address: 4503 Cumberland Ave., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 10605 Bit and Spur Lane, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 67 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 8 Full/Half Baths: 8/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.1 million LIST PRICE: $2.1 million

Address: 5102 Yuma St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 3 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 million

Address: 3162 Tennyson St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Days on Market: 1 Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.1 million LIST PRICE: $1.8 million

Address: 4208 Yuma St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20016 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 3/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million LIST PRICE: $2.3 million

SALE PRICE:

$2.7 million

LIST PRICE: $2.7 million Address: 4501 Cumberland Ave., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 16 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.5 million

LIST PRICE: $2.5 million Address: 6307 Huntover Lane, North Bethesda 20852 Days on Market: 2 Listing Agency: The Agency DC Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million

LIST PRICE: $2.5 million Address: 7000 Natelli Woods Lane, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 5 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 7/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.5 million

Address: 6401 Marjory Lane, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 1 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.1 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 million

Address: 7725 Oldchester Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 9 Listing Agency: Weichert, Realtors Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.2 million LIST PRICE: $2 million

Address: 7407 Meadow Lane, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.2 million

SALE PRICE:

$2 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 million

Address: 2913 Terrace Drive, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 39 Listing Agency: The Agency DC Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

LIST PRICE: $2.3 million

Address: 6002 Conway Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 89 Listing Agency: Valu Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 million

Address: 6711 Landon Lane, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: Coldwell Banker Realty Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.1 million LIST PRICE: $2.1 million

Address: 5928 Cheshire Drive, Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Note: Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

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home | by the numbers

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

BY ZIP CODE

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2022

20015 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

13 $1.4 Mil. 17 7 5 12

17 $1.8 Mil. 11 10 5 16

17 $2.1 Mil. 22 8 9 17

24 $1.6 Mil. 11 10 9 17

10 $1.4 Mil. 8 5 4 8

20814 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20815 (Chevy Chase) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

31 $1.6 Mil. 12 15 9 26

11 $1.8 Mil. 19 7 3 8

20 $1.4 Mil. 11 11 8 15

8 $1.6 Mil. 7 4 2 8

40 $1.2 Mil. 15 20 15 25

28 $1.5 Mil. 23 11 16 24

20816 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20817 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

OCTOBER 2022

Number of Homes Sold 1 Average Sold Price $700,000 Average Days on Market 9 Above Asking Price 1 Below Asking Price 0 Sold Over $1 Million 0

0 n/a 0 0 0 0

20818 (Cabin John) 6 $1.5 Mil. 6 5 1 6

20016 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2022

48 $1.4 Mil. 17 25 15 30

21 $1.7 Mil. 18 10 10 17

20854 (Potomac) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20832 (Olney)

20855 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold 19 11 Average Sold Price $786,439 $704,363 10 23 Average Days on Market Above Asking Price 14 5 4 3 Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million 4 1

Number of Homes Sold 16 11 Average Sold Price $684,378 $770,000 14 13 Average Days on Market Above Asking Price 8 2 6 8 Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million 1 2

20850 (Rockville)

20877 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 18 15 $874,704 $993,800 Average Sold Price Average Days on Market 17 26 Above Asking Price 7 7 Below Asking Price 8 8 Sold Over $1 Million 5 8

Number of Homes Sold 20 6 $531,219 $548,384 Average Sold Price Average Days on Market 15 31 Above Asking Price 10 1 Below Asking Price 8 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20851 (Rockville)

20878 (Gaithersburg/North Potomac)

Number of Homes Sold 14 14 Average Sold Price $443,450 $488,597 Average Days on Market 20 22 Above Asking Price 6 4 Below Asking Price 6 9 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 48 23 Average Sold Price $874,793 $893,478 Average Days on Market 19 23 Above Asking Price 19 9 Below Asking Price 17 11 Sold Over $1 Million 12 9

20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)

20879 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 18 Average Sold Price $821,261 Average Days on Market 9 Above Asking Price 9 Below Asking Price 6 Sold Over $1 Million 6

Number of Homes Sold 12 5 Average Sold Price $550,247 $638,400 Average Days on Market 10 16 Above Asking Price 9 2 Below Asking Price 2 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

11 $1.5 Mil. 31 3 5 7

20853 (Rockville)

20886 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 28 25 Average Sold Price $570,155 $591,000 Average Days on Market 15 22 Above Asking Price 12 9 Below Asking Price 11 15 Sold Over $1 Million 0 1

Number of Homes Sold 23 9 Average Sold Price $692,614 $585,111 Average Days on Market 16 16 Above Asking Price 15 3 Below Asking Price 6 4 Sold Over $1 Million 2 1

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roomandboard.com

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home | by the numbers

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2022

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2022

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2022

20886 (Gaithersburg)

20901 (Silver Spring)

20906 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 5 7 Average Sold Price $522,000 $608,557 Average Days on Market 7 16 Above Asking Price 1 2 Below Asking Price 1 4 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 22 18 Average Sold Price $531,045 $626,311 Average Days on Market 16 23 Above Asking Price 14 4 Below Asking Price 7 12 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 32 15 Average Sold Price $531,831 $589,133 Average Days on Market 13 23 Above Asking Price 17 8 Below Asking Price 11 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20895 (Kensington)

20902 (Silver Spring)

20910 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 23 17 Average Sold Price $795,473 $861,941 Average Days on Market 9 16 Above Asking Price 13 8 Below Asking Price 6 8 Sold Over $1 Million 7 3

Number of Homes Sold 40 14 Average Sold Price $561,123 $501,071 Average Days on Market 13 24 Above Asking Price 18 3 Below Asking Price 16 8 Sold Over $1 Million 1 0

Number of Homes Sold 21 21 Average Sold Price $682,647 $788,154 Average Days on Market 11 20 Above Asking Price 10 7 Below Asking Price 4 9 Sold Over $1 Million 1 2

Information courtesy of Bright MLS, as of Nov. 15, 2022. 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 85,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve more than 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com. Note: This information includes single-family homes sold from Oct. 1, 2022, to Oct. 31, 2022, as of Nov. 15, 2022, excluding sales where sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. Reports reference data provided by ShowingTime, a showing management and market stats technology provider to the residential real estate industry. Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

Helping you achieve a relaxing, peaceful future May Barnhard Investments is a fee-only financial advisory firm with expertise in investment management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning and wealth management consulting. We deliver high-value solutions to high net-worth individuals and those experiencing significant life transitions. MBI understands the key to establishing an outstanding relationship is to provide a team of professionals who are technically competent, innovative, experienced with situations like yours, and timely service. We look forward to hearing from you!

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William Fastow One of the DC area’s foremost brokers, William is known for his drive, passion for real estate, love of architecture, and an uncompromising commitment to customer service. A native Washingtonian and current resident of the Spring Valley neighborhood, William’s knowledge of the region stems from his personal as well as his professional experiences. Being from Washington is a special distinction and makes William more than familiar with the history of the different communities and neighborhoods that make up DC and the surrounding metropolitan area. He has worked with buyers, sellers, investors and developers across the city of Washington as well as Montgomery County, Annapolis Maryland and as far as the Eastern Shore. William also maintains contacts and business interests all across the country within the Sotheby’s network which makes him an ideal resource for clients relocating to and from the Washington DC area.

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Donna Leanos Ranking in the Top 5% of realtors in the DMV, Donna has successfully cultivated her 25+ year career drawing on her knowledge, passion, and talent for understanding current and future property values. In the DC Metropolitan markets where properties move at a fast pace in all market conditions, understanding the financial implications of your home purchase or sale is important. Donna will help you navigate this complex field through honest and concise conversation that will favorably position you and your property in the marketplace.

Donna is committed to the highest level of service and is always available for her clients who range from first time homebuyers, sellers, developers, to seasoned investors. Leveraging the TTR Sotheby’s International Realty brand, she is able to offer quality, refinement and exclusivity on a worldwide platform.

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Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

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Nothing Compares.

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Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

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fitness. wellness. medicine.

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

health

A cheery sign welcomes patients at the new Ellie Mental Health in Bethesda. For more, turn the page.

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health | be WELL

A SAFE SPACE The director of a new mental health clinic in Bethesda emphasizes ‘authentic connection’ to reach those intimidated by therapy

BY ROBIN L. FLANIGAN | PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING therapy often

tell Carrie Miller they’re “inherently broken” or that “something is wrong” with them.

Th y don’t yet realize two things, says Miller, 40, clinic director of Ellie Mental Health in Bethesda. One is that the way they respond to stress is what may need improvement—not their brain or body. Th other is that they’re not alone.

Ellie, a new Minnesota-based mental health clinic brand in the midst of a national expansion, uses creativity, humor and “authentic connection” to drive home those points. For Miller, that may mean disclosing something from her own life to help a client solve a problem, overcome adversity or make a transition—an approach not always embraced by the mental health fi ld.

“A lot of times the first response when you open up and share something is, ‘Th t’s not appropriate’ or ‘Th t’s not professional,’ and I wholeheartedly disagree,” Miller says, referring to past supervisors, peers in the fi ld and many master’s degree programs. “I just do what feels right. My clients know that I get where they’re coming from, that I’m not just some robotic therapist nodding her head and asking, ‘How does that make you feel?’ ” Miller, a licensed clinical social worker, tries to normalize mental health treatment. After 22 years in social work and 13 years as a clinician, she joined Ellie, whose Bethesda location, the company’s first in Maryland, opened last fall. She says the goal is to break down barriers and stigma by making the therapeutic space feel more

like visiting a friend’s house than walking into an “uptight, impersonal and intimidating” office.

That vibe is necessary for creating a safe, comfortable atmosphere in which to learn and grow, according to Miller, who has been in therapy for herself regularly since she was 18.

Miller says demystifying therapy is particularly important for communities wary of mental health treatment. People of color and immigrants, for instance, seek services less often due to historical and cultural factors, she says, adding that fir t responders, police officers and veterans often fear career repercussions for soliciting help because it may put their jobs at risk. Miller cites research pointing to barriers that prevent police officers from mental health assistance, for example, the stigma of being perceived as weak or incompetent, concerns about being labeled unfit for duty, and worry that accessing psychological support will hurt future career advancement. As a result, Ellie requires its therapists to earn continuing education credits in cultural awareness every other year.

Even so, that education only goes so far, which is why the staff of four in the Bethesda office is racially and ethnically diverse.

Says Miller: “You can educate yourself and be knowledgeable, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have some identifi ation with [a] group, it can be hard to get buy-in.” n

IN HER OWN WORDS...

CONNECTING TO THE PRESENT MOMENT “I’ve used a popular app called Insight Timer since it came out years and years ago. If I feel like I’m not in control in some way, I turn to audio recordings I’ve bookmarked because they’re short—just one or two minutes of mindfulness. I use that app every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed.”

BEING TRANSPARENT “I grew up with emotionally abusive people in my life, so I have firsthand experience of what it’s like to deal with depression, trauma and severe anxiety. I think that’s helped me be able to build a strong foundation and rapport with clients. I can legitimately say, ‘I know what you’re going through.’ ”

PUTTING IT ALL OUT THERE “Being vulnerable is incredibly challenging. It takes a lot of courage and a lot of strength.

Over the years I’ve found it easier to be open and transparent about where I’ve come from. But when I’m sitting with someone not trained in this work, they’re afraid.

They’re scared of what they don’t understand and tend to freeze up. They need to know it’s OK if they need to get help. We can’t go through life in silos, isolated.”

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BUILDING SKILLS “I feel like things happen serendipitously, and the folks who end up in my space are going through some kind of chaos that I can relate to.

I’m able to help them learn the tools and skills to make decisions, to understand that their reality is real, and how to move through life in a way that they feel empowered, autonomous and successful.”

STRESS RELIEF

Carrie Miller (left) with a new colleague, Kellie Olive, at Ellie Mental Health in Bethesda

“I love animals, and have three cats at home—Ruby, Queen Nefertiti (Neffie) and Cinnamon. I go on YouTube and watch funny animal videos and just laugh. That’s my comic relief. I’m on a couple of Facebook groups for cats; specifically, there’s one where you take a picture of your cat and they Photoshop it into a funny scene. It’s hysterical. I also love to read, crochet and hike in nature.”

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ILLUSTRATION BY GETTY IMAGES

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ATTENTION,

PLEASE Concentration-challenged? Disorganized? Always late?

You might have adult ADHD, and your practiced coping mechanisms aren’t the only options anymore. Here’s why—and how—midlifers are starting to address the disability head-on. BY RACHEL POMERANCE BERL

ALL THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, that pesky “N” appeared on my report card. “Needs Improvement” in listening. My parents and I laughed it off the endearing sign of a flib ertigibbet. Just as we joked about my stance in T-ball, my gaze toward the sky or the action in another fi ld, immune to the coach’s call to “look alive!” (Not that it mattered in the outfi ld.)

Any trouble with attention was something to work on, a quirk, we figured. After all, I made and kept friends. And my grades didn’t suffer.

Back then, in the ’80s, attention-defi it/hyperactivity disorder was the province of hyperactive boys, not of a girl who managed relatively well. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I first heard the term “executive functioning,” when a friend’s daughter struggled with organization. “She reminds me of you,” my friend said lovingly.

And this is, very often, how adults come to realize that perhaps ADHD—one of the most common disorders of childhood—helps explain their own life story. A child’s diagnosis or trouble in school will sound strikingly familiar. And because the disorder is highly genetic, parents very often see themselves in their children.

Still, it’s a tough diagnosis to tease out. As we now know, ADHD can show up in a range of ways, whether through inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity, or a combination of behaviors. It often looks different in kids than adults, and in men as opposed to women. Plus, it’s often

masked by and coexists with other conditions, which tend to exacerbate with age.

“What we’re finding is that ADHD is actually systemically misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed,” says Lauren Finney, a clinical social worker in Washington, D.C.’s Tenleytown neighborhood.

“A generation ago, it was the class-clown boys— those were the ones who clearly have ADHD.” Despite a new understanding of the disorder, myths remain. “Even today, I certainly run into parents who say, ‘My child is way too smart to have ADHD. She gets good grades,’ ” Finney says Finney diagnosed herself at the age of 37, after starting in private practice. “I realized that I fit all of these symptoms for ADHD in women that are not the stereotypical symptoms that I was taught about in grad school,” she says.

Among them, she was accident-prone (even now, Finney doesn’t own nice things for fear of breaking them). She struggled to remember dates and appointment times and would get so overwhelmed by paperwork she’d feel paralyzed to tackle it. As a kid, her ADHD came through as shyness, anxiety and feeling somewhat out of step.

“I learned to hide the feeling that I didn’t always fully understand what was going on or what I was supposed to be doing,” she says. She compensated with a planner so excruciatingly detailed that her friends at Woodrow Wilson High School (now known as Jackson-Reed High School) ribbed her about it. “The older I got,

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An estimated

4% to 5% of adults in America

have a diagnosis of ADHD, according to most studies. But diagnoses in adults are climbing at quadruple the rate they are in children.

and especially as I tried to start my own business, I was like, Why is juggling these things so hard for me?” she says.

I G E T T H AT. For better or worse,

what worked when I was younger doesn’t anymore. In high school, I survived by brazenly reading the CliffsNotes of novels, and in college I routinely pulled all-nighters thanks to procrastination and a shockingly bad sense of time.

I doubt I could pull an all-nighter now if I tried. And if Cliff has any notes for life, someone please tell me about them. I thought having kids would force me to get organized. And to some extent, it has. But I just end up dropping the less emergent things—like bathing. Kidding, but you get the idea. Child care trumps self-care.

While a new ADHD diagnosis for

Clinical social worker Lauren Finney in her office in Tenleytown in Washington, D.C.

adults can feel affirming, even liberating, it also can spur a sense of grief over lost time. “It’s not uncommon for people to break down and say, ‘I wish I would have known this 20 years ago, and maybe I wouldn’t have beaten myself up,’ ” says Jennifer Reesman, a neuropsychologist with the Bethesda-based Chesapeake Center, which specializes in ADHD, learning and behavioral health.

An estimated 6 million, or 9.4%, of kids in America have a diagnosis of ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data on adults is more difficult to pinpoint, but estimates hover around 4% to 5% of U.S. adults. But diagnoses are climbing by as much as quadruple the rate of children’s, according to a 10-year study lead-authored by a Harvard Medical School professor and published by the American Medical Association in 2019 in JAMA Network Open. Th t’s due to a growing awareness of ADHD, a reduced stigma around mental health issues, and self-proclamations about the condition on social media, Reesman says.

Less than 20% of adults with ADHD were being diagnosed or treated as of a widely cited 2014 study published in the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders. In part, that’s because adults don’t have a built-in detection system like kids, whose diagnoses often come by way of school referrals. Instead, desperation at work or home drives adults to a counselor for help. Meanwhile, the current diagnostic criteria address symptoms in children, which can differ from those in adults.

A diagnosis first requires ruling out many red herrings, which become more numerous with age. “ADHD lookalikes” include learning disabilities, hearing loss, menopause, poor sleep and, especially, depression and anxiety, Reesman says.

Consider the case of William Stixrud, founder of an eponymous Silver Springbased neuropsychology practice. As an anxious young man, further stressed by the death of his father, Stixrud flun ed out of his Ph.D. program at the University of California, Berkeley. “I didn’t turn

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

attention, please

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attention, please in a single assignment because I was so anxious,” he says. “I was the most nervous person they’d ever met.” Stixrud’s body shook, his fingers tapped, and he could endure only 12 minutes of reading. When he went home to Seattle, he learned Transcendental Meditation, which essentially cured him, he says. After a month of meditating, his facial tic faded away. In two months, he could read for two hours at a time. Stixrud didn’t have ADHD. But his anxiety appeared exactly like it.

So what does adult ADHD look like?

The constellation of symptoms could include “time blindness,” or difficulty tracking time; impulsive behavior; procrastination; taking excessive time to complete a project or not completing it at all; and, along with the struggle to focus on something of little interest, the tendency to hyperfocus on something that is. That’s a mode of becoming so engrossed that a lunch break, or even a fire alarm, couldn’t derail one’s attention. The hyperfocus piece “trips people up,” says Reesman, who often hears a version of this refrain: “My husband or wife thinks that I have ADHD, but I can’t possibly have ADHD, Doctor, because I can focus on my tennis like it’s nothing else.”

“IF THIS WAS THE path that I had to take as a mental health

professional to fi ure out that so much of what I struggle with is ADHD,” Finney asks, “then what about everybody else?”

Some argue that we all have a bit of ADHD, given our culture’s sleep-deprived, screen-focused, 280-character tweeting state. As Stixrud says, “People would listen to Lincoln and Douglas debate for six hours. Who among us could do that these days?” And yet, he adds, it’s “also true that some people have much more of a problem than others do.”

Around age 25, with the maturation of the brain’s prefron-

“When it works, there’s nothing that comes close...

for 30% to 40% of people with ADHD, it’s like “turning on a light switch.”

—William Stixrud says of Adderall and Ritalin

tal cortex, which manages executive function, many people outgrow their ADHD, Stixrud explains. Some get by. Some don’t, jeopardizing jobs and relationships and even their own lives due to distractions or risky behavior.

Others find a way to flou ish with the disorder—in careers where the adrenaline rush of an emergency room or courtroom can capture their attention, or as creative entrepreneurs focused on what excites them.

It’s never too late for help with ADHD, according to Kathleen Nadeau, founder and clinical director of the Chesapeake Center and author of Still Distracted After All These Years: Help and Support for Older Adults with ADHD. “A lot of adults mistakenly think, I’ve lived this long. Maybe I have it, maybe I don’t, but why does it matter?” she says. But ADHD seeps into everything, Nadeau says, from the ability to manage one’s career and finan es to relationships and health.

In fact, a lack of treatment can be life-threatening.

Could you have

Do you often run out of time? Maybe you’re that friend who’s perpetually late to lunch or can’t stop yourself from giving a project at work one last polish.

Do you get stuck in a state of being overwhlemed?

Sometimes the little things pile up and paralyze you from taking action, perhaps, or you have trouble checking things off your to-do list.

Does your desk look like a construction zone? You know the one—piles of magazines and newspapers here, hastily scribbled notes there, half-started projects everywhere.

If a date isn’t written directly in front of you, does it vanish from your brain?

Maybe you’re more reliant on Outlook or your trusty desk calendar than you’d like to be.

If you’re nodding right now, you might want to ask your doctor for an assessment, which could be a simple survey of symptoms, says Washington, D.C.-based clinical social worker Lauren Finney.

ICONS BY THE NOUN PROJECT

adult ADHD?

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Nadeau cites a 2018 study by leading ADHD researcher Russell Barkley, who found that ADHD may shorten an adult’s life by as many as 13 years due to impulsive behavior, poor selfcontrol and carelessness. Given the coexisting conditions associated with ADHD, treatment rests on a detailed diagnosis, which Nadeau believes remains elusive. Older adults with ADHD are particularly overlooked, she says, noting a Johns Hopkins University finding that just one in five memory clinics screen for adult ADHD. To improve life with ADHD, Nadeau stresses lifestyle changes: meditation, exercise, nutrition, exposure to nature, social connection and sleep.

Stixrud espouses the life-altering prospect of ADHD medication, stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin. “When it works, there’s nothing that comes close,” says Stixrud, who estimates that for 30% to 40% of people with ADHD, it’s like “turning on a light switch.”

The FDA announced a nationwide shortage of Adderall, also known as mixed amphetamine salts, in October.

That left more than 26 million people scrambling for the drug this past fall, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Many ADHD patients found themselves driving for hours to pharmacies that had the drug in stock, or going without. Reports have chalked up the scarcity to a combination of two things: a labor shortage at Adderall’s main manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and an increase in ADHD diagnoses in recent years, which has driven up demand. The supply was projected to return to normal by the end of 2022.

A combination of medication and behavioral strategies has helped Finney enormously. For instance, she sets multiple alarms for appointments and works with a friend who also has ADHD to keep each other accountable. “There are so many ways to compensate, and to practice acceptance and compassion and still lead wonderful, full, successful lives with this,” she told me in a text message.

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attention, please

BY THE TIME I recognized ADHD symptoms in myself, I was

pregnant or working on it—a time when the medication isn’t recommended. But my case was never terribly problematic.

In fact, I somewhat like my ADHD, even though it surely prolonged my fin shing this article.

When I was dating my husband, he admired that I was the first “nonlinear thinker” he knew. (Another term I hadn’t heard.)

The point was, in a type A town that prizes productivity (to say nothing of whether it succeeds), I tend to consider the beautiful distractions: the way light skips over an angle of a building, or a waiter whose face seems to belong in an impressionist painting.

Th se observations delight me, and I indulge them with a slower pace. Th s means I often get sidetracked and run late, which does create stress. Still, I’ve long loved detours, from chatting with strangers to taking the scenic route home. When sending me on an errand, my mom used to joke: “Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200,” which was not to equate home with jail.

Thou h structure maybe what I need, I eschew it, likely to my detriment. (Admittedly, I thought “freelance writer” sounded like a dream job because it had the word “free” in it.) However, forsaking plans for spontaneity has almost always been worth it. I have consistently found that the very best moments on vacation, and in life, happen when open to whim. While

being an incorrigible eavesdropper may merit some journalistic value, I feel bad about getting diverted from my own company to absorb the plot of someone else’s story and imagine where it leads. I also bemoan my unfin shed stories that have stacked up along with the bills, creating a background tug of incompletion.

Would life have been easier had I been diagnosed as a kid?

Probably. Maybe one day I’ll take ADHD medication and stick to a structure of circumscribed exercise and meditation. I’d become one of those moms who spends Sunday prepping the week’s meals in color-coded containers. Maybe I’d produce photo albums of my kids, organized by year and cuteness, in one productive weekend. Or I’d simply find matching socks.

But to be honest, I don’t want to live in Real Simple magazine, repurposing toilet paper holders to hold my keys or fixed to any one regimen. At this point, it’s not exactly clear to me where my ADHD ends and I begin. But I like my pace, my style and my resistance to seeing success in a checklist. Would a little help help me? Of course it would. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Once I get around to it. n Rachel Pomerance Berl is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Bethesda. She’s currently working on a collection of essays about motherhood.

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three-year scholarship, The Southern Management Leadership Program (SMLP) supports, develops, and graduates ethical leaders who want to energize and give back to their local communities. Students complete their associate’s degree at Montgomery College and their bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland, College Park.

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In recognition of Southern Management Companies’ renewed investment in Montgomery College, we are pleased to continue providing our students with access to the Southern Management Leadership Program. For more than 10 years, students have been able to begin their education at Montgomery College before transferring to the University of Maryland, where they continue in this innovative program to access mentorship, internships, courses in entrepreneurship, and much more. Thank you, Southern Management Companies, for your continued investment in the future of this community.

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Because 70% of Montgomery College graduates remain in Montgomery County, graduates of the SMLP will continue to apply the education, skills, and professional networks they gain from this program to their futures with our local business community and ecosystem. Already, graduates of the program have returned to Montgomery College to mentor current SMLP students through internships, informational interviews, and job opportunities.

The pay-it-forward attitude they gain through the program has been shown to be a powerful driver of positive change for our students and our community.

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dine

Tiny herb dumplings with shiitake mushrooms, parmesan soubise and egg yolk at Zinnia in Silver Spring BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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dine | REVIEW Swordfish piccata with blue crab butter, lemon, capers, cherry tomatoes, artichokes and kale at Zinnia in Silver Spring

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FLOWER POWER At Zinnia’s new fine-dining restaurant, chef Danny Wells offers an unpretentious, modern American menu in an inviting atmosphere

BY DAVID HAGEDORN PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY ON AN OCTOBER EVENING that still feels like summer, I’m at Zinnia, the 11,000-square-foot, all-day, multiconcept establishment that a year earlier replaced Mrs. K’s Toll House, the beloved Silver Spring mainstay whose 90-year run ended early in the pandemic.

I’m sitting in the larger of two split-level rooms comprising the 80-seat, finedining restaurant that owner Chris Brown and Zinnia’s chef, Danny Wells, unveiled in September. Th s is the latest in Brown’s Zinnia concepts; he opened the

tavern and vast beer garden in October 2021, a cafe in July 2022 and an upstairs bar a month later. (He laughs when asked if the new restaurant has a specific name.

“We have that same conversation at every managers’ meeting,” he demurs.)

Sipping a delightful, well-balanced cocktail made with mint and marjoram-infused gin, green Chartreuse and dry vermouth and nibbling a puff pastry tart of tender smoked lamb, roasted red peppers and whipped feta cheese, I take in the views. Outside, children

Overall Rating:

ZINNIA

B+

9201 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, 301-704-6653, eatzinnia.com FAVORITE DISHES: Steamed mussels with tomatoes and smoked paprika; duck breast with peaches; herb dumplings with shiitake mushrooms; rainbow trout stuffed with butternut squash, spinach and pine nuts; swordfish with blue crab, cherry tomatoes, lemon and capers PRICES: Appetizers: $12 to $15; Entrees: $22 to $39; Desserts: $8.

LIBATIONS: Owner Chris Brown enlisted his team from Takoma Bev Co. (Dylan Greer, cocktails; Seth Cook, wine; Mark Rothman, beer) to formulate the beverage program at Zinnia. The restaurant features several rotating craft cocktails ($13 to $16), among them the Bell Jar (gin, Nocino walnut liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and fig-infused vermouth) and the Pepino Fresca (tequila, Italicus bergamot liqueur, grapefruit bitters and cucumber).

Thirteen wines are offered by the glass and bottle: two sparklers ($15/$16; $58/$62), two rosés ($14/$15; $50/$52), four whites ($11 to $15; $38 to $56) and five reds ($12 to $16; $48 to $62). Cook favors Old World wines; nine of the 13 are from France, Spain or Italy.

Seven beers ($7 to $11) are available, four of them from Maryland breweries: Silver Branch Brewing Co. and Astro Lab Brewing in Silver Spring, Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore and Manor Hill Brewing in Ellicott City.

SERVICE: Informed, pleasant and engaging. Servers, when presenting bills, make a point of informing diners that a 20% service charge has already been added, even though that policy is clearly stated on the menu.

The gardens at Zinnia

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run around playing while adults sit in the hilly beer garden at tables outfi ted with colorful fringed patio umbrellas and painted metal lawn chairs, many of which take me back to my grandmother’s backyard. Inside, stone floors in shades of claret, brick and gray are evidence that the room was once an outdoor terrace. A post in the middle of the room leads to spokes on the ceiling surrounded by light bulbs, the fixture a reference to the large umbrella that used to shade the terrace. Paned awning windows propped open from the upstairs bar and dining room contribute to the suggestion that the lower dining room is outside.

Perusing the menu’s entrees, I zero in on “tiny herb dumplings, shiitake mushrooms, egg yolk, Parmesan Arborio rice soubise,” soon to discover that, as suspected, they’re spaetzle, squiggly little German dumplings made by scraping wheat flou -based batter through a col-

From top: Steamed blue-shell mussels with roasted garlic, mace and tomato; pan-roasted whole rainbow trout with spaghetti squash, spinach and pine nut stuffing, olive oil polenta and warm artichoke vinaigrette

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ander into boiling water.

Wells imbues his batter with pureed parsley and basil, turning the spaetzle vividly green, then sautes the cooked dumplings with shiitake mushrooms and soubise (a porridgelike rice sauce) and tops them with a raw egg yolk and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It’s up to the diner to toss the lot together so the yolk and cheese thicken the sauce and impart richness throughout. The delicious outcome is the menu’s sleeper hit. More on the food in a bit.

Brown, 40, lives in Takoma Park with his Owner Chris Brown (left) and chef Danny Wells in one of the dining rooms at Zinnia wife, Kelly Mills, and their three children. (Zinnia is their middle for the Black Restaurant Group for 19 trout stuffed with spinach, pine nuts child’s middle name.) The upstate New years, six of them at Republic restau- and roasted butternut squash is another York native came to the DMV for grad- rant in Takoma Park, which closed in standout. It’s ser ved over creamy uate school, earning a master’s degree September. (Wells had left in 2019.) polenta and topped with a vinaigrette in secondary education from George Republic was near Takoma Bev Co., and made with marinated artichoke hearts Washington University in 2010 and then Wells and Brown struck up a friendship and pickled peppers. teaching biology, advanced-placement because they’d often hang out in each For meat eaters, a 10-ounce, cenenvironmental science and horticulture other’s workplaces after work. ter-cut ribeye steak with tonka bean at Montgomery Blair High School for At Zinnia, Wells brings to the fine-di - (a wrinkled South American legume eight years. He came to love the hos- ing restaurant the kind of straightforward, with vanilla notes) and red wine sauce, pitality industry when working in it for unpretentious cooking for which he was roasted potatoes and crispy onion rings beer money in college. While teaching, known and appreciated at Republic, add- hits the spot, but my money is on the he spent summers and weekends “sling- ing touches of upscale flair here and there. duck. Wells sears a breast to medium ing coffee,” as he puts it, at Northside Steamed blue-shell mussels with roasted rare, slices it and serves it with a comSocial in Arlington. “I loved [the fi ld garlic cream, roasted tomatoes, mace and pote of cooked peaches, spiced pecans of ] food and beverage and those week- hot smoked paprika shine in their sim- and tarragon mixed with shredded conend shifts!” he exclaims. Th t love, in plicity. A hit of sherry brings a touch of fi ed (braised in fat until tender) duck 2017, inspired him to leave teaching and refineme t to blue crab, scallops, shrimp leg meat. Duck stock reduction flavored co-found (with his cousin, Seth Cook) and bacon chowder, even if I’d prefer not with orange zest completes the dish. A Takoma Beverage Co., an all-day coffee to eat it from a shallow square bowl. side order of “drunken” beech and oyster shop and bar in Takoma Park. When the In addition to the herb dumplings, mushrooms sauteed with Madeira wine Mrs. K’s space came on the market, he the swordfish is an outstanding entree. and garlic and served over brioche comsaw an opportunity to go bigger than Wells sears a thick chunk of the line- plements the meat dishes nicely.

Takoma Bev Co. He signed the lease in caught fish, then braises it to succulence Desserts at Zinnia, including so-so renwith cherry tomatoes, capers, lemon ditions of cheesecake, creme brulee and January 2021.

Wells, a Takoma Park native and Sil- and thinly sliced artichoke hearts, fi - chocolate ganache cake, are worth passing ver Spring resident, came onboard as ishing the dish with blue crab lumps. up. Th t’s a minor glitch in an otherwise executive chef in July 2022. He worked Pan-roasted whole, deboned rainbow pleasing performance. n BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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BY DAVID HAGEDORN | PHOTOS BY BRENDAN MCCABE

A taco al pastor at Trippy Tacos

WORTH THE TRIPPY IN JULY, 27-year-old Boyd resident Chris

Robles opened a Silver Spring brick-andmortar version of Trippy Tacos, his popular Montgomery County food truck specializing in Central American fare.

In addition to tacos, look for quesadillas (most $12.50), mulitas (griddled mini quesadillas made with corn tortillas, $4.50 to $5.50), tortas (sandwiches, most $12.50), loaded nachos and fries (most $14.50), burritos (most $12.50), pupusas (stuffed, flattened, cornmeal griddle cakes, $3.99) and extra-large pupusa “pizzas” ($32.99) cut into eight slices.

The menu standout is the baleada, a Honduran specialty for which a large flou tortilla is griddled, spread with refried beans, avocado, crema (like sour cream,

but tangier), queso fresco and scrambled eggs and folded in half. Ours, made with chicken ($12.50), practically fil s the entire plate. A first bite reveals how flaky and delicate the tortilla is. Th t’s because Trippy’s tortillas—flour and corn—are made in house. The excellent quality of the corn tortillas is evident in al pastor (spit-roasted pork) tacos and a tasty mulita stuffed with steak and oozy Monterey Jack cheese.

Robles was born in Rockville and grew up in Montgomery and Frederick counties. After earning a degree in business management and marketing from the University of Maryland in 2017, he interned at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington; instead

of staying in the fi ld, he moved afterward to Los Angeles without a job. “I felt I could do more,” he says. He hit the streets looking for a job and took one from the only place that called him back, a taco joint called Tacos Gavilan. There, he put to use the cooking skills he learned from his father, a catering chef. (Robles’ parents hail from El Salvador.)

After a year of working at Gavilan and then another L.A. taco restaurant, Robles decided in 2018 to return to Montgomery County and start his own business. “Th taco scene was blowing up [in Maryland], and if I didn’t do it then, it would be too late,” he says. He got a loan, bought a food truck and launched Trippy Tacos in July 2019. It was so successful that after a year

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Chris Robles, owner of the Trippy Tacos food truck and its brick-and-mortar offshoot in Silver Spring

he realized he needed kitchen space of his own rather than operating out of a commercial facility. It took two years to find the 800-square-foot location on Georgia Avenue, south of Randolph Road; it has counter seating for eight. He took over Delicioso Deli, running it as he transitioned it to Trippy Tacos. He carried over the deli menu’s baleadas and pupusas— and some of its employees.

The restaurant’s name comes from Robles’ Instagram handle: @trippyknowledge. “It means trippy, like different, unique, out of this world,” says Robles. “And the knowledge I have is trippy.”

Trippy Tacos, 12134 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, trippytacos.business.site

The excellent quality of the corn tortillas is evident in al pastor (spit-roasted pork) tacos.

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Pancit, lumpia Shanghai freshtktktktk lumpia Teekay captionand teekay

FILIPINO FIND

IF THERE’S SOMETHING EVEN better than Filipino breakfast, it’s all-day Filipino breakfast, which is one of the features of Filo Café, a family-run restaurant that opened in the Randolph Hills shopping center in Rockville in October.

All six breakfast plates come with sinangag (garlic fried rice), itlog (a crispedged sunny-side-up egg) and a protein, among them pork chops, tapa (like beef jerky), longanisa (sweet Filipino sausage), corned beef and fried milkfish.

Filo’s menu also includes noodle dishes; lumpia (spring rolls); combo plates of Filipino specialties such as pork or chicken adobo (sauteed and braised with soy sauce and vinegar), lechon Kawali (crispy-skin roasted pork belly with brown gravy); sweet and sour pompano; dinuguan (pork shoulder braised with pork blood and vinegar) and Filipino desserts. There are several boba

drinks, too. All of the savory plates are around $14. Lumpia are $6.99 to $12.99.

Boba is $5.49.

Th ee generations run the restaurant: Allaine Hontiveros, 22; her parents, Jaimie and Allan Hontiveros, 44 and 53; and Jaimie’s parents, Romeo and Lydia Ermitano, 75 and 68. Lydia does most of the cooking, having learned the craft from her father when growing up in the Philippines. The Ermitanos immigrated to the U.S. in 2005, settling in Prince George’s County to help a family member run a Filipino market and restaurant there. In 2015, Romeo and Lydia moved to Virginia Beach, where Lydia’s two brothers live, and opened a restaurant, selling it in 2021 to return to Maryland to be close to the Hontiveroses. Th y all share a house in Burtonsville.

The 1,600-square-foot restaurant, which seats 35 inside and eight outside, is bright and cheerful. Allaine is likely to take your order. Don’t pass up noodle

dishes, such as pancit bihon (rice noodles sauteed with cabbage, carrots, celery, chicken, soy sauce, garlic and onions) and mami (pork broth with noodles, vegetables and hard-boiled egg slices). Fried lumpia fill d with beef, pork or chicken are irresistible. Save room for dessert ($2.99 to $9.25), be it halo-halo (bananas, jackfruit and sweetened beans over purple yam or mango ice cream) or suman sa lihiya (glutinous rice cake with caramelized coconut cream).

A fun note: Filo Café diners can pay a meal forward by purchasing one for a random future diner. A ticket for the meal is posted on a cork board next to the cashier for anyone to redeem at will.

“It’s an act of kindness, or to build community,” says Allaine, whose family’s menu entreats, “Salamat Po!” (“Come again soon!)” We plan to.

Filo Café, 4836 Boiling Brook Pkwy., Rockville, 410-639-5405, linktr.ee/filocafe

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restaurant

COMINGS & GOINGS

The salad chain Chopt is opening a location in Cabin John Village in the first half of 2023, as is the Connecticutbased pizza chain Colony Grill. ~~~ Fast-casual seafood restaurant Slapfish closed in Montrose Crossing shopping center in November. In its place, Gaithersburg natives Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman will open the first Montgomery County location of their D.C.-based fast-casual Indian restaurant RASA in early spring. ~~~ Nava Thai Restaurant in Wheaton closed in September. ~~~ In October, Bambu Café, which specialized in Vietnamese beverages, closed in North Bethesda. Miller Ale House closed in Rockville after a 10year run. ~~~ K-Town Bistro in Kensington closed in November. In its place, Tacos Don Perez, which operates a food truck in Silver Spring’s Glenmont shopping center, will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant. ~~~ The owners of Chef Tony’s Restaurant, the seafood-and-Mediterranean mainstay in Bethesda, purchased Amalfi Ristorante in Rockville with plans to blend brands as they reopen the establishment. n

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Keswick Hall's treatment room

DRIVING RANGE

The pandemic left me in knots, so I finally booked that spa getaway I’d long dreamed of taking.

BY ADRIENNE WICHARD-EDDS

I’VE REACHED THE AGE where I’ve seen enough fancy hotels that it takes a lot to impress me. Keswick Hall is something special.

My visit to the boutique resort near Charlottesville, Virginia, was a long time coming. I first heard about it in the ’90s from a friend’s well-to-do parents, who’d often snag a room there when visiting their daughter at the University of Virginia, and promised myself I would check it out one day.

Years later, after I’d moved to Arlington, Virginia, and discovered the state’s trove of wineries within driving distance of my new hometown, the Italianate inn always seemed like a good spot for a weekend getaway. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that, in the throes of cabin fever, I moved the luxury resort back to the top of my bucket list after reading that it was undergoing a major renovation.

Tucked into a tree-lined enclave in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Keswick Hall has been many things since it was built in 1912—private residence, country club, boutique hotel—passing through a handful of owners, including Sir Bernard Ashley, husband of Laura Ashley (yes, that Laura Ashley).

When the current proprietors, Molly and Robert Hardie (who also own the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville), took full ownership in 2017, they had a grand vision for the property. Theirplan included expanding the hotel’s capacity to 80 guest rooms and adding a new infinity pool and cabanas, an updated golf course and tennis facilities, a new restaurant helmed by globally acclaimed chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten, and a brand-new spa.

Sparkling and pet-friendly, Keswick reopened to the public in October 2021, reestablishing its reputation as

} PHOTOS COURTESY OF KESWICK HALL & SPA

TREAT YOURSELF

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not only an excellent home base for vineyard-hopping, but a worldclass destination unto itself.

My sojourn came on one of those spectacular days as summer was cresting into fall—warm enough to sit poolside in the afternoon, but cool enough for a jacket when strolling the resort’s walking trails in the evening. I dropped my bags in my room—a deluxe king with a sprawling view of the property’s 600 manicured acres—then wound my way down a path to the just-opened spa, housed in a fieldstone-and-glass building with soaring windows that make the space feel at one with nature.

I had booked a 60-minute “intuitive” massage ($205) but arrived early enough to browse the boutique, replete with small-batch, organic cosmetics, hair and skin care products (including the spa’s

signature line from Farmaesthetics), as well as a smattering of country-club-chic clothing and accessories. I contemplated buying a caftan for post-spa pool lounging but dared not look at the price tag.

When it was time, I was escorted through a sunny hair and nail salon and into what seems silly to call the women’s “locker room,” because it felt more serene and private than my own home, with its customdesigned furnishings and impeccably stocked towel and beverage stations. I texted my family group chat—In the spa for the next hour.

Dad is in charge—donned a flu y robe, stashed my belongings in a locker and emerged into a vast relaxation room overlooking a fi ld of wildflowers and its attendant butterfli s, birds and deer.

There I sat—amid weighted blankets and sound-therapy

TUCKED INTO A TREE-LINED ENCLAVE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, KESWICK HALL HAS BEEN MANY THINGS SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN 1912.

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The spa at Keswick Hall calmly beckons.

A view of Keswick Hall & Spa

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Keswick Hall's relaxation room

SAY SPAAAHHHH Need some pampering to ease away the stress? These boutique spa resorts are also within a two-hour drive of the DMV— promising an easy day trip, although you may be tempted to stay longer.

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SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA There may be 168 rooms at this elegant English manor in Middleburg, Virginia, but somehow it feels like you have the place all to yourself. Situated on 340 acres with restaurants, an equestrian barn, multiple pools, a fitness center, golf and tennis facilities, lawn games and even a zip-lining park, the resort boasts a spa that’s a slice of serenity. A 60-minute Swedish massage ($205) is all you need to make the world disappear, particularly if Erica is your therapist.

Spa guests are asked to “set their intention” (relax, rebalance or rejuvenate) before their treatment and are sent home with a miniature vial of aromatherapeutic oil to keep the good vibes going. salamanderresort.com

devices, antioxidant chlorophyllinfused water and fresh fruit— while I waited for my therapist, Shanise, to retrieve me. And that is the last thing I remember.

OK, to be accurate, I do remember Shanise ushering me into one of the spa’s eight treatment rooms, which smelled divine in the way that spas do, redolent of lavender and lack of responsibility. And I remember the massage table, heated and bolstered in all the right spots, and how she went to work untangling the knots that had taken up residence in my muscles in the years since I had last treated myself to a massage.

But all of that became a hazy recollection, melted in a puddle of boneless-ness, swaddled in a cocoon of oblivion. Theonly thing I know for sure is that I unplugged myself for 60 glorious minutes, and when I opened my eyes, I did not want to go back to reality.

Eventually, of course, I had to—a transition that Shanise eased by handing me a glass of freshpressed juice. Opting out of the

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF KESWICK HALL & SPA; BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY OF SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA

DRIVING RANGE

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOARS HEAD RESORT

BOAR’S HEAD RESORT

Another gem of the Virginia Piedmont, this Charlottesville inn is more expansive (168 guest rooms) and less expensive than Keswick (most rooms are in the $175$300/night range), but still feels like a privileged getaway. If you haven’t visited the Boar’s Head in a while, things might feel different: The main building and its guest rooms were modernized in 2018, and two adjacent buildings will follow suit in 2023. The spa was also completely renovated after it was gutted by a fire in 2019. It reopened to the public in August 2021 with an updated menu, offering traditional salon services and specialized facials and body treatments, like the 50-minute Blue Ridge aromatherapy massage ($150). Boar’s Head’s extensive sport and fitness facilities include two pools, a climbing wall and all manner of racquet sports, as well as an 18-hole golf course with an extensive training academy. The resort is a launch point for hot-air balloon rides through Monticello Country Ballooning. boarsheadresort.com

infrared sauna and steam room, I headed for the luxe showers, helping myself to plant-based soaps and shampoos, disposable razors, shaving gel and fluffy towels, and letting my stress wash away as I took another half-step back to consciousness.

Retrieving my belongings from my locker, I noted my husband’s reply to my earlier text (a GIF of the parking lot attendants in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off taking the Ferrari for a joyride) and begrudgingly slipped back into my real-life clothes. Fortunately, what I was going back to, at least for one more night, was the beautiful inn, with its tended gardens and all the trappings of a life of leisure.

My evening plans included dinner with my older son, a student at UVA, at Keswick’s on-site restaurant, Marigold

by Jean-Georges. Sitting on the veranda overlooking the meticulously groomed Full Cry golf course, we marveled at our luck—perfect weather, combined with a swanky story assignment that found me a mere 10 miles from his apartment—while splitting dishes of whole roasted cauliflowe , warm shrimp salad, lobster with shoestring fries, and fried chicken with housemade creamed corn.

Our server tucked a parting gift of petite madeleines into a craftily folded napkin. I sent my kid back to college with leftovers

THERE I SAT—AMID WEIGHTED BLANKETS AND SOUND-THERAPY DEVICES, ANTIOXIDANT CHLOROPHYLLINFUSED WATER AND FRESH FRUIT.

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DRIVING RANGE

The boutique area at Keswick Hall

and returned to my room to find my bed turned down and a crackling fi e on the TV, convincing enough to induce a deep sleep.

Thenext morning, I was in no rush to extract myself from my plush bed (Duxiana mattress, Frette sheets) or leave the comforts of the vast hotel room, with its decadent marble bathroom, stocked snack pantry and walk-in closet that made me wish I’d brought more clothes.

I set up a makeshift office on the terrace and worked for an hour or so before I realized that I was only typing a few lines at a time between long gazes at the green horizon, framed at its edges by a bronze glow. I reluctantly closed my laptop and packed up, making a mental note not to wait another three decades before revisiting this ethereal place.

Now, I am two people: the person I was before I experienced Keswick, and the person I am after. I pity the next hotel that tries to impress me.

Rooms at Keswick Hall start at $375 per night. Spa treatments, including massage, facials, mani-pedis and body therapy, range from $70 to $400 and up. Keswick Hall, 701 Club Drive, Keswick, Virginia, keswick.com n Adrienne Wichard-Edds is co-founder of The Essay Coaches, which helps college-bound kids all over the world find their voice so they can tell their story.

If your perfect day involves a spa treatment topped off with a sunset sail, this grande dame of Maryland’s Eastern Shore might be your jam. Offering 78 guest rooms and suites in St. Michaels, the resort keeps guests busy with entertainment for the mind (history lectures), muscles (from golf and tennis to biking and bocce) and taste buds (resident chef Gregory James was recently named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland). For fun on the water, the inn’s private sailboats and yachts are available to charter. Like its restaurants, Perry Cabin’s spa incorporates the property’s natural resources into its menu—like the Seasonal Botanical Ritual, a 50-minute body treatment ($180) that utilizes freshly snipped herbs from an on-site garden. innatperrycabin.com

LEFT PHOTOS BY JASON VARNEY;

ABOVE PHOTO COURTESY OF KESWICK HALL & SPA

INN AT PERRY CABIN

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BY CHRISTINE KOUBEK FLYNN

BEGIN THE NEW YEAR IN NEW HOPE SET IN THE HEART of artsy and walkable New Hope,

Pennsylvania, the historic Logan Inn reopened in August 2021 after a two-year expansion that added 22 contemporary guest rooms and suites to the original 16-room inn. Ferry + Main, the new open-kitchen restaurant, has a large bar at its center, plus many delicious dishes, from butternut squash soup to arugula potato gnocchi. The main fl or’s warm-toned stone walls, cozy nooks, leather sofas and whiskey lounge with a wood-burning fi eplace—plus a small movie theater downstairs—make it easy to find your ideal respite. Framed photos of Freddie Mercury, and coffee tables dotted with books on the Rolling Stones and John Lennon infuse the place with a rockmusicians-on-vacation vibe.

Theswanky new guest rooms and four spacious suites include the vibrant Safari Suite (Room 211), which has a zebra rug, a decorative fi eplace and a balcony. Room 202 features Keith Haring art. So-called “annex” king rooms and suites have a retro fridge and mixology station with artisanal spirits and housemade mixers (pricing varies). All rooms include a Lavazza coffee/espresso machine, Sour Patch gummies and chocolate-covered raisins in big boxes ($5), and a “Love Box” ($10) with massage lotion and other intimacy items.

Rates begin at $180. Dogs allowed in select rooms ($100 fee).

Logan Inn, 10 W. Ferry St., New Hope, Pennsylvania, 215862-2300, loganinn.com

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO BY AMESSÉ PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTO BY ED DANDER; PHOTO BY AMESSÉ PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTO BY ED DANDER; PHOTO BY JUAN VIDAL PHOTOGRAPHY

GET AWAY

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NEW IN NOMA

OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2022 a short walk from Union Station,

the 10-story CitizenM Washington DC NoMa hotel is a study in art, design and efficiency. The colorful and spacious lobby is adorned with works from D.C. artists and has tucked-away booths and comfortable seating areas. The adjacent bar opens to an interior courtyard. Try CanteenM bar & kitchen’s signature cognac-based sidecar, or their DC Old Fashioned, which includes honey blossom water and locally sourced whiskey.

Sixteen of the 296 rooms are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The others are 150 square feet and designed to maximize space. Each includes a compact desk, a safe, an extra-large king bed with underbed storage, and a tablet that controls the TV, lights, blinds, blackout curtains and LED shower lighting.

Visit the lobby barista for coffee 24 hours a day. An $18.95 breakfast buffet includes unlimited espresso-based drinks. Th small hotel gym, open 24/7, includes two Pelotons and two higher-end Woodway treadmills.

Rates begin at $129. Save 6% when you book on the hotel’s

website or app and select the mycitizenMrate. While requests can’t be guaranteed, courtyard view rooms are quieter, and outer rooms on higher fl ors have a view of the greater NoMa area. Note: The ho el has no parking.

CitizenM Washington DC NoMa hotel, 1222 1st St. NE, Washington, D.C., 202-998-3851, citizenm.com/hotels/united-states/ washington-dc/washington-dc-noma

JOIN IN ARMY HISTORY TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF CITIZENM; BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

LOCATED OFF I-95 IN Virginia, roughly

27 miles from Bethesda, the National Museum of the United States Army tells the history of America’s oldest military branch, which was established in 1775.

Freestanding pylons—each with an etched image of a soldier and accompanying biography—stretch from the museum’s exterior into the entryway, through the lobby, and to the Army Concourse.

Opened on Veterans Day 2020, the 185,000-square-foot museum was designed for exploring Army history along with the history of our nation through art, artifacts, audio tours, talks with docents and more. Them d exhibit areas include Founding the Nation, Army and Society, Global War, Cold War and Preserving the Nation.

An entire visit could be spent in the Experiential Learning Center, where people of all ages and skill levels can hone

their skills in geography, science, technology, engineering and math through immersive activities. The“Fort Discover” section is a play space for kids to climb an Army tower, drop cargo supplies, launch a space rocket and drive a jeep. Animated Army mules Buckshot and Blackjack share Army innovations across history, from the creation of interstate highways, to the Panama Canal and satellite com-

munications, via interactive video games.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free timed-entry tickets are available online or at the museum’s entrance. The building is located outside of Fort Belvoir’s restricted area.

National Museum of the United States Army, 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 800-506-2672, thenmusa.org n

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SHOP TALK

MATERIAL WORLD Wrap a scrunchie around your hair bun and pull up the sleeves on that oversize blazer—’80s fashion is back in a big way.

1

BY ALEXANDRA GOPIN

2. BIG HAIR, BIG FUN You know the drill: Wear these Scünci scrunchies as bracelets until you need to tie your hair back with one (or a few, for that layered look).

Even the price feels retro. $8.89 for 10 at Target, Bethesda, 301-781-3725, target.com 3. PURPLE REIGN Make that pop of color a full-on punch, add dramatic batwing sleeves for good measure, and you’ve got yourself this Kerisma RYU sweater worthy of the MTV generation. $78 at OAK, Kensington, 301-933-0281, oaktheshop.com 4. JACKET REQUIRED Any ’80s prepster worth her brass buttons had a double-breasted blazer, like this cobalt blue Generation Love “Delilah” style, in her closet. $385 at Morley, Bethesda Row, 301-664-6440, shopmorley.com

5. JUMPSUIT UP! Back then, they were all about shoulder pads and big belts.

Sleek lines and a utilitarian feel bring this Charlotte denim jumpsuit into the new millennium. $228 at Faherty, Bethesda Row, 240-634-3004, fahertybrand.com

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6. DRIPPING WITH STYLE Beat it to Pink Dot Styles to pick up these graffiti-insp ed Jumper Maybach x Ahdorned crossbody handbags in vegan leather. $125 at Pink Dot Styles, Kensington, 240-558-3474, pinkdotstyles.com 7. DRESS YOU UP Chunky gold jewelry is hot again; find hese locally handcrafted earrings at Nesy, a Rockville-based shop that’s mostly online-only. $34.99 at Nesy, Rockville, 301-712-3354, nesycollection.com

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COURTESY PHOTOS

1. ANIMAL MAGNETISM Bold pattern plus fur trim equals something Joan Collins would have rocked on Dynasty. Th s Joseph Ribkoff oncho is also a hot item right now. $225 at Ibhana Creations II, Federal Plaza, Rockville, 301-424-0906, ibhana.net

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PETS

THE CLASS MENAGERIE In local schoolrooms, pets provide lessons of empathy and responsibility

BY CARALEE ADAMS

CLOVER AND CHLOE, a pair of Dutch

dwarf rabbits, spend most of their day in the pre-K classroom of B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School in Rockville. But the cuddly sisters are always on call to be dispatched as needed.

Early in the school year, when children struggle to separate from their parents, Assistant Director Elizabeth Carpenter says she goes into “rescue bunny operation mode” and takes a rabbit to wherever she hears crying.

“I come in with the bunny, and the faucet turns off immediately,” she says.

“It really helps to calm children down and give them something else to focus on besides their own tears.” Th oughout the year, Carpenter takes the rabbits on visits to the classrooms of 2- to 5-yearolds, who often jump and squeal as the animals hop around and play.

“The rabbits are real troupers and

lovely with the children,” says Carpenter, who is the animals’ weekend caretaker in her Poolesville home. “What [the children] get is a feeling of empathy toward another living creature. Th t’s what we’re hoping to cultivate at this age.”

Classroom pets—from mammals to reptiles to fish—can teach responsible pet care, say local educators, and be reallife examples in lessons about the life sciences, chemistry, engineering and the environment.

Some teachers finan e their own pet projects. Others turn to organizations, such as Pet Care Trust—a nonprofit with finan ial support from the pet industry— for grants from its Pets in the Classroom (PITC) program.

The most popular classroom pets are bearded dragons, fish and guinea pigs, according to Matt Coffi affer, executive director of Pet Care Trust, which

gives coupons for 37 different types of animals for teachers to buy at local pet stores. Some of the most unusual have included tarantulas and chinchillas.

“It’s not just about the entertainment; it’s about the education,” Coffi affer says. “We think that this could be a really important channel to help create more pathways in STEM education, and particularly for young girls.”

At the all-girls Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Flavia Huber says having reptiles in her sixthgrade environmental science classroom gives her students a chance to appreciate creatures that aren’t just “cute and fuzzy,” and shows girls that science isn’t just for boys. “I want my students to develop a lifelong sense of wonder about the natural world,” Huber says.

Huber used a PITC grant last year to buy a corn snake, Noodle, which

COURTESY PHOTOS

Liri Kalev (above) and Allie Scarpelli (lower left) enjoy the rabbits at B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School in Rockville

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the girls can volunteer to feed tiny dead mice. She also has a three-legged spiny-tailed lizard, Trip, and a bearded dragon, Mushu, who lives in a bioactive terrarium with decomposing fungi and insects to hunt. “When we talk about nutrient cycling and food webs, Mushu comes into play,” Huber says. “The kids also just like to observe him. We joke that he sits in judgment upon us while we are doing work, because he does seem to stare.”

Students in Lore Neubeiser’s special education class at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg like to watch their classroom gerbils, Mellow and Macchiato, scurry through their tubing and play on a wheel in their enclosure. Some of the students don’t have the opportunity to keep animals at home, Neubeiser says, and the pets provide both emotional support and practical lessons.

“I hope it builds a passion for students to appreciate nature and science. Th y also learn how to take care of an animal,” she says. “The kids really, really connect with the gerbils. Some of them on the [autism] spectrum who really don’t interact a lot with each other come over and interact with the gerbils.”

A bonus of getting funding from PITC, Neubeiser says, was that her class bought the gerbils at Petco on a class fi ld trip, where they learned how to ask for assistance, purchase supplies and gauge total costs.

For Jessica Neuringer at Ritchie Park Elementary School in Rockville, two Russian tortoises, Sheldon and Maisy, add a little excitement to her fi th-grade classroom. “The kids gravitate toward the tank to watch them,” she says. “Sometimes I take them out to let the kids pet the tortoise shells or let [the tortoises]

walk around on the classroom fl or.”

Anna Uehling, a media specialist at Harmony Hills Elementary School in Silver Spring, set up a 10-gallon aquarium in her library and stocked it with one betta fish and three tiny neon tetra schooling fish with a PITC grant, researching on YouTube how to care for them. She has a laminated sheet with facts about the fish next to the tank, as well as a basket with books about fish. The aquarium is a calming presence, she says, and sometimes students who’ve had a rough start to their day pop by the library to watch the little swimmers.

“I hope it inspires [kids] to be interested in learning more…and an appreciation for nature and to slow down,” Uehling says. “The e’s a lot of talk about social/emotional learning this year, especially coming after the pandemic, and I feel like this is a great segue into that.” n

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CAMP

TYPE

GENDER AGES

LOCATION

FIELD TRIPS

HORSES

Summer Camps

WATER SPORTS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEBSITE & PHONE

Barrie Camp On-site swimming, canoeing, sports, archery, arts, nature, outdoor living skills, STEM, karate, science, theatrics, music and leadership training.

Day

Coed

3.5 - 14

Silver Spring, MD

www.barrie.org/camp 301-576-2818

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Bullis School Campers can choose from a wide variety of options including day camp, sports, leadership training, and unique specialty camps such as aviation, fishing, theatre and visual arts.

Day

Coed

3.5 - 17

Potomac, MD

https://summer-programs. bullis.org/ 301-983-5741

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Calleva Calleva focuses on empowering kids through exciting outdoor adventure experiences, with Maryland & Virginia locations & transportation pickup points throughout the DMV. Some programs include overnight.

Day & Coed Overnight

5 - 17

D.C. Metro area

www.calleva.org 301-216-1248

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Camp Tall Timbers Voted Best of Bethesda 2015, 2017, 1019, 2020 & 2021. ACA accredited. Variety of sessions offered & activities. Specialties: Overnight Coed aquatics, equestrian, sports programs, challenge & great outdoors, archery, arts and more.

7 - 16

High View, WV

www.camptalltimbers.com 301-874-0111

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Creative Summer at Holton-Arms Create your own summer: We offer classes in the arts, crafts, dance, music, outdoor exploration, sports, swimming, tennis, theater, academics, and more. Bus service and aftercare available.

Day/ Sports

Coed

4 - 13

Bethesda, MD

www.holtoncreativesummer. org 301-365-6003

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Georgetown Preparatory School Sports camp with instruction, games and fun on first-rate athletic facilities. Featuring baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, rugby and soccer.

Day

Coed

Rising Grades 3 to 9

N. Bethesda, MD

www.gprep.org/camps 301-214-1213

Glen Echo Park Summer Camp Sports camp with instruction, games and fun on first-rate athletic facilities. Featuring baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, rugby and soccer.

Day

Coed

5 - 17

Glen Echo, Bethesda, MD

glenechopark.org/camps 301-634-2255

Green Acres School Swimming instruction at our on-campus pool; Create your own path in science & technology, sports, music and art.

Day

Coed

Age 4 Grade 7

N. Bethesda, MD

www.greenacrescamp.org 301-468-8110

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KID Museum Summer Camp Be a KID with us as we invent, explore, and make our way through the summer! KID Museum’s camps are designed and led by our professional maker educators and develop real-world skills through fun, hands-on projects.

Day

Coed

7 - 15

Bethesda, MD

kid-museum.org/summer 301-941-4905

Lowell School Horsemanship, outdoor program, onsite swimming pool, STEM and theater arts programs and extended programs into August including an aquatics camp.

Day

Coed

3 - 14

Washington, D.C.

www.lowellschool.org 202-577-2006

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Oneness-Family Montessori School Daily nature exploration (1st-5th grade), pool trips & water-play, yoga, thrilling creative arts & sciences, low camper to counselor ratio and extended care!

Day

Coed

3.5 - 14

Chevy Chase, MD

www.onenessfamily.org 301-652-7751

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CAMP

TYPE

Summer Camps

FIELD TRIPS

23

HORSES

Essential information on

WATER SPORTS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

GENDER AGES LOCATION WEBSITE & PHONE

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School archery, art, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, circus, coding, culinary, dungeons and dragons, entrepreneurship, field hockey, football, forensics, handwork crafting, lacrosse, robotics/STEM, soccer, softball, theatre, volleyball, yoga and jr. day camp.

Before/aftercare and lunch available.

Day

Coed

4 - 17

Olney, MD

www.olgchs.org/camps 240-283-3218

Round House Theatre Camp 1-Week and Multi-Week camps for youth and teens. Focus on acting, playwriting, storytelling, design and more. Inspire creativity and explore your imagination!

Day

Coed

5 - 18

Bethesda, Silver Spring, MD

www.roundhousetheatre.org 301-585-1225

St. John’s College High School Summer Sports Camps Baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, sport performance, track and field and volleyball.

Day

Coed

Chevy Chase, D.C.

www.stjohnschs.org/ summercamps 202-363-2316

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Choose your own adventure from over 45 classes including: musical theater, STEM in nature, basketball, soccer, painting, cartooning, jewelry making, sculpture, dance, cardboard boat regatta, cooking, ukulele lessons, swimming, diving, adventure camps and more!

Day

Coed

Bethesda, MD

www. stoneridgesummercampus.org 301-657-4322

7 - 17

4 - 17

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Check out our digital directory of local summer camps

Summer Camps Guide

www.bethesdamagazine.com/directories/summer-camp

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st! ile they la ckets wh ti r u ARY 1! o y t N Ge ENS JA U

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2023

n o C p Cam

TIO REGISTR A

N OP

is here!

ing fun and learn

three sessio

ns

of ies across • 8-acres r sports d opportunit n a s e m gym, outdoo e a th r, le te a ip e lt u th M x • black bo ygrounds, a • Three pla m ratio much ore

so -camper courts, and counselor-to w lo 14 and up a d n a u ps ble for kids ila va a m • Small gro ra g July 7 pro June 20 – r-in-training Session 1: • Counselo 0 – July 28 re available n 2: July 1 io s • After ca s e S e ust 4 15 welcom ly 31 – Aug Ju : ll • Kids 3 to a C st La

Visit www.lowellschool.org/camp-overview to register Contact programs@lowellschool.org for more information 1640 Kalmia Road NW | Washington DC 20012 | www.lowellschool.org

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Fun-Paced Learning at McLean School

Summer Day Camp Adventure, Arts & Sports

STEM ACADEMICS SPORTS ARTS COMMUNITY SERVICE TRAVEL BEFORE & AFTER CARE

K - Grade 12 June 20 - July 28 240.395.0676

summeredge.org Summer Programs Camp Dates: June 19th - July 28th Registration opens January 30th

Earth Keepers (Grades 1-5) • Daily outdoor hikes to wilderness areas • Interactive exhibits at nature centers & museums • Exploring with fossils, animal tracks, & bird calls • Swimming & climbing time

Peace Weavers (Ages 3-6 ½) • Unique weekly themes with art, play, & projects • Fun fitness games, creative movement, & yoga • In-house entertainment and off-campus field trips • Water-play and playground trips

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Georgetown Prep offers Summer Sports Camps on our beautiful campus with first-rate athletic facilities.

Campers will learn new skills, play games, and have fun!

Visit www.gprep.org/camps 10900 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852 Gallop to the beat of Summer fun!

Camp Olympia

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Co-Ed Instructional Sports Program Camp: June 19 - August 25

Spring Break Camp: April 3 - 7 and April 10

Rising Prek-1st graders: Enjoy weekly programs full of wacky activities, water or pool play, science experiments, games, songs, and amazing arts and crafts

Open House Dates: January 21 & 28 February 11 March 4

Gator Grab Bag: Rising 2-8th graders choose from our extensive list of individual on-campus classes in the arts, sports, STEM, swimming, cooking, and more Venture off-campus: Join our famous Adventure Camps High school students: Take a summer class for enrichment or try our famous Adventure

Stone Ridge

Full-day, weekly summer programs for children ages 4-18 June 20-July 28, 2023 9101 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 email@stoneridgesummercampus.org

week minimum Ages 3-1/2 - 15yrs

Activities Include:

• Horseback Riding • Football • Basketball • Gymnastics • Swimming • Soccer

• Tennis • Mountain Biking • Games and more!

5511 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville, MD 20855

www.camp-olympia.com • 301-926-9281 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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summer camps

Open House Sundays 12-2 pm

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REGISTRATION OPENS January 9, 2023

June 20 – August 11 Ages 31/2 – 17

Jan 8 | Feb 5 | Mar 12 Join us for our FREE Summer Camp Fair Saturday January 21, 2023 1pm - 3pm

camp@barrie.org 301.576.2818

barrie.org/camp

Athletic ~ Specialty ~ Bulldog Day Camps Before & Aftercare Available 7:30am–6:00pm FOR MORE INFORMATION

WWW.BULLIS.ORG/SUMMERPROGRAMS QUESTIONS? CALL 301-983-5741

Away from the everyday 3 & 2 week sessions Coed | Ages 7 to 16

Join our virtual open house and learn more about our award-winning program.

Register now for Summer 2023!

Visit www.camptalltimbers.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

We are HAPPY Campers!

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JUNE 19 AUGUST 25, 2023

glenechopark.org/ camps

Glen Echo Park

SUMMER CAMPS 4

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Visual Arts Performing Arts Nature & Aquatic Life

Enriching Creative & Fun!

GOOD COUNSEL

THEATRE CAMPS GRADES K-12 in Silver Spring and Bethesda SUMMER 2023

2023 Summer Programs ATHLETICS

Baseball Basketball Cheerleading Field Hockey Football Lacrosse Soccer Softball Volleyball

SPECIALty

Archery Circus Dungeons & Dragons SPARK Business Academy Yoga

SCIENCE & TECH

Forensics Python Coding Robotics STEM

Falcons Soar day camp for children ages 5-8 years-old

E

OURS Y S S E XPR

ELF

SPECIALty

Culinary Theatre Visual Arts

Visit olgchs.org/camps for the camp calendar. Registration opens in January.

301.585.1225 Explore sessions and register at RoundHouseTheatre.org/Camp BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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OUTTAKES

PHOTO BY HANNELE LAHTI

F

or Jennifer Tepper’s reported essay on being an urban chicken farmer (“Henhouse Proud,” page 156), photographer Hannele Lahti captured several backyard shots. Here, Bodhi, one of Tepper’s 2-year-old twins, is chasing Angry Bird, a Lavender Orpington who is also 2. Loudy, a pullet, looks on from inside the coop. “He loves all animals,” Tepper says of Bodhi. “His favorite thing to ask for is videos of cows on YouTube.”

The chase may be on, but Bodhi and Angry Bird actually have a great relationship, Tepper says: “Th y both came into our lives around the same time. He’s our one kid who would spend his whole day in the coop area if allowed.”

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