Bethesda Magazine - January/February 2026

BEST

OF

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

BEST RISING STAR Sports broadcaster Alexa Landestoy covers the Caps

+228 PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO & PEOPLE TO KNOW

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 VOLUME

23

S

ETH B B T

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OF

ESDA

1

PAGE 52 Alexa Landestoy at the Washington Capitals mural on Bethesda Row

52

86

Our favorite places to go, things to do and people to know

The best businesses and more from our readers in 192 categories

Editors’ Picks

ISSUE

Readers’ Picks

ON THE COVER: ALEXA LANDESTOY ON BETHESDA ROW / PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY Bethesda Magazine (ISSN # 3069-079X; USPS # 25871), January/February 2026, is published six times a year, plus one additional special issue in September, for $19.95 per year

by Bethesda Magazine (4520 East West Highway, Suite 612, Bethesda, MD 20814). Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, MD. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bethesda Magazine. c/o Specialized Fulfillment Services. Attn: Teresa Holley. 3100 Valleywood Drive, Kettering OH 45429.

12 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

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I I I I II I I I

FEATURES

140

146

How a Silver Spring musician took a stand against hate

BY MIKE UNGER

Four events that made a big impression

BY SOFIA APPOLONIO AND DANA GERBER

Bethesda Interview: Daryl Davis

Celebrations of the Year

TOP PHOTO BY CAIT KRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTO BY JONATHAN TIMMES

PAGE 146 Celebrations of the Year

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3 0 B EST B ETS Rent in Concert at Strathmore

202 DRI V I NG RA NGE Sugar Tree Country Store in Virginia

DEPARTMENTS TO OUR READERS CONTRIBUTORS

25 Banter 26

PEOPLE WATCHING

28

READING LIST

30

BEST BETS

34

COURTSIDE CAMARADERIE

36

SWEET SENSATION

196

Calendar of upcoming events The dynamic duo behind Whitman’s basketball teams

COLD-WEATHER FRIENDS

Warm winter wear from local stores

198 TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOK

Celebrate America’s birthday all year in Philly

The latest on area notables Top books sold locally

PAGE 196 Veronica Beard coat

195 Good Life

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PHOTO BY MICHAEL REINMILLER; PHOTO BY SKY PICS LLC; COURTESY PHOTOS

20 20

202 DRIVING RANGE

Experience all things maple in Virginia’s Highland County

210 ON THE PATH TO HEALTH

Locals walk with doctors while discussing medical topics

216

Issei mochi gummies started as a Bethesda mom’s healthy snack idea

CROSSWORD

Test your local knowledge with our puzzle

169 Home 170

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

172

KIDS CENTRAL

Trendy decor in brown hues Children’s spaces give youngsters a place to grow

PAGE 170 Waffle blanket from Boll & Branch

182 BY THE NUMBERS Real estate trends

by ZIP code

Advertising Sections 39

Expert Insights

120

Best of the Best

166

Profiles: Family Business

180

Compass

186

Summer Camps

213

Private Schools

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MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE

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TO OUR READERS

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT

EVERY YEAR, WE FILL OUR BEST OF BETHESDA ISSUE WITH OUR EDITORS’ PICKS AND THE EXCITING RESULTS OF OUR READERS’ POLL. There’s so much to discover in our list of editors’ picks, including new eateries, cool stores and break-out-of-your-rut ways to exercise. You don’t need to make a resolution to try salsa dancing or take a class surrounded by Porsches—just do it.

When I started catching sports reporter Alexa Landestoy on Monumental Sports Network before or after a Washington Capitals game a couple years ago, I became a fan. She’s knowledgeable about hockey, and personable when she’s interviewing players and coaches. She’s a rising star in the sportscasting world, and we were thrilled to include her on our cover and in our Best of Bethesda Editors’ Picks (page 52).

Readers vote every year for their favorites, and what rises to the top always brings surprises along with winners that make the list year after year (page 86).

This issue also includes a story on local chapters of a national organization that invite people to hear a short health talk from a doctor, followed by a walk with a few physicians (“On the Path to Health,” page 210). Read about inspiring people, including a musician who’s worked to change the minds of Ku Klux Klan members (“Bethesda Interview,” page 140) and a Bethesda mom who started a candy company so her kids would have a healthier treat (“Sweet Sensation,” page 36).

WHEN I THINK of the most memorable stories in recent issues of Bethesda Magazine,

many were the work of Amy Halpern, who lived in Potomac and started writing for us about five years ago. Amy died in November of breast cancer.

For an assignment about a year ago to write about a Silver Spring family who started a foundation that has raised millions for research on pediatric brain cancer, Amy interviewed a local family whose daughter was being treated for cancer, and it was hard to read the story without crying. In a 2021 story, Amy wrote movingly about two sons helping their mom as she was living with ALS. Her look at gun owners in Montgomery County in 2021 was eye-opening. An in-depth piece in our September/October 2024 issue on Montgomery County Public Schools won Amy an award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Since the beginning of our Women Who Inspire feature, Amy played a key role, from helping select the honorees to writing the profiles. She shined onstage while moderating the Women Who Inspire luncheon panel in 2024.

I’m going to miss Amy’s enthusiasm, work ethic and stellar writing.

The magazine won’t be the same without her.

KATHLEEN NEARY EDITOR

Amy Halpern, left, leads the Women Who Inspire panel at our 2024 event. Marissa Mitchell, right, was an honoree.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

BACKGROUND: “I am a freelance commercial and portrait photographer. I specialize in photographing people in their spaces.” Tinsley was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He lives in D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood.

IN THIS ISSUE: Tinsley took the photos of Alexa Landestoy on the cover and in Best of Bethesda Editors’ Picks (“Best Rising Star,” page 54).

FAVORITE MOCO SPOT: “I bounce around all over, but I had an early dinner at Mon Ami Gabi [in Bethesda] recently after a shoot and loved the escargot and martinis.”

WHAT HE DOES FOR FUN: “I’ve dived back into reading. I am working my way through Hugo Award winners. I just read Hyperion and Neuromancer, both great. I’m almost done with The Three-Body Problem.”

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT

ERIN GIFFORD

BROADLANDS, VIRGINIA BACKGROUND: Gifford is a freelance writer focusing on outdoor recreation, road trips and wellness travel. She writes about hiking trails in Virginia at gohikevirginia.com and has written three hiking guidebooks for FalconGuides. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Outside magazine. Gifford grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, and spent every other weekend in Potomac with her dad and stepmother.

IN THIS ISSUE: Gifford traveled to Virginia’s Highland County Maple Festival for “In Search of Sweetness,” page 202.

FAVORITE MOCO SPOT: A now-shuttered video rental store in what is now Cabin John Village.

“Growing up, my stepsiblings and I went there every other Friday night to pick out videos.”

WHAT SHE DOES FOR FUN: “I enjoy hiking and family road trips. I’m completing a quest to run a half-marathon in every U.S. state.” Gifford’s final race to complete the challenge is the Maui Oceanfront Half Marathon in Hawaii on Jan. 18.

“The quest has been the fun part. The running, maybe a little less so.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PHOTO BY JIMELL GREENE; COURTESY PHOTOS; PHOTO BY HILARY SCHWAB

A Tribute to the Best

LOUIS TINSLEY

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Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Come home to extraordinary.

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12/18/25 10:50 AM

PUBLISHER Jennifer Farkas

BETHESDA MAGAZINE EDITORIAL

PUBLISHING

TODAY MEDIA

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Sherri Greeves

PRESIDENT/CEO Robert F. Martinelli

EDITOR

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING OPERATIONS

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MANAGING EDITOR

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Jeni Hansen, Peter Scott

ART DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENTS

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CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR

INTERN

DIGITAL PRODUCER

Diana Ramírez

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COPY EDITORS

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Amy Orndorff REPORTERS

IN MEMORIAM

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CONTROLLER & DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Nicole Jones

FOUNDERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

INTERN

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Caralee Adams, Jennifer Barger, Rachel Pomerance Berl, Stephanie Siegel Burke, Meg Drennan, Christine Koubek Flynn, Dana Gerber, Wendy A. Jordan, Dawn Klavon, Nevin Martell, Buzz McClain, Jacqueline Mendelsohn, David Montgomery, Mike Unger, Carolyn Weber

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SE A SON

Coming up at

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Wed, Feb 4

Kurt Elling: In the Brass Palace with the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra Fri, Feb 13 Bold jazz vocals meet big band

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RENT in Concert Wed, Feb 25

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Tango After Dark Sun, Feb 22

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Banter What people are talking about

Bethesda resident Mika Shino created Issei mochi gummies as a healthier treat for her kids. PAGE 36

PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE

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BANTER NEWSMAKERS

People Watching

BY CARALEE ADAMS

Despite having more therapists, diagnostics and medications than ever before to treat young people struggling with anxiety and depression, the situation keeps getting worse, says Will Dobud. In Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health (New Society Publishers, September 2025) written with co-author Nevin Harper, Dobud challenges the current approach to treatment. “The whole system is created around this medicalized understanding of mental health that creates this labeling and more othering of children,” says the 38-year-old social worker and researcher who divides his time between Chevy Chase and Charles Sturt University in Australia, where he is a senior lecturer. The book suggests revisiting the basics of what works, such as promoting social connections and giving kids opportunities to experience success and mastery, says Dobud, who graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and earned his master’s degree and doctorate in social work in Australia. “We have a lot of passive interventions: Take this and then everything will be better,” he says. “We need to treat kids as active participants.”

FROM TOP: REOL MEDIA; COURTESY WILL DOBUD (2)

Tiffany Nesfield, left, leading a training session

In high school, Tiffany Nesfield drafted a business plan for a comprehensive fitness company somewhat like the one she opened in September in downtown Bethesda at 7832 Wisconsin Ave. Nesfield Performance offers personal training, physical therapy, therapeutic massage, fitness classes and nutritional coaching under one roof. Nesfield, a state champion hurdler who attended high school in Prince George’s County, was a physical therapy intern in high school at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she says she realized the need for a coordinated approach in helping patients recovering from injuries. After competing in track at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studying sports management, Nesfield became a personal trainer and massage therapist.

“In my core, I love being a part of people’s growth, and that’s what we do here,” says Nesfield, 39, of Chevy Chase, who has 11 employees. “The vision is to have an integrated system in one location ... where everyone is on the same page.”

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: C. SHERWOOD MACKEL (2); CROCHET PHOTO BY ROSE HOWARD; COURTESY NATALIE BAHMANYAR (2); COURTESY HERTA FEELY (2)

Clockwise from top left: Lynn Rust, left, and Sherwood Mackel; Rust using a “Sher-Hold” device to paint; the device made for crocheting After retiring from the National Institutes of Health in 2022, scientist Lynn Rust, 64, of Silver Spring looked forward to pursuing her lifelong passion for painting. But arthritis in her right hand caused too much pain. Friend Sherwood Mackel, 65, who also lives in Silver Spring, drilled a hole in a golf ball and pushed a paintbrush through it to help keep Rust’s hand in what therapists call a safe “C-Shape” position, which prevents pinching of the thumb and forefinger. It did the trick, allowing her to paint without discomfort. “It was such a Goldilocks moment,” Rust says, knowing she could hold the ball and paint all day. The two adapted the device into different sizes for tasks such as writing, eating, playing guitar or crocheting. They launched their product line in November 2024. What they call the “Sher-Hold” device is patent pending. The motto of their business Gripz is for people with hand pain to “get their grip back on life.” Rust says being able to paint and help others “gives me such a sense of jubilation.” Devices are sold on their website, gripz.biz.

—Meredith Carlson Daly

Last summer Natalie Bahmanyar says she opened a TikTok account (@colourmenat) to share her “grandma activities” of crafting, coloring and cooking. On a whim, she posted an unedited short video of dozens of crows flying in and eating from her seventh-floor apartment balcony with zero expectation that it would take off. The video received 1 million hits within a day and 4.6 million as of early December. “It’s absolutely bonkers to me,” says the 36-year-old who lives in North Bethesda and works for a market research company. “It has brought so much joy to my heart.

The overwhelming number of comments were positive.” Filmed at sunset in October and set to eerie-sounding music, Bahmanyar posted with the caption: “i left out snacks once and now im responsible for a murder. #crowtok #witchyvibes #autumnmagic #crowsoftiktok #spookyseason.”

She’s posted about seven more crow videos as of early December, continuing to feed dry dog food to her beloved birds. She says it never gets old when there’s a big response from the crows. “It’s awe-inspiring,” Bahmanyar says. “I just stand out there being baffled and struck by what I’ve gotten myself into.”

Herta Feely’s Strange Shape of Love (Castle Bridge Media, September 2025) is a suspense novel about young journalist Charlotte Cooper, who is caught up in a blackmail scandal after someone threatens to publish nude photos of her online. Feely, 74, who lives in Chevy Chase, says the story was inspired in part by the news of a hacker releasing nude photos of celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst about a decade ago.

“I remember thinking what a terrible invasion of privacy and how awful it must have been for those women,” says Feely, whose debut novel, Saving Phoebe Murrow (Upper Hand Press & Twenty7 Books, 2016), focused on the struggle of a mother trying to keep her teenage daughter safe from cyberbullying. “I wanted to write this book as kind of a continuation of examining the impact of the internet and social media on our lives.”

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BANTER NEWSMAKERS

READING LIST Andrea Gomirato was searching social media for

new recipes and says he found other people who enjoyed cooking. Some wanted to sell their food but didn’t know how. In September, Gomirato launched FromScratch (fromscratch.one), an online platform for individuals to post available homemade items and link up with nearby customers. “The main idea is the marketplace has to be hyperlocal and very focused on a neighborhood. This allows people to see what’s cooking around the corner from them,” says Gomirato, 40, who lives in the Asburton neighborhood of Bethesda. In Maryland, home-based “cottage food” businesses are allowed for some baked goods, jams and candies (see the state’s website for rules). On the FromScratch website, shoppers can browse ever-changing options such as carrot pineapple cake, low-sugar strawberry jam and classic granola. A map shows the general location of the sellers, and addresses are shared after the purchase to arrange for pickup. Gomirato says the business, which is only focused on lower Montgomery County for now, is connecting people with food they couldn’t get elsewhere and is building community as neighbors get to know one another with each sale.

These were the best-selling books at Wonderland Books in Bethesda in October 2025.

Fiction 1 The Impossible Fortune Richard Osman 2 Heart the Lover Lily King 3 What We Can Know Ian McEwan 4 The Correspondent Virginia Evans 5 The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny Kiran Desai 6 Alchemised SenLinYu 7 The Secret of Secrets Dan Brown 8 Buckeye Patrick Ryan 9 Wreck Catherine Newman 10 Frozen River Ariel Lawhon

Recent Books By Local Authors est Offer Wins (Celadon Books, November 2025) B

by Cabin John resident Marisa Kashino

Nonfiction 1 On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century Timothy Snyder 2 107 Days Kamala Harris 3 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation Andrew Ross Sorkin 4 Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection John Greene 5 The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald John U. Bacon 6 Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share With People You Love Samin Nosrat 7 Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy Joyce Vance

pecial Teams (Peachtree Publishing, November 2025) S

by Silver Spring resident Fred Bowen

8 Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How to Fix It Jane Leavy

American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and A New Age of Hate (Little, Brown and Company, January 2026)

by Bethesda resident Eric Lichtblau

9 Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America Beth Macy

Have an idea for People Watching? Email editorial@BethesdaMagazine.com.

10 Abundance Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

FROM TOP: COURTESY ANDREA GOMIRATO; COURTESY ROYCE HANSON; COURTESY PHOTOS (BOOK COVERS)

When Royce Hanson was told by Montgomery County officials that a park was going to be named in his honor, the 94-year-old says his first reaction was to tell them to wait until he died. “But they convinced me that it was a good idea to go ahead, and, as I said at the dedication, it was a lot more fun than a funeral,” jokes Hanson, former chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board and longtime advocate for environmental preservation. In November, the Royce Hanson Conservation Park at Broad Run opened at 21820 Club Hollow Road in Poolesville in the county’s Agricultural Reserve on nearly 500 acres. Hanson, who lives in Montgomery Village, says he’s been to the park several times to walk on its 5 miles of trails. Hanson has written extensively on strategic land-use policy and has held several academic positions, including research professor at the Institute of Public Policy at George Washington University. “A lot of people are remembered for what they built,” Hanson says. “I’m happy to be remembered for what we left alone.”

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BANTER CALENDAR

BEST BETS Music Jan. 16

Jan. 24

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs hits from Motown greats and soul legends including Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations and Smokey Robinson.

Byron Stripling will conduct the orchestra and vocalists Chester Gregory, Michael Lynche and Darren Lorenzo in concert at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. strathmore.org

The R&B singer won a Grammy Award in 2009 for her song “Be OK,” which features rapper will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. She performs at the Bethesda Theater as part of her Home Tour. bethesdatheater.com

Jan. 17

The JoGo Project Prepare to get funked up at this tribute to the legendary band Parliament Funkadelic at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown.

Led by saxophonist and former Strathmore artist-in-residence Elijah Jamal Balbed, the JoGo Project, a Washington, D.C., jazz and go-go group, puts its spin on the groovy and psychedelic sounds of George Clinton’s P-Funk collective. blackrockcenter.org

Chrisette Michele

Feb. 3

Yo-Yo Ma Washington Performing Arts presents the famous cellist in an intimate solo concert featuring Bach suites and music by contemporary composers at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. strathmore.org

Feb. 7

Sun Ra Arkestra Blending big-band swing and free jazz since the 1950s, the Afro-futurism pioneers perform at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Expect the kind of singing, dancing and pageantry that carries on founder Sun Ra’s legacy of positivity through music. blackrockcenter.org

Feb. 13

Niko Moon The country-pop singer-songwriter who has penned songs for Zac Brown, Rascal Flatts and Morgan Wallen scored a hit with his solo debut single, “Good Time.” His latest record, American Palm, released in July, is a concept album about seaside getaways and beach trips. Catch the tropical vacation vibes at his concert at The Fillmore Silver Spring. fillmoresilverspring.com

Feb. 25

Rent in Concert A live cast and band perform songs from the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Rent at The Music Center at Strathmore.

Loosely based on the Puccini opera La Bohème, the show is about a group of artists living in New York City’s East Village in the 1990s. Come early for a preshow dialogue about LGBTQ+ community-building. strathmore.org

Feb. 27

Earlybirds Club This dance party aimed at the middle-aged crowd, featuring music from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, runs from 6-10 p.m. so revelers can get their groove on and still be in bed before midnight. The roving event—it’s hit clubs in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle, among other places—comes to The Fillmore Silver Spring. fillmoresilverspring.com

Feb. 28

BSO: The Rite of Spring Spring will still be a month away, but the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will pay homage to the season with a performance at The Music Center at Strathmore that includes Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. The concert, conducted by Jonathon Heyward, also features the more introspective D’un Matin de printemps (Of a Spring Morning) and The Tears of Nature, a percussion concerto that includes instruments such as big Chinese drums, marimba, Tibetan singing bowls, a slapstick, wood blocks and cow bells. strathmore.org

FROM LEFT: PHOTO BY BRANTLEY GUTIERREZ; PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

BSO: Kings of Soul

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Theater/Variety

University. The show at Olney Theatre Center features pop music, hip-hop and show tunes.

If it were a movie, it would be rated PG-13. olneytheatre.org

Jan. 17, Feb. 21

The Magic Duel Comedy Show Part magic show, part comedy duo and part reality contest, this show pits magicians Mark Phillips and Meadow Perry against each other in a competition to win the audience’s favor using illusions, jokes and plenty of snark. The show at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda is appropriate for all ages. themagicduel.com

Feb. 11-March 15 Nothing Up My Sleeve

Illusionist Dendy regales audiences with magic tricks and the story of how he became a magician in this world premiere one-man show at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre. The show is recommended for age 10 and older. roundhousetheater.org

Feb. 7-March 1

PHOTO BY JONATHAN THORPE

The Enchanted Mermaid Baltimore’s Beale Street Puppets brings its show to The Puppet Co.’s stage in Glen Echo Park. The show features traditional Japanese Bunrakustyle puppets (typically about half the size of a person, with moveable heads and arms, and flowing fabric covering the “body” or frame) and elaborate sets. Based on a short story

by Walter de la Mare, the play tells the tale of a man who tries to rescue a maiden who has been transformed into a mermaid. The show is appropriate for all ages. thepuppetco.org

Feb. 8-March 8

Feb. 13-March 29

Writer and performer Joriah Kwamé’s song “Little Miss Perfect” went viral on the internet after he submitted it to a musical theater competition in 2019. Since then, he has turned the song into a new musical. It tells the story of high school senior Noelle, who’s dealing with the pressure of living up to high expectations as a Black student at a mostly white school and trying to earn a scholarship to Howard

In this musical based on the children’s book by actress Julianne Moore, the titular character Freckleface wishes she could remove her freckles. With the help of her classmates, she learns that it’s people’s differences that make them special. The show at Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo is appropriate for all ages but best enjoyed by school-age children. adventuretheatre-mtc.org

Little Miss Perfect

Freckleface Strawberry the Musical

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Havana Hop

Paige Hernandez, a playwright, performer and choreographer who grew up in Baltimore, based this one-woman show at Imagination Stage in Bethesda on her childhood. It follows a young dancer, Yelia, who wants to be a star but struggles with stage fright. While visiting her grandmother in Cuba, Yelia learns about her cultural roots and gains confidence. The family-friendly show, recommended for ages 5 to 10, features hip-hop, salsa dancing and audience participation. imaginationstage.org

Feb. 28

Play in a Day Six local theater companies participate in this annual event that challenges them to write, produce and perform an original play in 24 hours. Playwrights and directors convene on Feb. 27 and receive an assigned prop and theme they must incorporate into their 10-minute play. They work through the night to draft and rehearse their show. See the results when they perform at Imagination Stage the next day. Participating companies include Adventure Theatre MTC, Imagination Stage and Olney Theatre Center. bethesda.org

optional interactive portion for young dancers in the audience. The MBT is a dance school with studios in Gaithersburg and Clarksburg. ci.ovationtix.com/36017/ production/1250913

Feb. 22

Tango After Dark Expect glamour and passion at this performance celebrating Argentinian tango at The Music Center at Strathmore.

The show features eight dancers—including world tango champions German Cornejo and Gisela Galeassi—two vocalists and a live band. strathmore.org

Sarau de Samba

Dancers and musicians present a showcase of samba, the traditional Brazilian genre of music and dance, from classic rhythms to modern carnival beats. Attendees are invited to join in and sing, dance and play instruments. The monthly event is held in the Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom Back Room and is open to all ages and skill levels. The session starts with a beginner dance lesson. It’s presented by Glen Echo Park in partnership with EducArte, an organization that seeks to connect community members through Brazilian performing arts. glenechopark.org

Community Events Feb. 14

Black History Month Family Day Play traditional African music, test your knowledge of historical African American figures, and share what freedom means to you at this free family-friendly event at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring.

Story times will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Recommended for age 6 and older. montgomeryparks.org

Jan. 19

Feb. 14

See how dancers from the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre (MBT) interpret the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in this contemporary ballet performance at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg.

The 45-minute performance includes an

You might meet the love of your life while also raising money for a good cause at this 5K in Wheaton Regional Park. The race raises funds for Community Options, a nonprofit that supports housing and employment for people with disabilities. Runners who are looking

Metropolitan Ballet Theatre: A Day of Service

Feb. 15

History Hour: Jubilee Voices Black History Month Concert Part of the Washington Revels cultural arts group, Jubilee Voices preserves African American traditions through programs that include a cappella music, drama, spoken word and dance. The ensemble will perform at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park in North Bethesda. Purchase tickets online or on-site.

The museum will also be open for self-guided tours. Parking is available at Wall Local Park a few blocks away. montgomeryparks.org

Dance Jan. 18, Feb. 15

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Art Jan. 9-Jan. 31

Blair G. Ewing Art Show Bethesda’s Gallery B exhibits large- and smallscale prints by students and alumni of the Blair G. Ewing Center, a Montgomery County Public Schools alternative education center designed to serve students with different learning and social-emotional needs. Art teacher John Charles crafted the school’s visual arts program to allow students to express their creativity and emotions. bethesda.org

Feb. 4-25

Thresholds: A Global Journey Through Architecture Photographer Jenny Nordstrom blurs the lines between photography and painting in her pictures depicting colorful doors, arches and architectural details from Morocco to Mexico to Scotland. Her artwork will be on exhibit at the Invited Artists Gallery at Artists & Makers Studios in Rockville. An opening reception is planned for Feb. 6. artistsandmakersstudios.com

FROM TOP: PHOTO BY JENNY NORDSTROM; PHOTO BY FREDERICO PALEO

Feb. 14-March 7

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Local news, now in Montgomery County.

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Chris Lun (left) and Pete Kenah in the gym at Whitman

Courtside Camaraderie With a combined 45 years of coaching, the heads of girls and boys basketball at a Bethesda high school are a dynamic duo

BY DAVID ELFIN

In March 2010, Chris Lun and Pete Kenah were in Las Vegas to celebrate their success-

ful seasons coaching basketball at Bethesda’s Walt Whitman High School—Lun coaches the boys team and Kenah the girls team—when they entered a free throw shooting contest at their hotel along with about 50 other people.

As former high school and college players who still spend hours on the court, Lun and Kenah faced each other in the final. The coaches, then in their 30s, geared up to shoot for a customized Schwinn bicycle and were joined by two former NBA players as it was announced that the best team, not the best man, would win the prize. Lun’s partner, Ed O’Bannon, made all his shots, while Kenah’s partner, former Col. Zadok Magruder High School star Jerome Williams, missed four. Lun won the bike.

“Chris hasn’t let me forget it since,” Kenah says.

That competitiveness and friendship has helped produce hundreds of victories, including a state title for each, since the pair began their Whitman tenures more

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than two decades ago. They are so close that they attended each other’s bachelor party and wedding.

“There’s no way anybody in the county gets along better than the two of us,” says Lun, 48, who graduated from Seneca Valley High School in Germantown in 1995 and played at Penn State’s Mont Alto campus before transferring to the State College campus. He’s been coaching at Whitman since 2004 and lives in Bethesda.

Kenah, 49, a 1994 graduate of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville who was a walk-on player at Towson University, has been coaching at Whitman since 2001 and also lives in Bethesda. “There’s no animosity that maybe you hear sometimes at other programs where one coach is big and the other isn’t doing as well, or one coach wants the other one’s job, or they’re fighting over gym time,” Kenah says.

Lun, whose team captured the state crown in 2006, led the Vikings to the title game the past two years and has recorded 12 straight winning seasons. Kenah’s teams haven’t gone as far lately, but he has posted 16 consecutive winning seasons, including 2016, when his team won the state championship. Kenah’s team returned to the title game in 2017 despite losing four starters to graduation.

As successful as they have been on the court, Lun, a math teacher since 2013 at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School in Bethesda, which feeds into Whitman, and Kenah, who’s in his 24th year as a social studies teacher at Whitman, have made an impact by connecting with students.

“They’re both accomplished coaches, but what sets them apart is that they’ve developed these programs that bring so much joy and have really become a community focal point,” says Laura Leonhardt of Bethesda, whose daughter, Eva, is a co-captain on Kenah’s team this season and worked at Lun’s first girls camp last summer.

Says Lun, “We run our programs like extended family because we’ve known the kids from camp to middle school to high school, on the court and off the court.”

The coaches have been at Whitman so long that they get invited to former players’ weddings and baby showers. “When you get hired at 25, you think it’s just going to be X’s and O’s, but it has grown into so much more,” Kenah says. “We

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

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have an alumni game over Thanksgiving weekend, which is one of my favorite times the whole year, getting to see what everyone has grown into.”

Kenah’s favorite team remains the 2016 state champions. Five players received Division I scholarship offers, including Washington Post All-Met Abby Meyers, who went on to star at Princeton and Maryland, play briefly in the WNBA and is now playing in Spain.

“At the professional level and even at the college level, there are some coaches where it’s just a business relationship,” says Meyers, a four-year varsity player at Whitman. “Your job is to get wins for them, and you don’t necessarily have a social relationship outside of basketball.

Kenah really cares about every one of his players. Our team would go to hibachi restaurants. We would play dodgeball after practice. The culture that Kenah shaped during my four years at Whitman is one reason we were so successful. When you value each other and trust each other

you’re going to be able to communicate effectively. Effective communication leads to successful teams.”

Lun is on a group text thread with some of the players from the 2006 state title team, including Washington Post AllMet selection Michael Gruner, who scored 23 of the defensive-minded Vikings’ points in their 39-38 upset of Greenbelt’s Eleanor Roosevelt High School.

After Lun got the Whitman job, he met with Magruder boys coach Dan Harwood, who had won a state title three years earlier and entered the 2025-2026 season with 611 victories, a county record. Harwood says he knew after the two-hour discussion that the then-27-year-old was going to be successful. “When Chris took over, Whitman had had some lean times, so he was smart to emphasize defense,” Harwood says. “You can’t always control your offensive talent, but if you get your kids to play hard and buy into the defensive system, you can be successful. His team last year was solid, but I didn’t think they were

a state championship team. Chris always gets the most out of his players.”

Antoine White, the point guard on the 2006 team, had dropped out of community college after suffering a knee injury when Lun asked him to help at Whitman in 2009. White soon became Lun’s assistant and junior varsity coach and then guided Kenah’s teams in spring ball, an unofficial prelude to the following winter’s season.

Lun eventually pulled White aside and said, “I don’t know if this is what you want to do with your life, but I think you might have a future in coaching.” White was so energized that he soon returned to college.

He graduated at 27 and began working at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he has been the women’s head coach since 2021.

“Chris and Pete ... are great basketball minds, but they’re even better people,” White says. “The biggest things I’ve taken from them are how to go about your business the right way, how to treat people, and how to build a program and a culture.”

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BANTER MADE IN MOCO

Mika Shino, the founder and CEO behind Issei mochi gummies

Sweet Sensation

How a Bethesda mom went from making plant-based mochi gummies in her kitchen to selling them in nearly 6,000 stores across the country BY KATHLEEN NEARY When Mika Shino’s sons were little, she paid attention to what she was feeding them, trying to give them only healthy foods, mostly made from scratch. “I was obsessed with everything they ate,” says Shino, who was born in Japan, moved to the U.S. when she was 8 and has lived in Bethesda since 2015.

“As they got older and wanted candy and treats—we have great candy in Japan—I felt guilty about candy with corn syrup, preservatives,” Shino, 54, says. “We were going to California and I let them choose stuff in the airport, and it was all junk. I thought, Is this the best we can do?”

Shino started experimenting with mochi, a food she grew up eating. Often made from pounded rice, it can be baked, fried, grilled or steamed and has a chewy

texture. She fondly remembers eating mochi cakes while sipping green tea as an afternoon snack with her family.

Shino began baking sheets of mochi and cutting it into small pieces to make little gummies. “I was on a baking frenzy. We don’t eat mochi as a candy in Japan. This was new. I didn’t know anything about food,” says Shino, who lived in Paris for 17 years, working at UNESCO for 15 years and traveling all over the world. In 2021, she started sharing the gummies—she describes them as “between marshmallow and gummy bear”—with people she knew, and the positive feedback encouraged her to pursue a business.

In Japan, mochi is a baked good that you eat fresh, so she consulted a food scientist to learn about making a product

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that’s shelf-stable. She wanted to get away from industrial gelatin, which contains animal products. With rice flour, tapioca, cane sugar, natural flavor and natural color (beets, carrots and turmeric add the hues), Shino’s gummies are plant-based and don’t contain any gelatin, gluten, artificial flavors or artificial colors (though the varieties covered in chocolate have milk as an ingredient so are not labeled as plant-based). “It’s what’s called a long chew—it bounces back after you start eating,” Shino says.

She named the brand Issei, which means a first-generation Japanese immigrant to the U.S., she says, and launched in September 2022 in Whole Foods Market.

Nearly 6,000 stores now carry Issei products, including Target and Walmart. Sour watermelon, strawberry, mango, yuzu,

PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE

12/18/25 9:32 AM

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COURTESY PHOTO

The gummies are made with rice flour, tapioca and sugar.

peach, tangerine, sour apple, sour cherry, chocolate-covered strawberry, chocolatecovered peppermint, chocolate-covered coconut and chocolate-covered cherry varieties are available. Unlike traditional gummy bears, which are liquid and can be poured into molds during production, Issei mochi gummies are cut from a dough into nonuniform cube shapes. A 2-ounce bag costs $4.99 and a 4-ounce bag costs $6.99.

What began with Shino hand-cutting the gummies has evolved into manufacturing operations in Washington state, where the gummies are steamed and produced in a custom-made machine. An Issei warehouse in Rockville is used for fulfilling orders and is being outfitted to be the company’s future factory. The business is based in Bethesda, where Shino lives with her husband and sons, now 12 and 17.

As the founder and CEO of the company, Shino was among five women featured on the cover of Inc. magazine in 2024 for a story on top female founders of businesses. Issei won a 2024 Most Innovative New Product Award at the Sweets & Snacks Expo organized by the National Confectioners Association for its dark chocolate-covered strawberry mochi gummies. “We never chocolate cover things in Japan. Being in the U.S., I love it. It’s similar to chocolate Raisinets,” she says.

A video posted to Issei’s TikTok account in October about the brand’s backstory and products got 1.4 million views in the first few days (views reached 2.9 million in early December). “It lifted sales in all the stores and on Amazon and our website,” Shino says. “The next chapter is leaning into online sales and not just retail.” She also plans to keep innovating and creating new mochi products.

David Hagedorn contributed reporting for this story.

by the Readers of Bethesda Magazine 10 Consecutive Times

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

Mark Giganti, Chief Operating Officer EVERGREENE HOMES 3684 Centerview Drive, Suite 120 Chantilly, VA 20151 703-667-7878 MyEvergreeneHome.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

If you're considering building a home, you don't have to choose between settling for an existing property or paying premium prices for full custom construction. Semi-custom building offers a smart middle ground—but the builder you choose matters.

Whether you already own a lot or are still searching for one, selecting the right builder partner makes all the difference. If you already have a lot, your builder should be able to assess its feasibility quickly and accurately.

Look for a team that can evaluate slope, utilities, setbacks, access and overall buildability—then clearly explain which floor plans will fit and what sitework costs to expect. Transparent upfront guidance helps you avoid surprises later.

If you're still searching for a lot, partner with a builder who takes the time to understand your budget, preferred neighborhoods, timeline and architectural preferences. Experienced

builders often maintain their own lot inventory and proactively search for new opportunities on your behalf, making the process far more efficient.

Also look for personalization—not a blank slate. Your builder should offer structural options, curated design selections and the flexibility to adjust spaces without overwhelming you with endless decisions, creating an ideal blend of guidance and customization.

With more than 130 years of combined regional expertise, Evergreene Homes provides complimentary lot studies, award-winning floor plans and a thoughtful approach to semi-custom design.

If you’re ready to explore building a home tailored to your ideal lifestyle, we’re here to guide you with trusted care, clarity and craftsmanship. Visit our model at the Stratton Place Community: 7203 Barnett Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 or call 703-667-7878 to schedule a consultation.

Giganti brings more than 40 years of homebuilding leadership to Evergreene. He previously led D.R. Horton’s Capital Division, serving as division president, VP of operations and division vice president. He has extensive sales, operational, construction and purchasing experience as well as a solid background in land acquisition, planning and development.

Awards & Honors Evergreene has earned multiple industry honors, including a 2025 NVBIA GALA Award of Merit for Best Design and Architecture, three 2025 Delaware Regal Awards, for Community Home of the Year, Kitchen Design and Primary Suite Design, plus a 2022 NVBIA GALA Award for Best Design and Architecture.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Wondering how to evaluate builders with confidence?

Chief Operating Officer Mark

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Dr. Josh Funk, DPT REHAB 2 PERFORM 6710A Rockledge Drive, Suite 120A Bethesda, MD 20817 301-798-4838 Rehab2Perform.com

COURTESY PHOTOS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

If all youth athletes grow, why don’t they all hurt?

Dr. Josh Funk, DPT, is the Founder

Every youth athlete goes through periods of rapid growth — but not all of them experience pain or injury along the way.

So, what separates the athletes who stay healthy from those who get sidelined?

Growth itself isn’t the issue. The real challenge lies in how the body adapts to increases in size, speed and overall physical stress. During growth spurts, bones often lengthen faster than muscles and tendons can keep up.

This mismatch can affect coordination, control and overall movement quality.

Without adequate relative strength, movement competency and physical capacity, young athletes are more vulnerable to overuse injuries such as Osgood-Schlatter’s, Sever’s disease and even stress fractures.

At Rehab 2 Perform, we focus on bridging the gap between rehabilitation and sports performance with a proactive, development-based physical

locations across the Washington,

therapy approach. Our rehab program includes age-appropriate movement assessments, targeted strength training and education for both athletes and their parents. We don’t simply help young athletes rehab and recover; we help them build resilience, confidence and the physical foundation needed for long-term success.

By moving beyond the traditional “rest and wait” approach—or ignoring pain altogether—we empower young athletes to understand their bodies, address their weaknesses and take ownership of their development. Growth doesn’t have to equal growing pains. With the right environment, coaching and training principles, athletes can grow stronger, move better and stay on the field.

At Rehab 2 Perform, we believe the true measure of success isn’t just returning to play—it’s creating durability and longevity in sport and in life.

and CEO of Rehab 2 Perform, a leading performance-based physical therapy company with 14 D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. A former collegiate and pro lacrosse player, Dr. Funk specializes in bridging the gap between rehab and performance for athletes of all levels.

Awards & Honors Individual: EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist (Mid-Atlantic) 2024, 2025 APTA Peer2Peer Honoree Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Graduate Daily Record VIP 40 Under 40 Rehab 2 Perform: Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company (2020–2025) U.S. Chamber CO-100 Growth Accelerator Honoree WebPT Innovator of the Year 2022

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

Chef Porntipa Pattanamekar PATTANA RESTAURANT GROUP Dok Khao 8551 Connecticut Ave, Suite 201 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-718-8889 DokKhao.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I discovered my love for cooking at an early age, watching my mother prepare the bright, bold flavors of Southern Thailand. Those moments taught me food is more than nourishment—it's memory, culture and connection.

I moved to Virginia in the late ’90s as a graduate student and, after completing my master’s degree, took a position at a small restaurant in Vienna. There, I learned restaurant operations under the owner and executive chef, whose mentorship shaped my future. When he opened a new location—Thai At Silver Spring—I followed, learning every aspect of the business.

With his encouragement, I eventually took over operations.

To help with the transition, I partnered with my childhood friend, Parasak “Sing” Chokesatean, marking the beginning of our journey as restaurateurs. That was in 2005, and I remain humbled by the support we've received.

Today, I bring that same passion to five restaurant brands across the region— including Dok Khao Thai Eatery in Chevy Chase Lake and Sense of Thai, opening at 5400 Westbard Square Ave. in Bethesda in winter 2026. With each location we open or operate, my goal is the same: to pair authentic Southern Thai cuisine with Thai culture and create elevated dining experiences for the communities we serve.

Our menus draw from my mother’s recipes and celebrate the harmony of Thai flavors. Thai dining is inherently familystyle, with dishes arriving together so everyone can share. Every detail—from carved wood panels to chandeliers—is sourced from Thai artisans and paired with accents reflecting each neighborhood.

For me, Pattana Restaurant Group is more than a business—it is an extension of my family and a way to share my culture with the Washington area, one meal at a time.

founder of Pattana Restaurant Group, is celebrated for bringing elevated Southern Thai cuisine to the DMV. Her restaurants have won multiple regional awards, and her innovative approach to cocktails, community engagement and hospitality continue to shape the area’s culinary landscape.

Awards & Honors Her restaurants have earned recognition from EATER, Northern Virginia Magazine and USA Today for bringing authentic Southern Thai flavors to the Washington, D.C. region. Honors include Best New Restaurant, Best Thai Restaurant in Northern Virginia and multiple “Best Asian Restaurant” distinctions, celebrating her commitment to culture, craft and communitycentered dining.

COURTESY PHOTOS

How is Pattana Restaurant Group redefining Washington’s suburban dining experience?

Chef Porntipa Pattanameka,

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

Alan Menase, Laura Nash & Matt Cohen, Contributors WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES Main Office: 2010 Corporate Ridge Road, Suite 530, McLean, VA 22102 703-847-2500 Maryland Office: 14941 Shady Grove Road Rockville, MD 20850

Pictured front row: Rod Huerta, Victoria Henry, Laura Nash Middle row: Kristan Anderson, Kirstie Martinez, Brian Mackin, Glen Buco Back row: Brian Horan, Alan Menase, Matt Cohen, Laurie Kramer

COURTESY PHOTOS

Can AI replace my financial advisor?

As AI tools like ChatGPT gain popularity for everything from suggesting what to make for dinner to serving as a personal travel advisor, you might be wondering if it could replace your financial advisor. The short answer? Not really.

While AI can be helpful in giving basic insights, such as flagging potential investment risks or offering a starting point, it can’t dig into the details of your unique financial situation the way a human can.

For example, when we tried AI on a blended family scenario, it came back with a safe but overly simplistic plan. Key questions—like how to best take care of family members with special needs —didn’t come up unless we specifically prompted it. On the investment side, it tended to stick to textbook recommendations, putting clients into generic risk categories without really understanding the full picture.

The value of a human advisor lies in asking the right questions, uncovering the “unknown unknowns” and tailoring advice to the client’s real-life context. Plus, AI reflects biases from the data it’s trained on. Therefore, while it can save time or assist in research, it doesn’t replace the judgment, empathy, or trust that comes from a long-term relationship with a fiduciary advisor.

We see AI as a helpful research tool, not a replacement for a financial advisor.

Nothing beats a human who can adapt to changing markets and tax law, adjust to your situation and guide you with trust and reassurance.

Since 1982, we’ve helped high-networth clients not just manage money but navigate uncertainty, address risks they didn’t know to ask about and gain the confidence to make informed decisions. AI can assist, but it can’t replace the human insight and care that define our approach.

WestFinancial.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Since 1982, West Financial Services has served clients with an approach grounded in financial planning, communication, creativity and genuine care. We go beyond asset management–understanding each individual, family and business to coordinate every aspect of their financial well-being. Plus, we coach you every step of the way.

Awards & Honors -Washingtonian’s Top Financial Adviser 2025 -Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Financial Professionals 2025 -Five Star Wealth Managers 2025 -Best RIAs to Work For 2025

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Manisha Kalra, MD, FAAFP, Rohit Seem, MD, FAAFP FAMILY MEDICINE SHADY GROVE

For more than two decades, we’ve been committed to providing compassionate, highquality, relationship-centered care to families across Iowa, Nashville, and now Maryland.

In recent years, however, steadily declining insurance reimbursements—coupled with relentless pressure to see more volume of patients a day—made it impossible to sustain an independent practice while still giving each person the time and attention they deserve.

Transitioning to concierge, or membershipbased, medicine allows us to preserve our independence and return to practicing medicine the way it was meant to be— unhurried, deeply personal and rooted in trust.

By intentionally limiting the number of patients we serve, we can finally give each person the time they need. Appointments last 30–60 minutes—no rushing, no clockwatching. This lets us truly know you and your family, pay attention to details, address every concern and practice proactive, preventive medicine that far exceeds what’s typically possible in high-volume settings.

In return for an annual membership (with flexible payment options to keep it accessible), our patients receive benefits that fundamentally change how healthcare feels: • Direct, 24/7 access to your personal physician—for urgent or after-hours needs • Same- or next-day appointments, preventing exhausting urgent care and ER trips • Little to no waiting • Virtual consultations (tele-visits) when appropriate • Coordination of care during hospitalization or specialist visits Our philosophy centers on prevention and long-term wellness. We partner with you to create personalized strategies—nutrition plans, lifestyle changes, sustainable habits— that prevent and sometimes even reverse disease rather than merely treating symptoms.

Ultimately, concierge care lets us deliver what our patients have always deserved: accessible, relationship-driven, highly personalized medicine built entirely around you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Drs. Manisha Kalra and Rohit Seem are board-certified family physicians and fellows of the American Academy of Family Physicians, with a special focus on preventive care and nutritionbased medicine. Dr. Kalra trained at the Mayo Clinic; Dr. Seem at the University of Iowa.

Both completed their residencies in Des Moines, Iowa.

Awards & Honors Dr. Kalra: Consumer Research Council of America "Top Family Doctor," four-time Patients' Choice Award recipient; Compassionate Doctor recognition Dr. Seem: Eight-time recipient of the Consumer Research Council of America's "Top Family Doctors" award; Compassionate Doctor recognition

COURTESY PHOTOS

How does your new concierge model benefit patients?

15215 Shady Grove Road, Suite 304 Rockville, MD 20850 301-284-8990 301-644-2835 (membership inquiries) MyFamilyMedDocs.com

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Geeta Shah, MD & Tania Peters, MD CAPITAL LASER & SKIN CARE 5471 C2 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 200 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-798-9699 CapitalSkinLaser.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Board-Certified dermatologists

COURTESY PHOTOS

with more than 20 years of

What type of lasers get rid of age spots?

expertise, Dr. Geeta Shah and

Age spots and sun damage can make skin appear uneven, dull and prematurely aged.

Advanced laser treatments can safely restore a brighter, more youthful complexion. At Capital Laser & Skin Care, every journey begins with a skin evaluation to ensure your skin is healthy and free of potentially pre-cancerous lesions. Once cleared, we design a customized treatment plan tailored to your skin type, pigmentation concerns and lifestyle.

Several laser and light-based technologies precisely target pigmentation. Fraxel Dual delivers controlled heat to targeted skin layers, stimulating collagen while improving sunspots, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles.

Halo combines ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to resurface the skin and

quickly brightens larger areas using broadspectrum light. UltraClear offers customizable resurfacing to even tone, refine texture and boost collagen production, and Clear + Brilliant enhances overall radiance while reducing freckles and pigment irregularities.

For patients needing deeper or more targeted correction, we also offer ProFractional and Erbium resurfacing to stimulate natural healing and address more stubborn sun damage and discoloration.

Each treatment is selected based on your individual goals to ensure safe, effective and personalized results. Together, these therapies reduce age spots, correct discoloration, improve texture and restore luminous healthy skin with results that continue to improve over time.

advanced laser treatments,

address years of sun damage by targeting multiple layers at once.

For gentle non-ablative rejuvenation with minimal downtime, MOXI treats early signs of aging and sun damage while BBL

At Capital Laser & Skin Care, we believe beautiful skin begins with healthy skin and our advanced technologies and thoughtful customized care make that possible for patients of all skin types and ages.

Dr. Tania Peters specialize in injectables and body contouring.

Members of leading dermatology societies, they provide personalized gentle care for aging skin, wrinkles, sunspots, redness, rosacea, scars and acne, delivering natural-looking results.

Awards & Honors Capital Laser & Skin Care has been recognized multiple times with Best of Bethesda Awards, winning for Dermatology Practice in 2026, 2025, 2024, 2022, 2020 and 2018 and for Medical Aesthetics Practice in 2026, 2025, 2024, 2022 and 2020, reflecting excellence in care.

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

Stacy Hom, MD, Founder & Owner BODYWISE HEALTH Triangle Towers 4853 Cordell Ave. PH10, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-262-3194 @bodywisehealthmd BodyWiseHealthMD.com

A recent poll shows about 12 percent of Americans are taking a GLP-1 medication.

Some say using GLP-1s for weight loss is taking "the easy way out." Others see a miracle drug. Undeniably, they've changed the trajectory of obesity in America—adult rates have dropped nearly 3 percent since 2022. They've shifted the conversation around weight and impacted consumer behavior, reducing fast-food consumption and grocery spending.

For many, GLP-1s offer hope, unlocking a level of control over food not previously attainable—when food noise quiets and taste preferences change, making healthier choices comes easier. By slowing digestion, GLP-1s suppress hunger and increase satiety. But that can also cause gastrointestinal issues like bloating, nausea and constipation. Health benefits beyond weight loss include lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes; protecting liver and kidney function; and improving blood sugar, blood pressure

and cholesterol levels. Early data show potential neuroprotective benefits as well.

GLP-1 users should be followed for changes in body composition, muscle strength and function, nutrition, and physical activity levels to ensure that weight loss is happening in a safe and healthy way. GLP-1s are not for everyone.

They should be avoided in pregnancy or if nursing, and they're contraindicated with certain medical histories. The cost of these medications can be a major barrier for many patients, especially since insurance coverage is often difficult to obtain without meeting extensive criteria.

Obesity is a chronic disease often requiring long-term treatment. With any weight loss attempt, there is a natural tendency to regain weight after stopping the intervention. Developing and sustaining health-promoting behaviors, prioritizing nutrition and staying active remain essential for progress both on and off the medication.

Dr. Stacy Hom is a double boardcertified Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician. She founded BodyWise Health to provide high-touch, personalized care for weight management, with a focus on chronic disease prevention. She empowers patients to take a proactive approach to their care to safeguard their long-term health.

Dr. Hom has no conflict of interest or financial ties to the makers of any of the drugs mentioned in this article.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Should I consider taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

New Beginning

Trent Heminger & Mary Noone TRENT & CO. AT COMPASS REAL ESTATE

COURTESY PHOTOS

What type of downsizer are you— and why does it matter?

Downsizing is one of the biggest transitions a homeowner can make.

While everyone’s path looks different, most people fall into a few general “downsizing styles.” Understanding which one fits your situation helps us provide the right level of planning, support and emotional pacing.

Some clients are “Rental Explorers”— seeking flexibility while deciding where to land next, or navigating kids in flux and not ready for a long-term commitment. Others are “Rightsizers,” ready for a home intentionally designed around their next chapter—often closer to family, walkable communities, or simplified living. “Luxury Downsizers” trade maintenance for amenities, while “Conservative Downsizers” prefer a streamlined move with minimal disruption and maximum clarity.

No matter your style, the principles of a successful downsize are the same.

Start with the new home: a floor plan is your blueprint for what stays, what goes and what needs reimagining. Some clients love mapping it themselves; others prefer a designer—we support both approaches.

Next, tackle belongings with three simple questions: 1. What do you need?

2. What do you love?

3. What can you let go?

When letting go, get creative. Send surprise boxes to family or friends with personal notes. Tag and store items temporarily so adult children have time to decide. Plan mini-events, like a weekend treasure hunt, where loved ones select what they’ll keep—turning the process into a meaningful memory instead of a chore.

For the rest, decide what stays local, what gets sold and what gets donated.

Many organizations offer curbside pickup or accept larger household items. For valuable pieces, estate teams or resale experts can help maximize returns.

At Trent & Co., we believe home is a feeling. Our job is to help you carry that feeling forward—bringing what matters, letting go of what doesn’t and stepping confidently into your next chapter.

We find this topic so important that we have created a local downsizing group. If you’re interested in joining, contact Mary Noone at mary@trentandco.com or Ilana Tanowitz at ilana@trentandco.com.

Licensed in MD/DC/VA 5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 M: 240-461-3928 O: 301.298.1001 Trent@trentandco.com Mary@trentandco.com TrentAndCo.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Trent & Co. combines more than 90 years of real estate expertise with a results-driven, clientfirst approach. Led by awardwinning duo Trent Heminger and Mary Noone, they’re nationally recognized among the DMV’s top most effective agents, delivering personalized strategies and exceptional service that help clients confidently navigate every market—from first homes to luxury estates.

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

Rhonda Bray JUVE BEAUTY LOUNGE 5423 Friendship Blvd.

Chevy Chase, MD 20815 240-802-2755 Juve.beauty

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Feeling “off” is incredibly common, but it is not something you need to accept as normal. Your body is always communicating through your energy, digestion, mood, sleep, cravings and even your clarity of thought. The first step to feeling good every day is learning to pay attention to those signals instead of pushing through them.

Start with a two-minute daily checkin. Ask yourself: How’s my energy?

How’s my mood? How did I sleep?

How does my digestion feel? When you begin noticing patterns, you can start making simple shifts that create meaningful change.

Next, build non-negotiable daily basics. Hydrate as soon as you wake up. Prioritize protein at every meal to stabilize blood sugar and support hormones. Move your body every day!

Even a 10-minute walk after meals can improve digestion and metabolism. Also,

honor your sleep routine because poor sleep can drive inflammation, raise cortisol and drain your energy.

From there, support the systems that influence everything from your gut to your hormones and more. When these are out of balance, you feel it through low energy, brain fog, bloating, stubborn weight, skin changes and mood swings. The good news is that with the right testing and guidance these systems can reset and begin working with you again.

At Juve, we help you understand your internal landscape through wellness testing, weight-loss support, hormone evaluation and targeted treatments like IV hydration, clinical supplements, peptides and aesthetic care. When you combine consistent daily habits with strategic support, you do more than feel better. You feel steady, aligned and fully connected to your body again.

in aesthetic wellness, blending her Cleveland Clinic nursing background with proven success in health innovation. After founding a leading remote patient monitoring company, she created Juve Wellness and Beauty to unite science, luxury and meaningful care. Her leadership reflects a commitment to access, empowerment and elevated client experiences.

Awards & Honors 2025 Bethesda Magazine Faces of Bethesda

COURTESY PHOTOS

Is your body signaling that it needs your attention?

Rhonda Bray is a trailblazer

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

Kim Teri TERI FITNESS Bethesda, MD 301-641-2043 TeriFitness.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Voted Bethesda’s Best Personal

COURTESY PHOTOS

What are the five keys to transforming your body—and life?

Transformation starts with setting your goals based on where you are right now — physically, mentally and in life. Whether you’re 20 and just learning to exercise, 50 and navigating menopause or 82 and working on strength and balance, it’s about starting where you are and creating structure that puts the habits in place to make your healthiest life possible.

Here are the five keys I focus on with every client: 1. Discover your “why.” Motivation drives long-term change, and it has to come from within. Whether it’s strength and overall fitness, maintaining your health or being able to play actively with your grandkids, it’s important to pay attention to what’s driving you.

2. Reconnect with past successes. Think about the times you felt your best. Was it feeling strong, energetic, or maybe confident in your favorite clothes? Building on those successes creates momentum and reconnects you with what makes you feel amazing.

3. Focus on healthy habits. Sleep, hydration, stress management, nutrition and movement all work together. Small, practical

tweaks reduce stress, boost energy and support lasting transformation without feeling overwhelming.

4. Start small and stay consistent. Daily manageable habits build the foundation for growth in more substantial ways. Even 2030 minutes per day of exercise, coupled with balanced nutrition, can make a difference.

Over time, these habits become second nature, translating into long-term health and well-being.

5. Build support and accountability.

Coaches, partners and family can help you stay on track. Many clients train in small groups or with a partner, making fitness social and motivating. Sharing your goals with family or community strengthens consistency and commitment.

At Teri Fitness, we will start working toward your goals on day one. Together, we will create a plan that addresses your personal goals both in the gym and out in the real world so you can enjoy everything you love. My goal is to help you realize your best health is within your reach—one push-up at a time.

Trainer in 2008 and 2010 and six-time Top Vote Finalist (2015-2026), Kim Teri brings 30 years of dance and fitness experience, guiding clients of all ages through personal training and nutrition coaching to achieve their individual health and wellness goals.

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

Banner Team 5471 Wisconsin Ave #300 Chevy Chase MD, 20815 Compass: 301-298-1001 Direct: 301-365-9090 info@BannerTeam.com BannerTeam.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR The Banner Team is an awardwinning real estate powerhouse with a national reputation.

Specializing in luxury and upperbracket properties across the

AI is transforming nearly every aspect of real estate transactions, often for the better, but it's also bringing back an old principle: consumer beware. While technology helps us market properties more effectively and showcase their potential, it's crucial to understand both its benefits and its limitations. AI can enhance listing photos to attract more prospective buyers—for instance, turning a less-than-ideal window view into something more appealing, adjusting wall colors or reimagining landscaping.

But there's a fine line between improving photo quality and creating representations that don't accurately reflect what buyers will see in person.

Some of our favorite tools, like AI Remodel and DreamzAR AI Landscape Design, are fantastic for visualizing renovations and upgrades. Used responsibly, they spark creativity and help buyers see past cosmetic issues to a property’s full potential. Still,

nothing replaces physically stepping inside a home—which is why we remain committed to previewing properties ourselves.

In addition to participating in Tuesday Compass Broker Opens, most Fridays you'll find our team out looking at new inventory that has been activated for sale later in the week. Seeing homes in person is the only way to truly get a feel for their natural light, how they sit within a neighborhood, nearby amenities and all the subtle qualities that matter just as much as square footage or bed-and-bath count.

We don't believe AI will ever replace our value as real estate agents.

Instead, we see AI and human expertise partnering to elevate the buying and selling experience. For us, it’s simply another smart tool that, paired with experience and personal guidance, helps clients make confident, wellinformed decisions about one of life's most important investments.

dates back over three decades.

Implementing a team-oriented approach to every transaction, The Banner Team's commitment to excellence ensures clients receive unparalleled dedication throughout their buying or selling journey.

Awards & Honors

-Wendy Banner was voted “Best Realtor” and the Banner Team “Best Real Estate Team” by Bethesda Magazine readers (2025) -Bethesda Magazine “Top Producer” (2024) -RealTrends Verified: Top three team in Maryland by volume (2024) and ranked No. 131 nationally -Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors: 2024 Recognition Awards Platinum Winner (Large Teams)

COURTESY PHOTOS

How is AI impacting home buying and selling?

DMV, their impressive track record

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Tamari Kharebava, Principal RUSSIAN SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS 202-843-8080 MathSchool.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tamari Kharebava is the principal of the Russian School

COURTESY PHOTOS

of Mathematics in Chevy Chase

Why is early enrichment the impactful time to begin learning?

and founder of Terra Nova Kids in

A trend I often observe is that families enroll older siblings in our program while holding off on younger ones, saying they’re too young to begin. It’s completely understandable, but early childhood is when the brain is most open to forming the habits that shape reasoning and problemsolving. Mathematics, when taught correctly, does far more than provide skills. It develops critical and logical thinking, nurturing mental processes that make learning feel natural later on.

At the Russian School of Mathematics, our approach has been to meet children at the point in their learning, where new concepts stretch thinking just enough to spark growth. Just as physical exercise strengthens the body, deep and thoughtful mental exercises strengthen the mind.

That's why even our youngest students, ages 4-5, not only play with blocks, but also explore variables, patterns and early algebraic ideas. These experiences help

children throughout her career,

children compare, analyze and approach new concepts with confidence. In today’s fast, overstimulating world, this early development of focus, patience and flexible thinking is more valuable than ever.

My belief in early enrichment also comes from personal experience. My brother and I were taught math and reading at age 2 and participated in chess tournaments by age 4. Those early cognitive experiences shaped the trajectory of our lives, instilling confidence, curiosity and the ability to tackle challenges with discipline and persistence.

Starting early isn’t about acceleration.

It’s about giving children the mental tools they will rely on throughout their lives.

Whether through math, chess, music or other disciplines, early enrichment builds a strong cognitive foundation, enabling children to not only thrive academically, but to approach the world as curious, capable learners.

Bethesda. She has spent the past decade teaching mathematics and has evaluated thousands of guiding families across the DMV. Tamari holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Awards & Honors Tamari leads the Chevy Chase branch of the Russian School of Mathematics, the largest academic enrichment program in the DMV region, serving over 1,200 students as part of its 5,000-student DMV network.

She is a top one-percent MBA graduate from the University of Maryland and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

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PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO AND PEOPLE TO KNOW, AS CHOSEN BY OUR EDITORS AND READERS

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Sample Nepalese fare at Royal Durbar Kitchen in Rockville (see page 58).

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By Sofia Appolonio, Mariam Bukhari, Stephanie Siegel Burke, Meg Drennan, Rebecca Gale, Michael Hromalik, Jack Kiyonaga, Jillian Lynch, Alyssa Martin, Beth Meyer, David Montgomery, Kathleen Neary, Ashley Neyra, Amy Orndorff, Claudia Rosenbaum and Natasha Tynes

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Alexa Landestoy, right, on the pregame show for the Caps’ 50th anniversary season opening night in 2024

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Best Rising Star

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uring a span of about 19 hours in mid-October, multisport, multiplatform broadcaster Alexa Landestoy worked the sidelines of a game between football rivals Brigham Young University and the University of Utah in Provo for Fox Sports, then made it back to Washington, D.C., to co-host live pregame and postgame shows for the Washington Capitals’ contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Monumental Sports Network. On that road trip, Landestoy, 28, had in tow husband Michael, 31—a former professional scout for baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates who is now exploring other front office opportunities in the game—and their 6-month-old daughter, Isabella.

“The fans are like, ‘Did you teleport?’ ” Landestoy says. “ ‘[Because] how did you work a night game in Utah and a day game here in D.C.?’

So yeah, it’s a bit crazy, but you know, crazy that I asked for, and that I love.”

Things have been happening fast

for Landestoy, who was born and raised in Southern California, since she landed a job with NBC Sports Washington and moved to Bethesda in 2019. Landestoy was already hosting Caps coverage for NBC when Monumental acquired that regional sports network a few years later.

Since then, she’s also taken on hosting for the NHL Network and, most recently, college football sideline reporting on the Fox broadcast team that includes former quarterback Robert Griffin III, who played for Washington’s football team.

“I’m just the crazy one with a 6-month-old and three jobs and a brand new house and all these things going on,” she says. Her approach to life is “just jump on every opportunity.”

Bethesda Magazine spoke with Landestoy in October in the clubhouse of the Bethesda development where she and her husband had their first house built in 2024. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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PHOTOS COURTESY ALEXA LANDESTOY; TOP LEFT PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

After Isabella was born, you took some time off and then went right back to work. How are you managing?

I worked up until the baby. We were covering the Ovi Chase [Alex Ovechkin’s quest to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career goals], so every time I saw Ovi, I’d be like, let’s score some more goals, right? But I was at peace if it happened when I was in the hospital or if I was covering them. But I did get to cover his passing Wayne Gretzky before I went out.

You have to have a good village and a good support system around you. We had parents, we had the inlaws. My husband is the best dad and so supportive, and then having the village around us has really allowed us to be able to do what we do. It’s super hard to leave her now with all the milestones she keeps hitting. But hopefully one day she’ll be proud of mom and everything she’s doing.

What drew you to Bethesda?

I had no family or friends that lived here on the East Coast and nobody to refer to, so I just gave it a shot and moved into Bethesda and we never left. We absolutely love it. We decided to plant our roots in Bethesda. We just love the walking trails and the family community. If I’m not working, you’ll probably catch me on the Capital

Crescent Trail or doing something on Bethesda Row. A lot of the Caps’ players live in Arlington, but every time I see them, I’ll say how great Bethesda is. I joke that more Caps players are going to start living in Bethesda, too.

You quickly became a well-known part of the D.C. sports media landscape.

How did you manage the transition?

I owe so much to the Capitals’ fans that are so supportive. I think when I started, though, it was a little like, ‘Who’s this girl coming in here and hosting?’ And the sweetest thing is now they’re like, ‘OK, I see why. Like, we love you.’ They’re so supportive of me, and this community really is a hockey family, a Caps family. I’m just so lucky. I’ve never left it, I’ve just added onto my plate.

You’re pretty open on social media about your life outside work, your family, your pregnancy.

I’ve always just been transparent with who I am, and also wanted people to connect with me and who I am. You could sit up there and break down a game, but they connect with you as a mom and as a wife. The same person you see in Bethesda is the same one on the broadcast. I feel that being yourself ultimately is what sets you apart.

—David Montgomery

Clockwise from top left: Alexa and Michael Landestoy with daugher Isabella on the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda; sideline reporting at a college football game; with Alex Ovechkin

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Best Takes on the Dubai Chocolate Craze

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What’s gooey, crunchy, salty and dripping with chocolate? The viral Dubai chocolate obsession that swept the country and left everyone clamoring for a taste. The rich milk chocolate bar filled with gooey pistachio and crunchy pastry bits first appeared at Fix Dessert Chocolatier in the United Arab Emirates city in 2022, according to the BBC. After taking social media by storm, a few local spots have put their own twists on the trend.

Sports & Social went the ice-cold route with its Dubai chocolate sundae dessert. Creamy vanilla bean ice cream is layered with pistachios, crisp kataifi pastry and fresh whipped cream, and drizzled with chocolate. The result is a frozen mixture that is rich, crunchy and smooth, and feels almost as luxurious as Dubai itself.

11800 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 240-747-3006, sportsandsocial.com/bethesda

The pastry chefs at Summer House Santa Monica added a Dubai chocolate chip cookie to their menu in 2025. This warm cookie is made with semisweet European chocolate chips and has a “Dubai filling” made in-house with Irca pistachio cream, toasted kataifi, tahini and salt. The result is a crunchy chocolate cookie with an oozy, velvety pistachio cream center. The cookie is available at the chain’s Cookie Bar grab-and-go counters alongside classic flavors such as chocolate chip and snickerdoodle.

11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-881-2381, summerhouserestaurants.com/ north-bethesda

If you are looking to travel to Dubai for breakfast, head to Chateau de Rockville.

The cafe, which opened in June, has created two inspired croissants—a pistachio cream-filled pastry covered in the chopped green nuts, and its newest take, a Dubai matcha strawberry croissant filled with a strawberry cream and dusted with matcha.

1701 Rockville Pike, A-11 (The Shops at Congressional Village), Rockville, 301-233-1654, instagram.com/chateauderockville/?hl=en

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LEFT PHOTO COURTESY SUMMER HOUSE; RIGHT PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEEY

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Royal Durbar Kitchen owner Suman Pradhan, left, and chef Dipesh Rajbhandari at the restaurant

Best Way to Savor Nepalese Food Without Using a Passport Suman Pradhan—owner of Indian restaurants Tikka Masala in Bethesda; Indian Wok in Frederick County,​​​​ Maryland; Tikka Masala Street ​​​​Food in Arlington, Virginia; and Tikka in Washington, D.C.—decided it was time to introduce others to his love of Nepalese food. He opened Royal Durbar Kitchen in Rockville in S ​​​​ eptember with a menu that includes chow mein noodles and freshly made dumplings. “It’s pretty difficult to make the people understand what my cuisine is,” says Pradhan, who grew up in ​​​​Nepal. “They ask, ‘What is the difference between Indian and Nepalese cuisine?’ I can’t really explain, but once you eat it, you will know.” Pradhan is so invested

in ensuring his food is authentic that he insists on using Himalayan spices flown in from Nepal, and he recruited a chef from ​​​​there. The distinct flavors shine through in the restaurant’s Mustang dal, with black beans, onion, garlic and Himalayan spices, and in its momos (handmade dumplings) that come filled with vegetables, chicken or buffalo. Get that Kathmandu feeling by sampling the Royal ​​​​Thali, a spread of offerings, in the dining room under a portrait of Mount Everest while sipping a curry martini or a Himalayan old-fashioned.

1321 Rockville Pike, #C, Rockville, 240-796-2071, royaldurbarkitchen.com

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Best New Locally Roasted Coffee

These neighborhood cafes are hot spots for freshly roasted java

LEFT AND BOTTOM PHOTOS BY BRENDAN MCCABE; TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY EAGLEMEDIA; TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY @DANIPALLONE.PHOTO

BEST FOR POUR-OVERS

The owners of Neighbors Coffee in Rockville are married couple Spencer Trach and Lulu Parajuli, both 30, of Gaithersburg. They met at Ridgeview Middle School and graduated from Quince Orchard High School, both in Gaithersburg. The bean-based business was born in 2023 after Trach had begun roasting coffee in his garage. The couple started selling the coffee at the Main Street Farmers Market in Gaithersburg. The 1,200-square-foot cafe opened in August.

Neighbors Coffee sources beans directly from farmers in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Colombia and the beans are roasted on-site. Trach says there’s a rotating menu of roasted coffee. “We have a pretty extensive pour-over menu now, so we’re doing lighter, more fruit-forward coffees,” he says.

1101 Nelson St. (Woodley Gardens), Rockville, neighborscoffee.shop

BEST FOR SINGLE-ORIGIN Meron Cherenet, 40, who grew up in Ethiopia and arrived in the U.S. for her sophomore year in high school, and her husband, Ashenafi Demese, 44, opened CoffeeFi Roastery in Bethesda in August. The cafe has lots of cozy seating and a peaceful vibe.

The owners live in Rockville and own Butopia Buna Factory, a coffee roasting company for single-origin Ethiopian coffee that launched in 2020. Cherenet says she is the third generation of her family to work in the coffee industry. CoffeeFi serves Buto-

pia coffee, which is sourced from Ethiopia and roasted weekly in Frederick, Maryland. “That’s why we say this coffee is from our farms to your cup, for real,” Cherenet says. “The whole thing, the whole supply chain, is in our hands.”

4929 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, 443-548-1193, @coffeefi_roastery on Instagram

BEST FOR CUSTOM BREWS

Clear tubes track across the ceiling at Celtic Cup Coffee, which opened in January 2025 in downtown Silver Spring. Those are what owner Doug Ilg, 61, of Silver Spring, designed to help load coffee beans into hoppers at one end of the roughly 500-square-foot microroastery and cafe. Ilg’s goal is for the coffee curious to find a custom combo they love.

“Whenever I found [coffee shops] that did roasting … I would often find a bean that I was interested in trying, but they wouldn’t have it on a roast level that I wanted,” says Ilg. Customers choose the roast level and the beans (there’s a rotating selection of singleorigin coffees), and Ilg can make a cup in a pour-over machine. Before opening shop, he says he sold his coffee in fundraisers for the Greater Washington Ceili Club, an Irish music club where he’s a member. Ilg says the club is the “namesake” for his shop.

8455 Colesville Road, Suite 101B, Silver Spring, 240-660-9700, celticcupcoffee.com

Best Peruvian Lunch

Pisco y Nazca, part of a small chain with additional restaurants in Florida, Virginia and Washington, D.C., opened its Bethesda location in March, offering Peruvian fare in a chic 6,000-square-foot space.

The restaurant has created an introductory tasting journey that makes for a tasty midday meal. For $17.95, the “Pick-Two” lunch lets diners choose a duo of dishes from set offerings. Appetizer ​​​​ picks include empanadas filled with a Peruvian chicken stew, traditional ceviche, or tuna tartare tacos. The options for main dishes include an anticucho de pollo platter (grilled chicken skewers with jasmine rice and anticuchera sauce) or a half arroz con mariscos (a seafood rice with squid, shrimp and mussels). Desserts—a Peruvianstyle flan with grilled pineapple, or suspiro, a caramel custard with meringue—can be added for $5. For a fuller Peruvian journey, order a pisco sour to drink. Follow up with a siesta, if you can swing it.

7401 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-514-4830, piscoynazca. com/bethesda

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Giving vibes of colored sand art in a bottle, the bright drinks at bubble tea spot Heytea in Rockville are layered with ingredients, some of which stay separate until you twirl a wide straw through your beverage. Green matcha, blue spirulina, white coconut milk, orange mango puree and other natural ingredients bring the hues. Served in sturdy plastic cups with simple line drawing logos, the dazzling drinks call for an Instagram post. Even the Supreme Brown Sugar Bobo Milk Tea looks like art with its brown sugar syrup, black tea and milk swirling above brown sugar tapioca pearls.

Heytea, which started in China and now has more than 4,000 shops around the world, debuted at Wintergreen Plaza in June. The minimalist decor (there are no large posted menus to check out) combined with the staff uniforms of gray aprons over khaki shirts make the space feel like a chemistry lab. One of the concoctions being mixed up is a creamy “cloud” foam made with cheese and real milk. It’s a signature ingredient that tops many offerings.

With items that change seasonally, the menu is best browsed in the app rather than on the tablet at the register so you have time to customize a drink to your taste— deliciousness and aesthetic.

891-F Rockville Pike (Wintergreen Plaza), Rockville, 301-762-2970, heytea.com/en

TOP LEFT PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN NEARY; RIGHT PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE

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Most Photogenic Bubble Tea Drinks

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Best Tiki-Themed Weeknight Escape

Fans of TV’s Survivor or Gilligan’s Island might enjoy a quirky Tiki bar pop-up at House of Foong Lin in Bethesda. Every Thursday, the restaurant’s bar area is aglow with puffer fish lanterns, Tiki masks and tropical emblems. Lighted torches outside the restaurant beckon guests for weekly tropical beverage specials.

Enjoy a rotating offering of three featured cocktails from the restaurant’s wide menu for $9 each from 6 to 9 p.m., with the fan favorite Mai Tai ’44 always available. Ask about selected drinks served in the bar’s Tiki mugs. House of Foong Lin offers a souvenir mai tai glass for $20. Grab one of many Hawaiian shirts off a rack next to the bar and immerse yourself in a Tiki getaway.

4613 Willow Lane, Bethesda, 301-657-3740, @ttathofl on Instagram

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Best Reopening of a Neighborhood Staple

Olney Ale House, which for years drew in loyal diners, including many who were attending performances at Olney Theatre Center across the road, has been lovingly restored after a fire destroyed part of the structure six years ago. Owners and brothers Serkan and Selim Kantar made sure in their painstaking restoration to stay true to the original restaurant’s cozy and friendly vibe. The new haunt has exposed wood beams, a brick wall, a 1920s-style drop tin ceiling, three televisions over the bar and a covered patio with heaters. The kitchen brought back some of the hits from the previous menu—fish and chips, braised brisket and their signature Olney burger—and added 14 beers on tap (for a new total of 24), oysters on the half shell, alehouse prime steak and cheese sandwiches, pizzas and more. For the local residents who awaited the reopening, the October debut couldn’t have come fast enough. “From the amount of phone calls and people that have been coming to check on us while we were remodeling, we knew it was going to be crowded from the start,” Serkan Kantar says.

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2000 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-774-6708, olneyalehouse.com

Kapow Buddy brings the popular “bowl style” concept of Cava and Chipotle to Thai street food. Opened in October 2024 at Westfield Montgomery mall, this fast-casual restaurant is the brainchild of Kuen Deeprachakorn, a Rockville resident, who tired of grab-and-go meals from chains near where he worked in Bethesda and wanted to re-create the flavors he grew up with in Thailand. Build your own bowl with a base of rice, noodles or salad, then add a protein (crispy pork belly is a standout), vegetables (don’t miss the crispy basil), a sauce (pick the heat level) and a fried egg or omelet. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, choose a Signature Bowl such as the Street Classic with chicken or ground pork, or the Fans’ Favorite with crispy pork belly and purple rice. At daily happy hour, get deals on Thai-inspired cocktails and snacks such as wings, curry puffs and spring rolls. Comfy couches, a swing, an outdoor courtyard and a selection of games make this one of the rare mall eateries where you may want to linger rather than just grab a quick bite during a shopping trip or movie outing.

TOP PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY; BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY KAPOW BUDDY

Most Fun New Mall Eatery

7101 Democracy Blvd., SPC 1158 (Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda, 518-875-2824, kapowbuddy.com

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PHOTO BY LINDSEY PLEVYAK

Most Striking New Spot for Wine Tasting Burnt Hill Farm in Clarksburg is the brainchild of three siblings: winemaker Lisa Hinton, farmer Drew Baker and operations lead Ashli Johnson, all of whom also own Old Westminster Winery in Carroll County. Burnt Hill is home to a vineyard that was established in 2019. A tasting room for their in-house wine and snacks opened in August.

Burnt Hill’s adults-only tasting room blends a rustic farm aesthetic with modern, open architecture—complete with wide windows overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain. The farm’s table wine offerings are made with grapes grown on Burnt Hill and at Old Westminister, including a honey-soaked chardonnay, rosé and cabernet sauvignon. The reservation fee for a three-hour time slot in the tasting room

or lounge is $26 per person and includes a greeting glass of a Blanc de Blancs.

From there, guests can enter into the tasting room experience for $85 per person—which includes three estate wines (made only with Burnt Hill grapes, with the first batch from 2021), heirloom wheat sourdough bread and snacks, such as a Honeycrisp apple fennel salad. For a communal dining experience, guests can reserve seats in the lounge for $55, featuring an a la carte menu of sharable plates accommodating parties of up to eight guests.

Keep an eye out for a new experience in 2026 where guests can dine on a multicourse meal with wine pairings.

25001 Burnt Hill Road, Clarksburg, 667-788-8636, burnthill.farm

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Being gluten intolerant shouldn’t mean missing out on family meals and birthday cake, Brianne Izzo decided. “Because when my kids have a birthday, I don’t want to not have a slice of birthday cake,” she says.

Izzo, 46, who lives in Clarksburg, was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance in 2011. She soon began creating gluten-free recipes— stuffed peppers, crustless pumpkin pie, lemon bars—that could be enjoyed by the whole family, first just for herself to make and then to help others by sharing her recipes and meal plans on her website, Cupcakes & Kale Chips, starting in 2012, when her oldest son was 2. (Her sons are now 12 and 15.) What started as a hobby turned into a business. She now averages 250,000 to 300,000 page views per month and has more than 18,000 email subscribers.

“I decided that as a gluten-free mom with a family that can eat anything, that I wanted to help support that community with a focus on familiar flavors, comfort foods and straightforward baking,” Izzo says. “Now, getting a comment from somebody who was able to bring something they love back into their life again keeps me moving forward and wanting to keep creating more recipes.”

TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY BRIANNE IZZO; RIGHT PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY

Best Gluten-Free Recipe Site From a Local Mom

cupcakesandkalechips.com

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Fastest New Way to Grab a Feel-Good Meal

Eat Sprout Café Bakery is a family-owned mix between a restaurant and a market, offering quick and healthy food and drinks.

The business started as a food truck and has six locations now. The menu is updated monthly with new and seasonal items, including ready-to-eat entrees, small plates, spreads and artisanal breads.

The chef-crafted entrees are prepared and packaged weekly, ensuring people have a variety of options they can grab conveniently. Each dish and drink is made from scratch in small batches, using locally sourced organic ingredients and packaged in-house using compostable containers.

Meals are labeled for the dietary restrictions and preferences they accommodate, making it easy to choose the right option. The cafe also offers an espresso bar, plus a selection of market items such as coffee beans and local honey.

4926 Elm St., Bethesda, 240-630-8662, eatsprout.com

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Best Spot for Over-the-Top Ice Cream Treats

Extreme Milkshake; Cookie Monster

Marking a milestone, commemorating another trip around the sun or even “just because” all are good excuses for an extravagant dessert. The milkshakes and sundaes that pile on the sweetness at Max’s Best Ice Cream in Bethesda check the going-all-out boxes. There’s the Cookie Monster extreme milkshake (pictured) that starts with cookie dough ice cream mixed with malted milk. Then come the add-ons: mini-Oreos, cookie dough pieces, crushed Oreo, and fudge and caramel sauces. Oh, and a full-size chocolate chip cookie. The colossal dessert is finished with whipped cream and a cherry. Sundaes—including the Towering Chocolate Chip with three kinds of ice cream, a brownie, an ice cream sandwich and more—are just as jam-packed with treats.

Max’s serves Vanderwende’s ice cream, which has a creamery and shop in Bridgeville, Delaware, and four seasonal locations, including Delaware’s Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island. Bethesda residents Cory and Angela Alexander opened Max’s Best Ice Cream with co-owner Best Buddies International, a nonprofit that has a jobs program that partners with employers who hire individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cory and Angela, who are the father and stepmother of a son, Max, named the business after him. Slide into a leather booth or grab a stool at the counter in the parlor, which took over space once occupied

by The Blue House gift store and opened in June. The extreme milkshakes and sundaes—plus boozy milkshakes, frozen hot chocolate and floats— make the simple scoops of ice cream here seem, well, vanilla.

7770 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-902-0790, maxsbesticecream.com

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Best Chinese Comfort Food M i c h e l i n - r e c o m m e n d e d Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings opened a branch at Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda in October.

The restaurant is named for the canal town, which is now part of Shanghai, where soup dumplings originated. Order Lucky Six Soup Dumplings, an ideal way to sample steamed dumplings—gourd (green), chicken (yellow), truffle (black), pork (white), scallop (orange), and crab and pork (white with yellow in the center). The hues come from natural ingredients. Follow the directions on the card at your table on how to eat them so you don’t miss a drop

of the plentiful broth that’s inside the dumplings. You can watch the dumplings being filled and shaped in the open kitchen. Among the restaurant’s other offerings: dim sum (served by a robot), soups (try the flavorful braised beef noodle with its tender meat), all-day breakfast (spring rolls, scallion pancakes and puffs) and chef’s specials such as the Shanghai sweet and sour spare pork ribs. Nan Xiang’s soup dumplings and soup are the ultimate in comfort food.

7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 2350 (Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda, 301456-6888, nanxiangxiaolongbao.com

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Best Mural Capturing MoCo Spirit There are many people and places to spot in the mural that covers more than 1,500 square feet on the side of the Home Arts Building at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. There’s Ye Old Cheese Barn with the late Ed Hogan standing in his green apron. There are racing pigs dashing around a bend. At the far end? Carrie McQueen on her stilts, standing tall against an illuminated midway. Eric Goulette and James Favata, artists with In The Paint Murals of Monrovia, Maryland, worked for two years on the project, capturing the essence of a summer tradition for Montgomery County families. The duo started by sifting through photos of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair for “what stood out the most,” Favata says, and then it became a “game of whack-a-mole” to get in all the important elements. They painted through two fairs—including the 75th anniversary in 2024—and passersby would stop and identify friends or even themselves in the panorama, Favata says. The artists finished the painting in August. Favata says he will return to the annual fair with his two daughters—“now it’s our yearly tradition.”

16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, 301-926-3100, mcagfair.com

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Mural artists James Favata, left, and Eric Goulette

PHOTO COURTESY IN THE PAINT MURALS

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Best Town for an Art Safari

Visit a park in the town of Kensington and you might see foxes, native birds, raccoons, bears and even a chameleon. The animals are statues, all carved out of wood by artist Jason Swain. Since 2008, the Kensington resident, who also works as the town’s supervisor of public works, has carved 12 wooden statues that now “live” in public locations around Kensington. The self-taught artist uses chainsaws of varying sizes and hand tools to create the sculptures in his workshop at the Kensington public works facility. Most of the wood he uses comes from old trees cut down around town.

Swain’s first town commission was Ernest the Eagle, which debuted in Ernest Memorial Park in 2008. The most recent—Slicky the bright green chameleon—was installed in St. Paul Park in August.

Check out Kensington’s self-guided art walk to see all of Swain’s creations in town by visiting tok. md.gov/art-walk-carvings.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY MOCO PRIDE CENTER; PHOTO BY CANVA; PHOTO BY JASON SWAIN; PHOTOS BY BRENDAN NEARY (2); PHOTO BY JASON SWAIN

Best New Place for the LGBTQ+ Community Montgomery County’s first resource hub dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community opened in August offering health screenings, support groups, cultural events and other services. The Montgomery County Pride Family Resource Center is located at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center in downtown Bethesda. Also known as the MoCo Pride Center, it brings together several organizations in one physical location: The Coalition for Inclusive Schools and Communities, Drag Story Hour DMV, Live in Your Truth, Maryland Trans Unity, MoCo Pride Prom, Poolesville Pride and Trans Maryland.

“The impact has been both practical and deeply emotional,” says MoCo

Pride Center CEO Phillip Alexander Downie. “For the first time, LGBTQIA+ people in Montgomery County have a place where they know they belong, built with intention for communities who are too often pushed to the margins. This center was created for us. It is not a borrowed space or a temporary setup; it is a home.”

A library of LGBTQ+ inclusive titles is available at the venue, which also hosts regular events, including yoga, drag story times, game nights and a monthly Wellness Weekend and vendor market featuring LGBTQ+ businesses.

4805 Edgemoor Lane, second floor, Bethesda, mocopridefamily.org/pride-center-home

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Best New Luxury Bridal Shop

collection of ​​gowns sold in various retailers and her ​​Livingston, New Jersey, flagship store.

Nouri decided to open her second bridal salon in Chevy Chase because she has family in the area. In oneon-one consultations, brides explore a stunning collection of “modern but romantic” dresses, according

to a spokesperson at Sareh Nouri.

In addition to made-to-order bridal gowns, with prices starting around $5,000, Sareh Nouri offers general formalwear and gowns for the mother of the bride or groom.

5481F Wisconsin Ave., Suite 102 (The Collection at Chevy Chase), Chevy Chase, 240-858-6191, sarehnouri.com

shopping & beauty

Large display windows showcase sumptuous Italian fabrics and delicate French lace at Sareh Nouri, which opened in June at The Collection at Chevy Chase. Inside is a luxurious bridal shopping experience courtesy of fashion designer Sareh Nouri, who’s established herself in the bridal space with her

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Best New Boutique for Wholesome Gifts

LEFT PHOTO COURTESY SAREH NOURI BRIDAL; MIDDLE PHOTOS COURTESY EASY LITTLE PLANTS; RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY GREEN & BEAN

Best Workshop for Axolotl Fans

Easy Little Plants owner Savannah Scollar, 23, is a self-taught expert in houseplants and, by chance, axolotls, those fully aquatic salamanders that can regrow limbs and whose cuteness launched them into social media popularity. Scollar’s tiny Olney shop opened about two years ago and became a home to axolotls after she found eggs in the tank of her two “boy” axolotls. While the store, with its eclectic greenery and curios, is open to shoppers Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., it is best experienced through one of its workshops.

Among the recurring workshop options is an hourlong axolotl feeding and teacup garden- or terrarium-making event. Attendees use tweezers to drop pellets into the water of a transparent tub and watch the axolotls gobble up the food. After the axolotls have had their meal, the terrariums and teacups come out. Scollar, a Silver Spring resident who worked for a chain plant shop before opening Easy Little Plants, shows participants how to mix soil, then fill terrariums or teacups with soil, plants and all-you-care-to-use decorations, such as stickers, tiny plastic axolotls and glow-in-the-dark pieces. While the axolotls are available as pets, Scollar likens obtaining one to adopting a dog or cat, and caregivers can redirect kids’ attention to axolotl merch: stuffies, stickers, shirts and such.

The aromas of essential oils greet customers who walk through the doors of Green & Bean, a gift shop in Bethesda. With more than 40 brands from around the world, owner Ail Mulaga, 28, of Germantown, strives to make shopping for sustainable, ethically produced gifts easy. Among the offerings are homemade candles from Wonky Wick, Mulaga’s other business. With items such as recycled wool blankets and spices from around the world, Mulaga aims to offer unique gifts for a variety of recipients and occasions. She says she wants Green & Bean to be a welcoming community spot where visitors can come in to enjoy a quick game of checkers and to learn about the different products.

4600 East West Highway, #110, Bethesda, greenbeanboutique.com

3412 N. High St., Suite B, Olney, 240-907-7032, easylittleplants.com

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Best Big & Little Mani/Pedi Experience

A mani/pedi can be a fun family bonding opportunity. Nailsaloon, a local chain that opened its Chevy Chase location in December 2023, caters to kids ages 2 to 13 with “youngin’ manis” and “youngin’ pedis” at a reduced rate of $25 (adult prices start at $30). Nailsaloon focuses on a clean space (complete with state-of-the-art ventilation ensuring scent-free air) and nontoxic nail care (polishes are free of the top five chemicals typically found in polishes, and tools are single-use or undergo hospital-grade sterilization), says Hannah Logan, director of brand strategy and marketing.

Technicians also skip cuticle cutting and gel polishes on children. The staff goes out of its way to ensure kiddos have a special adapted experience by offering a booster seat/pillows to sit higher in the chair, a kidfriendly drink in a bedazzled cup, fun nail art stickers (about 50 cents each), step stools to reach the sink, and coloring pages to keep entertained. The space also can be rented for private or semiprivate events, such as kids birthday parties.

5449 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-858-6963, thenailsaloon.com

LEFT PHOTOS BY CECILIE OLAUSSEN PHOTOGRAPHY LLC; RIGHT PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX

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Best New Self-Care Trend The newest self-care trend to hit the Bethesda area is the rise of head spas— luxurious treatments focused on scalp health and relaxation. Combining massage, exfoliation and water-based tools such as sprayers, these treatments allow clients to recline while a stylist customizes the experience to address issues including oily hair, dryness and buildup.

At Franz Sebastian Salon in Bethesda, marketing director and hairstylist Anai​​​​ Limber says head spas have existed for centuries in Asia. In India, the practice is known as champi. “Head spas exploded in popularity in the U.S. because of TikTok,” Limber says. “In Japan, about half of the hair salons offer a head spa—we predict it will be similar here in the U.S.”

Franz Sebastian offers 30-, 60- and 90-minute sessions, with the Signature 60-minute and Express 30-minute options being the most ​​​​popular. Three of the salon’s head spa technicians— including Limber—are licensed stylists trained in the ​​​​Yume ​​​​technique, a Japanese-inspired approach that combines shampooing with pressure-point massage and deep cleansing to promote relaxation and scalp health.

At Serenity Head Spa in Rockville, the Supreme service ​​​​ begins with a scalp analysis, followed by deep cleansing, exfoliation, steaming and a calming scalp massage using natural ginger and herbal​​​​ formulations. Online reviews frequently mention the peaceful atmosphere—lush

greenery, warm lighting and soft water sounds—and the sense of full-body renewal that follows.

At Essence Head Spa in Gaithersburg, clients can opt for the “Supreme Scalp Experience,” which incorporates advanced techniques such as cryo-stone gua sha, microcurrent therapy and custom​​​​ masks. According to the spa, these treatments “promote healthier hair growth, relieve scalp tension, and provide an elevated sense of calm in a luxe setting.”

Franz Sebastian Salon, 4917 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, 301-907-8080, franzsebastiansalon.com; Serenity Head Spa, 309 N. Washington St., Rockville, 301-301-9998, serenityheadspas.com; Essence Head Spa, 8903 Shady Grove Court, Gaithersburg, 903-336-1116, essenceheadspa.com

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Before Wonderland Books opened its doors in December ​​​​2024, owners Gayle Weiswasser and Amy Joyce knew the space they built would be friendly to dogs and people alike. After all, both are dog owners. Weiswasser has a mixed breed named Hobart, and Joyce has a sproodle—a mix between a springer spaniel and poodle—named Rosie. In ​​​​ the lead-up to Wonderland’s opening they toured local bookstores and noticed a wall at East City Bookshop in the Eastern Market area of Washington, D.C., that featured pictures of neighborhood dogs. With the East City owner’s encouragement, Wonderland now has a photo gallery of dogs that spans three walls and has close to 600 photos, all taken with a Fujifilm Instax camera they keep inside the store. Dogs are welcome on leashes, and Joyce says pet owners often take selfies with their dogs in front of the wall. But Wonderland maintains that it’s an equal opportunity pet-friendly bookstore: People who look closely at the wall can spot ​​​​three cats photographed there.

7920B Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, 301-347-7136, wonderlandbooks.com

TOP LEFT PHOTO BY OLIVIA SADKA; RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY THE BUNNY HIVE

Most Pictures of Dogs in a Local Bookstore

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Best New Social Spot for the Littlest Ones The Bunny Hive, a “social club” that opened in October, is designed for tiny tykes (2 weeks through kindergarten) and their grown-ups. Part of a national chain with more than 30 locations, the studio offers about a dozen classes, from culinary exploration to music to baby massage. Most classes are 30 minutes to keep the little ones’ attention. The 1,473-square-foot space across from Imagination Stage boasts a neutral white/cream-toned palette that is clean, calming and aesthetically pleasing.

According to studio owner Jordan Smith, classes are capped at eight families, a sizable enough group for socializing while also remaining intimate. Toys and materials are carefully curated to support learning but to not be overstimulating, such as a small kitchen for imaginative play, and wooden slides to promote gross motor skill development, Smith says. With two young daughters of her own, Smith can “relate to the sentiment of being a new parent and moving to an area where you need to make friends in the same stage of life,” she says. Various membership, class-pack and drop-in options are available (they are family-based, not per child) and include access to the space before and after class for playing and socializing.

4925 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, 202-893-1152, thebunnyhive.com

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Most Captivating Asian Pop Culture Trend to Come to the County Once a relic of 1980s and ’90s video game arcades, claw machines— and their coin-operated toy dispensing machine cousins—are making a comeback. Originating in Japan, arcades featuring claw machines (aka “clawcades”) and “gachapon” machines (put in a coin, turn a crank and receive a toy in a plastic capsule) have come to Montgomery County. Their popularity is driven by collectible culture—some prizes include Sanrio (Hello Kitty) and Pokemon merch—and the allure of “just one more try.”

Meow Claw opened in a tiny space in December 2024 and expanded to a larger spot in December 2025. It now has more than 60 claw machines with prizes such as trendy animal plushies, collectible key chains and figurines. Each machine takes one to four tokens per play; tokens cost $1. New prizes are added weekly.

There are also arcade games.

kids & pets

1701 Rockville Pike, Suites B 4-6, Rockville, 240-888-8637, meowclaw.us

Capsule Galaxy, which opened in November 2024, features more than 150 gachapon machines full of prizes—bag charms, small tech gadgets, interactive figurines—enclosed in plastic capsules. Unlike the claw machines where you might not win a prize depending on your luck and skill manipulating the claw, with gachapon machines, you win every time. The thrill comes from not knowing exactly what you’ll find when you open the capsule. Tokens cost $3; machines take two to three tokens per play.

Best New Creative Hangout for All Ages Step inside District DabbleLab at Bethesda's Westbard Square and you’ll be greeted by bright colors, cheerful murals, and shelves lined with craft kits and whimsical gifts.

Founder Emily Yeskel Rubin, ​​​​45, of Bethesda curates every item, from art supplies and cookbooks to vision board kits and DIY projects that you won’t find at big-box stores. Rubin brings a blend of business and creative experience to the studio, with a business degree and a background touching on fashion, retail, interior design, vintage curation and ​​​​​​upcycling, along with her perspective as a mom.

The studio offers after-school art classes for kids, weekend birthday

parties with themes such as Taylor Swift’s new album, and open-studio sessions where visitors of any age can choose a project from a menu, such as birdhouses or tote bags, and make it their own. Adults get their creative fix through “Ladies Who Lab” evenings, where groups gather for crafting, food and drinks.

Unlike traditional art studios that focus on a single medium, DabbleLab embraces variety. “I came up with the name because I think ‘dabbling’ is important, trying new things is important,” Rubin says. The space officially opened its

brick-and-mortar studio and shop in March, after Rubin spent six ​​​​years running DabbleLab out of her home basement studio.

5312 Zenith Overlook (Westbard Square), Bethesda, 240-858-​​4134, districtdabblelab.com

LEFT PHOTO COURTESY DISTRICT DABBLELAB; RIGHT PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE

7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda, 240-883-7661, instagram.com/thecapsulegalaxy/?hl=en

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LEFT PHOTO COURTESY DISTRICT DABBLELAB; RIGHT PHOTO BY BRENDAN MCCABE

Teso Life, the Japanese department store that opened in November 2024 and sells Asian beauty products, housewares and snacks, has a bank of about 10 claw machines with prizes such as stuffed animals and figurines. Each machine takes two tokens per play; tokens cost $1.

1701 Rockville Pike, Suite A-12, Rockville, 240-669-8571, tesolife.com/en

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Best Classes for Teens and Adults Not Afraid of Heights For a new physical challenge, a novel way to enjoy nature and a throwback to childhood, consider Canopy Connection, classes offered by Montgomery Parks that teach participants how to climb trees. The three-hour classes, taught by professional parks department arborists, are an introduction to tree-climbing using equipment such as ropes, pulleys and harnesses. There’s a class for adults 55 and older and another for teens 14 to 18. After a lesson on how to use the gear and some basics on caring for trees, students ascend into the treetops. Some of the trees are 60 to 80 feet tall. The class for teens also includes a discussion on professional tree-climbing careers.

Most of the participants are first-timers curious about treeclimbing and looking for a fun physical activity, according to Michael Coppersmith, director of parks activation. And while climbing can be daunting, participants are rewarded with class camaraderie, self-confidence and a tremendous sense of accomplishment, he says. The next sessions are scheduled for April and May in Clarksburg Neighborhood Park. Registration opens Feb. 17.

montgomeryparks.org/activities/ tree-climbing

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PHOTO COURTESY MONTGOMERY PARKS, M-NCPPC

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Best Hometown Hero Soaring to New Heights The Dominique Dawes Academy, a gymnastics and ninja space created by the former Olympian with Silver Spring roots, is ever-expanding. What began in Clarksburg in 2020 has since grown across the region to locations in Rockville, Columbia and Ashburn, Virginia, with no plans to stop.

Over the next four to five years, the company’s aim is to open more than 40 gyms nationally, CEO Adam Zeitsiff says.

“Our goal has always been to build a positive,

kind and compassionate community that uplifts the self-esteem of every child who walks through our doors,” Dawes says in an email. She mentions that it’s a contrast to her experience in gymnastics, where the setting was harsh and toxic, even from a young age. Although she no longer resides in Montgomery County, Dawes will attend the academy’s newest opening in Silver Spring in early 2026.

5626 Randolph ​​Road Suite B, Rockville, 240-690-​​​​4138, dominiquedawesgymnasticsacademy.com

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LEFT PHOTOS COURTESY DOMINIQUE DAWES; RIGHT PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

Best Way for Kids to Try Cricket

Bails, wickets, bowlers and stumps—in cricket, learning the lingo is part of the fun. Since 2023, the Youth Cricket Academy, in a partnership with Montgomery County Recreation, has given local kids the chance to try the sport. Now, the academy encompasses nearly 50 athletes ages 6 to 16. The program is free with weekly practices that include instructional development and internal scrimmages. In the spring and fall, the academy meets at Calverton-Galway Local Park, and winter practices are at the East County Community Recreation Center, both in Silver Spring. For youngsters looking to try something new, the Youth Cricket Academy is a great option, says Amanda DeFilippo, countywide programs manager for Montgomery County Recreation.

“You learn the fun and fundamentals,” she says. The county provides bats, balls, wickets and more. Just bring closed-toe shoes. “Sign up at any time, come out and they’ll be welcomed with open arms,” DeFilippo says.

montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/ activitiesandprograms/sports/ cricket.html

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To spice up your fitness routine, add some salsa. As you learn how to move your feet in sync with the lively music, chances are you’ll meet new people. Salsa with Silvia, a Latin dance studio in Bethesda, is a hive of positive energy where introductory and advanced salsa and bachata dance lessons are offered. Crank up the heat on your romantic life at Friday date nights for couples or a speed dating event; both outings include wine and beer. Speed dating starts with a group dance lesson, then transitions to paired conversations, with the men rotating among tables. Patrons write down their top three “dates.” If there’s a match, the studio will contact you.

Romance aside, friendships are a common byproduct of salsa’s shared physical exertion and upbeat vibes. Clients often hang out, set up group chats, and meet at salsa events in the D.C. area.

4731 Elm St., Second Floor, Bethesda, 301-760-4423, salsawithsilvia.com

Best Way to Experience a Luxury Brand While Breaking a Sweat Vroom-vroom, vinyasa? While unlocked Porsches may lure luxury car enthusiasts, Porsche Studio Chevy Chase aims to attract a different segment of the market with its regularly scheduled Pilates and yoga classes. Open since September 2024, the studio is an extension of the automaker’s dealership at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. Features include a configuration room with drawers of paint and leather swatches for clients to reimagine their ride, a free coffee bar, meeting areas, unlocked vehicles to peruse and Porsche merch for sale.

Once a month, most of the cars are moved aside and yoga mats are rolled out on part of the floor in the roughly 5,700-square-foot studio. Rotating guest instructors guide around 30 participants through a 30- to 60-minute yoga or Pilates class. Porsche provides the mats and goodie bags with “selfcare essentials” such as grip socks or juice shots, according to Damaris Alvarez, a Porsche product specialist who manages the studio. A post-class

social hour includes free refreshments and photo ops with the cars.

Classes are free with registration required through Eventbrite links, which are accessible through the studio’s social media accounts. In December, Porsche offered its first class at its dealership in North Bethesda to accommodate even more attendees, though most classes will still happen at the studio. “We’re trying to target a more youthful crowd—driven women, driven youth and creative leaders as well—trying to let them know that a Porsche is also attainable for them,” Alvarez says. “They don’t have to be intimidated to walk in here, and they can ask their questions, build their curiosity and envision themselves in a Porsche.”

5471 Wisconsin Ave. (The Collection at Chevy Chase), Chevy Chase, 227-233-5100, porschestudiochevychase.com. Registration links are announced one month before each event on Facebook, X and Instagram @porschestudiochevychase.

BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO COURTESY SALSA WITH SILVIA; TOP PHOTO COURTESY PORSCHE STUDIO CHEVY CHASE

sports & fitness

Best Workout for Your Social Life

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Recognizing Excellence in Aesthetic Medicine

Dr. Daniel Tran

Dr. Douglas Forman

Dr. Kathy Huang

Readers’ Pick, Finalist: Best Practice/Place for Medical Aesthetics &

Best Cosmetic Surgeon: Dr. Douglas Forman FACIAL REJUVENATION • BREAST SURGERY BODY CONTOURING • MEDSPA @DCPLASTICSURG 11210 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda MD 20852 • 301.881.7770 WWW.PL ASTICSURGERYNOW.COM

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READERS’ PICKS

Best Date Night Restaurant: Mon Ami Gabi

READERS’ PICKS

From bagel shops to yoga studios, Montgomery County and Upper NW D.C. have a lot to offer. This year, 8,410 people voted in our online Best of Bethesda readers’ poll to select the best shops, restaurants, services and more.

We named winners in 192 categories. The winners and finalists are listed in order of the number of votes they received with ties indicated.

FOOD & DRINK BAGEL

7 Locks Brewing (tie) Silver Branch Brewing Co. (tie)

BAKERY

Silver MoCo’s Founding Farmers Java Nation Mon Ami Gabi

Bethesda Bagels Call Your Mother Ize’s Deli & Bagelry Georgetown Bagelry

Fresh Baguette Tatte Bakery & Cafe Breads Unlimited Tout de Sweet Pastry Shop

BAR/RESTAURANT TO WATCH A GAME

Caddies on Cordell Tommy Joe’s Bar + Grill Quincy’s Bar and Grille BT’s Bethesda Bar & Grill

BEER SELECTION

World of Beer Caddies on Cordell Barrel and Crow (tie) Dog Haus (tie)

BREAKFAST

Silver Diner Tastee Diner Tatte Bakery & Café First Watch (tie) The Original Pancake House (tie)

BREWERY

BabyCat Brewery Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co.

BRUNCH

BURGER

Five Guys Duke’s Grocery Caddies on Cordell Clyde’s

BUSINESS LUNCH SPOT

MoCo’s Founding Farmers Mon Ami Gabi Black’s Bar & Kitchen Duke’s Grocery

CARIBBEAN/CUBAN RESTAURANT

Cubano’s Cuba de Ayer Negril

CHINESE RESTAURANT

House of Foong Lin Meiwah Restaurant Q by Peter Chang Far East Restaurant

COCKTAILS AND ZERO-PROOF DRINKS

Hip Flask Rooftop Bar MoCo’s Founding Farmers

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Caddies on Cordell (tie) No Regrets Pizza Co. (tie)

COFFEE SHOP (LOCALLY OWNED)

Java Nation Quartermaine Coffee Roasters Neighbors Coffee Grace Street Coffee

DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT

Mon Ami Gabi Aventino Melina Barrel and Crow

DESSERT MENU

MoCo’s Founding Farmers Mon Ami Gabi Barrel and Crow (tie) Seasons 52 (tie)

DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT/BAR

Caddies on Cordell

Barrel and Crow Java Nation (tie) Silver (tie)

FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Silver Diner Silver Caddies on Cordell (tie) Uncle Julio’s (tie)

FARMERS MARKET

Bethesda Central Farm Market Norman’s Farm Market Freshfarm Downtown Silver Spring Market (tie) Kensington Farmers’ Market (tie)

FOOD TRUCK

Silver and Sons Barbecue Arepateca Money Muscle BBQ Pita on the Plaza

PHOTO COURTESY LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU ENTERPRISES, INC

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READERS’ PICKS | FOOD & DRINK

HAPPY HOUR

JAPANESE/SUSHI RESTAURANT

Caddies on Cordell (tie) King Street Oyster Bar (tie) Barrel and Crow Black’s Bar & Kitchen (tie) Gringos & Mariachis (tie)

Raku Kusshi Sushi Sushiko Rakugaki

ICE CREAM SHOP

Al Ha’esh Oh Mama Grill Siena’s Restaurant

Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream Max’s Best Ice Cream Carmen’s Italian Ice (tie) Jeni’s Ice Creams (tie)

INDIAN RESTAURANT

Kadhai Commonwealth Indian Passage to India Tikka Masala

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Olazzo Aventino Gregorio’s Trattoria Il Pizzico

KOSHER RESTAURANT

LATIN RESTAURANT

Pisco y Nazca Arepateca Guardado’s Joy by Seven Reasons (tie) La Limeña Grill (tie)

MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

Ala Bacchus of Lebanon Melina Moby Dick’s House of Kabob

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Guapo’s Gringos & Mariachis Uncle Julio’s Fish Taco

NEW RESTAURANT

Pisco y Nazca Duke’s Grocery Bouboulina Silver and Sons Barbecue

OUTDOOR DINING

Mon Ami Gabi Old Angler’s Inn Caddies on Cordell Java Nation

OVERALL RESTAURANT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY/ UPPER NW D.C.

Mon Ami Gabi Il Pizzico Aventino (tie) Barrel and Crow (tie)

PIZZA

No Regrets Pizza Co. Andy’s Pizza Ledo Pizza Frankly...Pizza!

PRIVATE DINING SPACE

Seasons 52 All Set Restaurant & Bar Mon Ami Gabi Barrel and Crow (tie) Lia’s Restaurant (tie)

RESTAURANT IN BETHESDA

Mon Ami Gabi Aventino Olazzo Barrel and Crow

RESTAURANT IN CHEVY CHASE

Clyde’s La Ferme Restaurant Lia’s Restaurant The Capital Grille

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RESTAURANT IN GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC

Coastal Flats Vasili’s Kitchen Sin & Grin Il Porto

GrillMarX Steakhouse & Raw Bar Mannequin Pis Sisters Sandwiches & Such

RESTAURANT IN POTOMAC

RESTAURANT IN GARRETT PARK/KENSINGTON

Hunter’s Bar and Grill Duke’s Grocery MoCo’s Founding Farmers Old Angler’s Inn

RESTAURANT IN NORTH BETHESDA/ROCKVILLE

Zinnia All Set Restaurant & Bar Parkway Deli J. Hollinger’s Waterman’s Chophouse

Black Market Bistro Frankly...Pizza!

The Dish & Dram Knowles Station Wine & Co.

Julii Melina (tie) No Regrets Pizza Co. (tie) Summer House Santa Monica

RESTAURANT IN OLNEY/ SANDY SPRING

RESTAURANT IN SILVER SPRING

RESTAURANT IN UPPER NW D.C.

Millie’s Opal Et Voila!

La Piquette

SANDWICH SHOP

Jetties Bradley Food & Beverage Sisters Sandwiches & Such Capo Deli

SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT

Mon Ami Gabi Bistro Provence (tie 2nd) The Capital Grille (tie 2nd) Aventino (tie 3rd) Il Pizzico (tie 3rd)

SPECIALTY MARKET

The Market at River Falls Balducci’s The Organic Butcher of Bethesda Grosvenor Market

THAI RESTAURANT

Sisters Thai Kiin Imm Thai Restaurant Sala Thai Ruan Thai

VEGETARIAN DISHES

Planta Rooted3 True Food Kitchen St.Veg

VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

Pho Nom Nom Pho Viet USA Pho 75 Mi La Cay

WINE LIST

STEAKHOUSE

The Capital Grille Medium Rare

Salt & Vine Trattoria

Morton’s The Steakhouse (tie) Ruth’s Chris Steak House (tie)

Olazzo Cooper’s Hawk (tie) The Crossvines (tie) Mon Ami Gabi (tie)

Excellence. Innovation. Expertise.

Nationally recognized for precision and patient-centered results, Dr. Philip Schoenfeld focuses on rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, deep-plane facelifts, and eyelid surgery—welcoming patients from around the world for primary and complex revision surgery. As a respected leader in his field, his insights on aesthetic medicine have been featured in multiple local and national publications. He also serves on the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Schoenfeld is dedicated to restoring confidence after trauma, cancer, or cosmetic concerns. In fact, his mission is to restore confidence and improve the quality of life for his patients through both his Marylandbased practice and his work with international non-profit organizations.

Finalist, Best Cosmetic Surgeon and Best Medical Aesthetics Practice

301-652-7368 RENUDC.com

5454 Wisconsin Ave, #1625 Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Dr. Philip Schoenfeld, M.D., F.A.C.S.

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READERS’ PICKS | SHOPPING & SERVICES

Best Dog Walking Service: Bethesda Dog Walkers

SHOPPING & SERVICES ACCOUNTING FIRM (LOCAL)

Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell Adeptus Advisors (tie 2nd) Sullivan & Co., CPAs (tie 2nd) CLA (formerly Dembo Jones) (tie 3rd) GRF CPAs & Advisors (tie 3rd)

ANTIQUES AND VINTAGE STORE

Terrapin Bicycles REI Bethesda Bike & Ski (tie) Conte’s Bike Shop (tie)

CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE

Rue + Roe Pink Chicken The Blue House Lilac

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM

My Big Finds Heirloom New4You Thrift Boutique (tie) Sugar Pea Vintage (tie)

AMR Commercial The Tenant Agency CBRE

AUTO DEALERSHIP

EagleBank Atlantic Union Bank (formerly Sandy Spring Bank) Founders Bank Forbright Bank (tie) M&T Bank (tie)

Chevy Chase Acura Euro Motor Cars Fitzgerald Auto Mall Jim Coleman Toyota

BIKE STORE

COMMUNITY BANK

Griffin Cycle

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CONSIGNMENT/RESALE STORE

My Big Finds Reddz Trading Uptown Cheapskate Kid to Kid (tie) Sunflowers Consignment Boutique (tie)

FINANCIAL ADVISER

David Hurwitz Keyan Abrishamkar (tie) Anna Benham (tie) Paula Landau

DOG WALKING SERVICE

Bethesda Dog Walkers A Walk in the Park Community Happy Dogs 4 On the Floor Dog Training

EMERGENCY VETERINARY PRACTICE

Jessica Markham Bianca Pinnock

FINE JEWELRY STORE

Boone & Sons Jewelers Alan Furman & Co Kaufmann Jewelers Brilliant Earth

GIFT STORE

Friendship Hospital for Animals BluePearl Pet Hospital Veterinary Referral Associates Potomac Animal Hospital

The Blue House My Big Finds (tie) Occasions Gift Store (tie) Red Orchard (tie)

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

Peake ReLeaf Rise Health for Life Liberty Cannabis

Erin Kopelman Lloyd Malech

MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

PHOTO COURTESY BETHESDA DOG WALKERS

12/16/25 3:39 PM

Thank You for Choosing Pinehurst by Tom Gilday Readers’ Pick, Best Builders for Home Renovations 301.383.1600 pinehurstdb.com

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READERS’ PICKS | SHOPPING & SERVICES / FITNESS & BEAUTY

PET DAY CARE

NEW STORE

DogiZone Bone Jour Dog’s Day Farm Dogtopia

Wonderland Books District DabbleLab Maximum Magic Shop Rails

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

Michael Nakamura Paul Chung Andy Bederman (tie) Seann Malloy (tie)

PET BOARDING

DogiZone Dog’s Day Farm Bone Jour Dogtopia

PET BOUTIQUE/ SPECIALTY STORE

DogiZone Bone Jour Pet Wants Liora’s Whole Pet (tie) Wag N Wash (tie)

Best Photographer for Family Portraits: Erica Land Photography

PET GROOMING

Bone Jour DogiZone Elysiem Olde Towne Pet Resort

PET TRAINER

Your Dog’s Friend DogiZone 4 On the Floor Dog Training (tie) Rollins Family Dog Training (tie)

PHOTOGRAPHER FOR FAMILY PORTRAITS

Erica Land Photography Michael Bennett Kress Photography

Dr. Daniel J. Kraus, D.C.

THANK YOU

to our patients for helping us achieve the honor of being named Best of Bethesda.

Dr. Dan Kraus, D.C. is one of a few chiropractors in the DC metro area that has the Advanced Certification in Chiropractic BioPhysics® - making him a true posture correction expert.

He is a Scoliosis Clinician holding certifications in Scolibracing and Scolibalance Physical Therapy.

Call to schedule your appointment today!

Readers’ Pick, Best Chiropractor

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4733 Elm St., Ste 300, Bethesda, MD 20814 Tel: 301.656.2435 • Fax: 301.986.6960 www.bethesdaspineandposture.com bethesdaspineandposture@gmail.com

PHOTO BY ERICA LAND PHOTOGRAPHY

12/16/25 3:39 PM

Alexia Ballantine Photography (tie) Danielle Sara Photography (tie)

PLACE TO BUY GLASSES (NOT A NATIONAL CHAIN)

Moda Optic Wink Eyecare Boutique Voorthuis Opticians Colonial Opticians

PLACE TO BUY HIGH-END APPLIANCES

Bray & Scarff ABW Appliances Appliance Distributors Unlimited ApplianceLand

SHOPPING CENTER

Shops at Wildwood Westfield Montgomery Cabin John Village Bethesda Row

TAILOR

Montgomery Custom Tailor Bethesda Custom Tailors (tie 2nd) SK Cleaners and Custom Tailors (tie 2nd) 5 Star Cleaners (tie 3rd) Super Cleaners (tie 3rd)

TRAVEL AGENT

Gurvinder Ravery Lisa Cohen Dumani Jamie Baraff Pond Guido Adelfio (tie) Alexis Anolik (tie)

TRUSTS AND ESTATES ATTORNEY

Meredith Hill Gary Altman Patrick Howley Justin DeVault

VETERINARY PRACTICE

Potomac Animal Hospital Benson Animal Hospital

Alpine Veterinary Hospital Veterinary Park Potomac

WEALTH MANAGEMENT FIRM

Chevy Chase Trust Ameriprise Financial (tie) Key Wealth Managers (tie) Morgan Stanley

Burn Boot Camp The St. James Performance Club

CYCLING STUDIO

WOMEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

SoulCycle Hotworx The St. James Performance Club Pulse Fitness

FITNESS & BEAUTY

Woodhouse Spa Ohana Wellness Blu Water Day Spa Red Bloom

Belina Boutique Apricot Lane Boutique Jurisdiction Clothing (tie) Sassanova (tie)

DAY SPA

GYM

BARRE STUDIO

Barre3 Pure Barre Hotworx

BOOT CAMP/CROSSFIT GYM

Fitness Edge MD Orangetheory Fitness

Onelife Fitness The St. James Performance Club Life Time Pulse Fitness

Dr. Elizabeth Shin Founder & President Bethesda Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry

scan to schedule appointment

Readers’ Pick, Winner, Best Pediatric Dentistry Practice

Thank you, Bethesda, for voting us Best Pediatric Dental Office.

Every child receives one-to-one, concierge-style care in a calm, joyful space. We welcome insurance and are the only practice in the area offering in-office IV sedation.

BccPediatricDentistry.com • 301.941.7374 4825 Bethesda Ave., Suite 220 Bethesda, MD 20814 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 93

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READERS’ PICKS | FITNESS & BEAUTY / HEALTH & WELLNESS

HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT) STUDIO

Best High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Studio: Hotworx

Hotworx Orangetheory Fitness Fitness Edge MD Pulse Fitness

HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM

Suburban Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Holy Cross Hospital

NAIL SALON

Nailsaloon Sandy Nails Acqua Nails Blu Water Day Spa

HOSPITAL FOR BIRTHING

Sibley Memorial Hospital Holy Cross Hospital Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

PERSONAL TRAINER

Jennifer Blackburn Kim Teri Debi Schenk Lisa Platnik

PILATES STUDIO

RTR Pilates Pulse Fitness Club Pilates Solidcore

SALON IN NORTH BETHESDA/ ROCKVILLE

PLACE FOR KIDS HAIRCUTS

Progressions Salon Spa Store Oasis Hair Salon Kindle & Boom Jenn Shin Studios (tie) New Wave Salon and Spa (tie)

PLACE FOR MEN’S HAIRCUTS

Zohra Potomac Hair Design Bella Moda (tie) Salon Moses (tie)

Salon de Colores Cartoon Cuts Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids (tie) Tiny HeadQuarters (tie)

Jack the Clipper 7 Locks Barber Denise Sharpe Style Framarini’s

SALON IN BETHESDA

Bella Bethesda Salon Denise Sharpe Style Plane Jane Salon Salon Nader

SALON IN CHEVY CHASE

Salon Roi Gleaming Goddess Hair Lounge Dessange

SALON IN GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC

O’Hair Salon Aurelia Salon\Spa Rooted Hair Co Shear Reflections

SALON IN POTOMAC

SALON IN UPPER NW D.C.

PR at Partners Salon Familia Bare Hair Studio

YOGA STUDIO

PureFire Yoga ExtendYoga SoulFire Collective Yoga CorePower Yoga

ZUMBA CLASSES

Z Sweat Dance and Fitness The St. James Performance Club Onelife Fitness Crunch (tie) YMCA (tie)

HEALTH & WELLNESS AUDIOLOGY PRACTICE

Potomac Audiology Feldman ENT

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Jay H. Samuels DDS PA EJL Dental

The Family Hearing Center at The Treatment and Learning Centers (tie) Yu Audiology (tie)

CHIROPRACTOR

Daniel Kraus James Hook Michael Moskowitz Liza Moskowitz (tie) Ali Perez (tie) Joseph Pollack (tie)

CONCIERGE MEDICAL PRACTICE

Signature by MedStar Health Capital Integrative Health One Medical Primary Care Clinic Bethesda Internal Medicine Partners

COSMETIC SURGEON

Dr. Ronald Perlman Dr. Philip Schoenfeld Dr. Joseph Michaels Dr. Douglas Forman (tie) Dr. Adam Singleton (tie)

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

Capital Laser & Skin Care Gerson Zatezalo Skin + Face Chevy Chase Dermatology Center Icon Dermatology & Aesthetics

GENERAL DENTISTRY PRACTICE

Jason A. Cohen, DDS Smiley Dental Care

INDIVIDUAL THERAPIST

Leda Kaveh Jen Fields Carissa Strohecker Hannum Jaime Fryburg

IN-HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICE

Synergy HomeCare Family & Nursing Care CarePlus Home Health Advanced Nursing & Home Care

MARRIAGE/FAMILY THERAPY PRACTICE

Alvord, Baker & Associates The Counseling Center Group Bethesda Therapy Washington Psychological Wellness

MEDICAL AESTHETICS PRACTICE/PLACE

Capital Laser & Skin Care Jenny Luu Skin Care Renu by Dr. Schoenfeld Plastic Surgery Institute of Washington

NUTRITIONIST

Livleen Gill Jen Silverman Lauren Eden Natalie Eatedali (tie) Daisy Miller (tie)

OB-GYN PRACTICE

Capital Women’s Care Beckerman Women’s Health

PHOTO COURTESY HOTWORX

12/16/25 3:41 PM

Thanks for voting for us!

Winner, Best Place to Buy Glasses, (not a chain) moda optic, your trusted destination for exceptional eyewear and service, proudly celebrates 18 years of curating a diverse collection of handcrafted, independent frames and lenses. Book your appointment today and get framed!

modaoptic.net | 301-881-9994 | 130 Rollins Ave. Suite G, North Bethesda

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READERS’ PICKS | HEALTH & WELLNESS / HOME & GARDEN

Rockville Gynecology Bloom OB/GYN (tie) Reiter, Hill & Johnson of Advantia (tie)

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE

Milestones4Kids The Point Occupational Therapy Canyon Kids Occupational Therapy The Treatment and Learning Centers

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Dr. Laurie Wenger Dr. Charles Bahn Dr. James Heltzer

OPTOMETRIST

Dr. Rachel Cohn Dr. Jennifer Karmiol Dr. David Ephraim Dr. Gregory Katchuk (tie) Dr. Marcie Lerner (tie)

ORTHODONTICS PRACTICE

Harmony Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Gerlein Orthodontics EJL Dental Dr. Jill Bruno Orthodontics (tie) Rad Orthodontics (tie)

ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE

OrthoBethesda Summit Orthopedics MedStar Health Orthopedics Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Potomac Pediatrics (tie) Spring Valley Pediatrics

PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE

ProAction Physical Therapy Shira Racoosin Physical Therapy Elevated Strength Rehab MedStar Health Physical Therapy

PODIATRIST

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY PRACTICE

DD Podiatry Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic National Foot & Ankle Foxhall Podiatry (tie) Mark N. Levy, DPM (tie) Shady Grove Podiatry (tie)

PEDIATRICIAN

Leisure World of Maryland Maplewood Park Place Arbor Place Charles E. Smith Life Communities

BCC Pediatric Dentistry Harmony Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics DC Pediatric Smiles EJL Dental

Capitol Medical Group The Pediatric Care Center (tie)

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

THERAPIST FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Caroline Green Leda Kaveh Kate Scharff Claire Weinberg

URGENT CARE CENTER

MedStar Health Urgent Care Patient First PM Pediatric Care AllCare

VEIN CARE PRACTICE

Center for Vein Restoration Vein Treatment Clinic Capitol Vein & Laser Centers Center for Vein Disease (tie) MedStar Health Heart and Vascular (tie)

HOME & GARDEN ARCHITECT FOR CUSTOM HOMES

GTM Architects

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Anthony Wilder Design/ Build (tie) Ileana Schinder (tie) Claude C. Lapp Architects

ARCHITECT FOR HOME RENOVATION

GTM Architects Case Architects & Remodelers Anthony Wilder Design/Build BOWA

BUILDER FOR CUSTOM HOMES

Sandy Spring Builders Douglas Construction Group Structure.

Anthony Wilder Design/Build

BUILDER FOR HOME RENOVATION

Pinehurst Design Build by Tom Gilday Boss Design Center Structure.

Monarch Prime

CONTRACTOR FOR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

Arhaus (tie) Room & Board (tie)

CUSTOM DRAPERIES/WINDOW TREATMENTS

American Plant Good Earth Garden Market Johnson’s Florist & Garden Centers Potomac Garden Center

Fine Earth Landscape Anthony Wilder Design/Build Monarch Prime Logan Design & Build

Rockville Interiors Budget Blinds of Bethesda and Silver Spring (tie) Yi’s Upholstery Interiors (tie) The Shade Store

ELECTRICIAN

Silco Electric C & T Contracting Steel City Electric New Age Lighting

FURNITURE STORE

Hardwood Artisans Urban Country West Elm

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Todd Howard Ezrin Dara Beitler Sydney Levy Wendy Danziger

GARDEN CENTER/NURSERY

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM

HOME STAGING FIRM

Boss Design Center Case Architects & Remodelers Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens Anthony Wilder Design/Build

HVAC COMPANY

Fine Earth Landscape Great American Landscapes Garden Gate Landscaping Backyard Bounty

Wowed Home Staging JS Home Design Town & Country Sub Urban Staging + Design

LANDSCAPING COMPANY

Don Hoffacker’s Air Conditioning & Heating Davis & Davis Air Conditioning & Heating (tie) GAC Services (tie) B&B Air Conditioning & Heating Service

LUXURY APARTMENTS

Crescent at Chevy Chase The Palisades of Bethesda Cecil Apartments 4909 Auburn

FINALIST, PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

For 40 years, Greenberg & Bederman has proudly represented individuals and families across the DMV with compassion, dedication, and proven results. Our experienced team focuses exclusively on personal injury and disability cases—helping clients rebuild their lives after serious injury or loss.

Practice Areas: • Auto Accidents • Premises Liability (Slips & Falls)

Andy Bederman

• Medical Malpractice • Pharmaceutical Liability • Social Security Disability

800-800-1144 gblawyers.com 1111 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910

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READERS’ PICKS | HOME & GARDEN / KIDS & SCHOOLS

MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL

Groundworks BJJ East West Tae Kwon Do (tie) Flying Kick Fitness Center (tie) Kicks Karate (tie)

MUSIC CLASSES

International School of Music Bach to Rock Washington Conservatory of Music Levine Music

PLACE FOR KIDS PARTIES

Best Place for Kids Parties: Glen Echo Park

LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS

Lionsgate Somerset House The Darcy

LUXURY TOWNHOME COMMUNITY

The Brownstones at Park Potomac The Townes at Grosvenor Place

MORTGAGE BROKER

Rob Mercer Deb Griffin Matt Gilday Amy Bass

Pearlman Meekin & Co. of Compass Carolyn Homes Capital Crest Group of Long & Foster Real Estate

KIDS & SCHOOLS ART CLASSES

Glen Echo Park Red Panda Art Studio District DabbleLab VisArts

CHILDREN’S THEATER

PLUMBER

Imagination Stage Adventure Theatre MTC The Puppet Co.

REAL ESTATE AGENT

Bethesda Conservatory of Dance Dawn Crafton Dance Connection C-Unit Dance Studio Bethesda Dance Center

Leahy Plumbing & Heating Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup Acker & Sons George the Plumber (tie) Thomas E. Clark (tie)

Shiva Zargham Carolyn Sappenfield Margie Halem Lydia Benson

REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

Long & Foster Real Estate Northgate Realty Compass Real Estate TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

REAL ESTATE TEAM

The Fairweather Team

DANCE STUDIO

INDOOR PLAY SPACE

PRESCHOOL

Christ Episcopal School Geneva Day School Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School Washington Episcopal School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS

Washington Episcopal School McLean School Christ Episcopal School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR ARTS/MUSIC

Christ Episcopal School (tie) Washington Episcopal School (tie) McLean School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR BOYS SPORTS

My Gym Potomac Play Street Museum Hyper Kidz The Little Towns Children’s Museum

Georgetown Preparatory School McLean School Landon School Bullis School

KIDS SWIM LESSONS

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SPORTS

Fins Swimming Goldfish Swim School YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Tollefson Swimming

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Glen Echo Park My Gym Potomac District DabbleLab Encrypted Escape

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart McLean School Holton-Arms School Bullis School

PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH PROGRAM FOR NONTRADITIONAL LEARNERS

McLean School The Siena School The Diener School The Harbor School (tie) Ivymount School (tie) The Katherine Thomas School (tie)

PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

Washington Episcopal School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Christ Episcopal School Georgetown Preparatory School

PRIVATE SCHOOL—LOWER SCHOOL

Christ Episcopal School McLean School Washington Episcopal School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

PRIVATE SCHOOL—UPPER SCHOOL

McLean School Georgetown Preparatory School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Bullis School

SUMMER ARTS CAMP (DAY)

Glen Echo Park District DabbleLab Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School VisArts

SUMMER DAY CAMP

Washington Episcopal School SummerEdge at McLean School Geneva Day School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP

Camps Airy & Louise Capital Camps

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

12/16/25 3:42 PM

C E L E B R AT I N G 3 2 Y E A R S 1994 - 2026

Jack Alexander, Bill Montrose, Mark Rittenberg, Robyn Funkhouser, Rick Kelly, Sam Farnum, Zach Dubin, Gillin Smith, Tyke Papanicolas, Greg Gosnell

AMR Commercial would like to thank our clients and the readers of Bethesda Magazine for once again voting our team “Best Commercial Real Estate Firm” in the Best of Bethesda Poll as we celebrate our 32 nd year of service in the Greater Washington metropolitan area.

Looking to join our team and work with the best?

Please do not hesitate to contact us!

4849 Rugby Avenue, Suite 200 | Bethesda, MD 20814 w w w.amrcommercial.com | 301-961-9696

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READERS’ PICKS | KIDS & SCHOOLS / THINGS TO DO / WEDDINGS & EVENTS

LIMO AND BUS SERVICE FOR WEDDINGS & EVENTS

RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation Awards Limousine Service (tie) Celebrity Limousine & Chauffeur Service (tie)

MAKEUP ARTIST

KEO Designs Fernanda Celidonio Makeup & Hair Emily Cosmetics & Beauty Valerie Hammer Makeup Artistry

PHOTOGRAPHER

Best Live Music Venue: Strathmore

Camp Tall Timbers Camp Ramah New England (tie) Young Artists of America (tie)

SUMMER SPORTS CAMP (DAY)

WJ Basketball Camp Georgetown Preparatory School Coach Lun Basketball Camp (tie) Landon School (tie)

TUTORING FIRM

Gold Signature Writers No Anxiety Prep Marks Education Capital Learners Educational Services (tie) Learning Essentials (tie)

YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM

Koa Sports (tie) Montgomery Soccer Inc. (tie) Flag Star Football BCC Baseball (tie) Bethesda Soccer Club (tie)

THINGS TO DO ANNUAL FESTIVAL

Bethesda Row Arts Festival Taste of Bethesda The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair (tie)

VisArts’ Rockville Arts Festival (tie)

LIVE MUSIC VENUE

Strathmore Glen Echo Park Caddies on Cordell Hank Dietle’s Tavern

PERFORMING ARTS/THEATER VENUE

Strathmore Round House Theatre Glen Echo Park Olney Theatre Center

PRIVATE GOLF COURSE

Woodmont Country Club Lakewood Country Club Columbia Country Club Bethesda Country Club (tie) Manor Country Club (tie)

PUBLIC GOLF COURSE

Falls Road Golf Course The Crossvines Sligo Creek Golf Course Northwest Golf Course

TRIVIA NIGHT

Caddies on Cordell Quincy’s Bar & Grille 7 Locks Brewing BabyCat Brewery (tie) World of Beer (tie)

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WEDDINGS & EVENTS CATERER

Dawson’s Market Ridgewells Catering Nourish Culinary Corcoran Caterers

EVENT PLANNER

Shaymah Ansari Weddings Jamie Kramer Events Save The Date LLC Events O’Neil Events

FLORIST

LuLu Florist Edge Floral Event Designers Bethesda Florist (tie) Suburban Florist (tie)

HAIRSTYLIST

Denise Sharpe Style Beauty Laboratory Studio Concierge Hair Services Salon Roi

HOTEL FOR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS

Hyatt Regency Bethesda Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ AC Hotel Bethesda (tie) Canopy at Hilton (tie)

Michael Bennett Kress Photography Freed Photography Erica Land Photography Eli Turner Studios

PLACE FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION

Glen Echo Park Lakewood Country Club Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ The Crossvines

PLACE FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH

Glen Echo Park Lakewood Country Club Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ The Crossvines

PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING DRESS

Love Couture Bridal Fairytale Bridal Anthropologie (tie) Say Yes for Less (tie)

PLACE TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT RING/WEDDING RINGS

Boone & Sons Jewelers Kaufmann Jewelers Brilliant Earth Alan Furman & Co

WEDDING CAKES

Creative Cakes Classic Bakery The Red Bandana Bakery

PHOTO BY DAVID STUCK

12/16/25 3:44 PM

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12/9/25 4:38 PM

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Thank you!

Reader’s Pick,

BEST DANCE STUDIO, 2026

Celebrating our 10th season serving the community! bethesdaconservatoryofdance.com BCoD_FINAL.indd 1 0126_Full page ad template.indd 11

8004A Norfolk Avenue Bethesda MD 20814 301-654-2200 11/4/20 9:46 PM 12/2/25 7:32 PM

EVERY JOURNEY WELCOME

Thank you for voting us best Gym! Readers’ Pick, Winner Best Gym 4400 Montgomery Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Readers’ Pick, Best Electrician, 2025 & 2026

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FRIENDSHIP HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER IN VETERINARY CARE, SINCE 1936 Winner: Best Emergency Veterinary Practice

Emergency & Specialty Center 5025 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

Brandywine Location 4105 Brandywine St. NW Washington, DC 20016

202.363.7300 www.friendshiphospital.com

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12/18/25 9:08 AM

READERS’ PICK BEST MARTIAL ART SCHOOL

SCAN FOR FREE TRIAL CLASS 7920 NORFOLK AVE (240) 905-4300 @GROUNDWORKSBJJ GROUNDWORKSBJJ.COM

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FRENCH WITH A TOUCH OF Winter BISTRO Igloos now available THE MEDITERRANEAN FRENCH BISTRO WITH A TOUCH OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

cavamezze.com | @cavamezze Rockville and Olney locations

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GREEK HANGOUT cavamezze.com cavamezze.com | @cavamezze | @cavamezze Rockville Rockville and Olney and Olney locations locations Rockville and Olney locations

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Bouboulina redefines the classic steakhouse.

The chef-driven menu celebrates impeccably cooked steaks complemented by meticulously crafted cocktails, all set within an ambiance of understated sophistication.

CO SO MIN ON G

eatbouboulina.com | @bouboulinasteak

Now offering lunch, brunch, and dinner service

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12/2/25 7:37 PM

Readers’ Pick, Finalist Orthodontic Practices

Thank you, Bethesda, for making us smile!

Meet Your Invisalign Diamond Plus Orthodontist, Dr. Jill Bruno

BrunoSmiles.com • ( 301) 656-3310

5454 Wisconsin Avenue, Ste. 1260, Chevy Chase, MD

GARDEN GATE LANDSCAPING

Gardens for Living Customers for Life gardengate.net | 301.924.4131 108 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Personalized Care. Real Results.

Your health journey deserves care that’s personal, practical, and lasting.

At BNWS, you’re supported by a team—not just a provider. Whether you’re managing diabetes, improving heart health, or building better habits, we’ll help you make confident choices that support lifelong wellness.

Our physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, and mental health professionals work together to deliver comprehensive, compassionate care tailored to your needs.

From nutrition counseling and chronic disease management to ongoing lifestyle support

Livleen Gill MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND

and women’s health, our team collaborates to help you achieve lasting health—so you can be well today and stay well for tomorrow.

240-449-3094 • BNWS.co

“Readers’ Pick, Best Nutritionist

PERSONALIZED and COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE

Laurie J. Wenger, MD potomaceyesurgeons.com 301-299-5666 reader’s pick: best ophthalmologist

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FOXHALL PODIATRY ASSOCIATES, PC Innovative. Non-Invasive.

Surgical. Specialized.

From Focused Shockwave Treatment to Minimal Incision Surgery.

Conservative First. Surgical When Essential.

Selin S. Ruggieri

Our experienced podiatrists, Selin S. Ruggieri, DPM and M. Joel Morse, DPM, are dedicated to delivering effective, evidence-based solutions tailored to each patient.

3301 New Mexico Ave NW, Suite 232 • Washington, DC 20016 202.966.4811 • FoxhallPodiatry.com

2026 Finalist Podiatrist

M. Joel Morse

CREATIVITY & CELEBRATION at

glenechopark.org

WINNER! Best Art Classes

Best Place for Kids Parties Best Summer Arts Camp (Day) Best Place for a Wedding Reception & Best Place for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

FINALIST Best Live Music Venue

& Best Performing Arts/Theater Venue Mason Photography

110 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Winner for Pet Boarding Winner for Pet Boutique/ Specialty Store

Thank you, Bethesda!

Winner for Pet Day Care Finalist Pet Grooming Finalist Pet Trainer

From the Bottom of Our Paws Because of YOU, DogiZone is officially the most awarded dog destination in the Montgomery County Area! Your trust and votes mean the world to our team and every tail that wags through our doors.

Why Bethesda’s Best Dogs Choose DogiZone Luxurious Boarding Suites where comfort meets care

Award-Winning Daycare safe, fun, supervised play every day

Expert Training Programs from puppy training to behavior modification

Grooming Spa Treatments making every pup shine

Boutique & Supplies the best brands for the best dogs

SPECIAL OFFER New guests receive a complimentary “First Day Experience” when booking daycare, boarding, or training — see what makes DogiZone Montgomery County’s #1 choice for dogs!

Where Happy Dogs Come to Stay, Play & Train!

Convenient Pick-Up & Drop-Off Transportation. Making your dog’s trip to DogiZone even easier!

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Call Today: 240-793-5787 www.dogizone.com 12/15/25 1:33 PM

CONFIDENCE begins with

EXCEPTIONAL HAIR Honored as a Best of the City Winner 2025 and Readers' Pick Finalist for Best Wedding Stylist, Eulaysha Holley creates bridal looks that become one of the most unforgettable parts of the day. With expertise in luxury extensions, dimensional color, and timeless styling, she ensures every bride feels confident, radiant, and beautifully remembered.

202.710.0817 I beautylaboratory.studio beautylaboratorybethesda@gmail.com IG: @beautylaboratorystudio

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BE A MEMBER FOR A DAY

W E LCO M E TO YO U R B E S T Claim your complimentary day pass today and see for yourself why we’ve been selected as a finalist two years in a row.

T H E S TJ A M E S . C O M / B E T H E S D A

TH A N K

YO U

BETHESDA

Finalist, Best Gym, 2025 & 2026 | Finalist, Best Cycling Studio, 2025 & 2026 Finalist, Best Zumba Studio, 2025 & 2026 | Finalist, Best Boot Camp/Crossfit Gym, 2025 & 2026

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BONE JOUR! Celebrating our 40th Anniversary & Best of Bethesda!

4922 Del Ray Ave & 4923 Cordell Ave | Bethesda 301-656-BONE (2663) | bonejour.com

· Grooming · Boarding · Doggie Daycare

Montgomery County

Bethesda’s Bethesda ’s trusted choice for in in-home -home care care..

When you call Synergy HomeCare we answer day or night Our in house team can schedule care the same day including overnights with Maryland Licensed CNAs who meet your loved one wherever they are home hos ital or another care facility

When you call Synergy HomeCare,, we answer day or night.. Our in-house team can schedule care the same day,, including overnights,, with Maryland Licensed CNAs who meet your loved one wherever they are—home, — , hospital,, or another care facility..

Our Our scheduling scheduling team team is is availa available le 24/7.

Thank you for making us Readers’ Pick, Best In-Home Health Care Service!

Synergy HomeCare of Montgomery County OHCQ Health Care Staffing License HCS800738 & Residential Service Agency License R4034 11140 Rockville Pike, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20852

Talk to Talk to our our care care specialist specialist today today..

301-200-9292 SynergyMoCo.com .

SynergyMoCo com

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NORTH BETHESDA

Thank you for voting us Best Day Spa, again for 2026 Experience self-care that lasts. Book an appointment today.

READERS’ PICK BEST DAY SPA 2019, 2021, 2023 (FINALIST) 2025 & 2026 2 Paseo Dr. North Bethesda, MD | northbethesda.woodhousespas.com | (240) 317-3114

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Readers’ Pick, Best Mortgage Broker This is not a guarantee to extend consumer credit as defined by Section 1026.2 of Regulation z. Programs, interest rates, terms and fees are subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to credit approval and property appraisal.

First Home Mortgage Corporation NMLS ID #71603 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

Elegant & Heartfelt Thank you, Bethesda Magazine!

Since 1984, you’ve trusted us with your beauty, your celebrations, and the milestones that matter most.

Being named Best of Bethesda is an honor we share with you—our incredible clients—and with our extraordinary Progressions team, whose passion and dedication make everything possible. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to do what we love every single day. Here’s to another year of joy, creativity, connection, and helping you look and feel your very best.

With love,

Winner, Readers’ Pick, Best Salon in North Bethesda/Rockville

301.231.8757

116 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Reader' Pick, Best Hotel for Out of Town Guests

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12/12/25 10:42 AM

The #1 Dog Walking Company in the DMV

Dogs crave exercise. It’s one of their most important needs.

Dog Owners know that. Our “science-based” walks powerfully meet that need. Our Clients even rave about how their dog’s behavior improves, almost immediately.

Give your dog the gift of world-class walks people describe as “impressive.” The results speak for themselves. You’ll see.

We only have a few dog walking openings available now.

Hurry, call us today before your dog misses out…

(833)383-DOGS (3647) | choosehappydogs.com

Readersʼ Pick, Finalist, Best Dog Walking Service

Thank you to the readers of Bethesda Magazine!

Winner, Best Japanese/Sushi Restaurant rakuasiandining.com Bethesda Row 7240 Woodmont Ave Bethesda 301-718-8680

Cathedral Heights 3312 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC 202-244-7258 rakuyarestaurant.com

rakugakirestaurant.com

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PRESENTED BY BETHESDA MAGAZINE

party

SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, MAY 14, 2026 Bethesda Marriott 5151 Pooks Hill Rd, Bethesda

Connect with the community and celebrate the best our area has to offer with:

THE 19th STREET BAND | SPECIALTY COCKTAILS FOOD FROM AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANTS

Stay tuned!

Scan here for updates.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact sherri.greeves@bethesdamagazine.com

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HOME HEALTH

Potomac Audiology 2026, 2025, 2024, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013: Winner, Audiologist 2022: Finalist, Audiology Practice

11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 105 Rockville, MD 20852 240-477-1010 Dr. Gail Linn and daughter Dr. Tricia Terlep achieve consistent best results by always using Real Ear measurements—the gold-standard of hearing aid fitting. Measurements that allow us to precisely see what the hearing aid is delivering to the eardrum while considering the acoustic properties of each unique ear canal. Without it, there is no way to know whether a hearing aid is providing the amplification across the appropriate frequencies to correct the hearing loss.

HOME

Carolyn Homes 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2021, 2019: Finalist, Best Real Estate Team 2026, 2025: Finalist, Best Real Estate Agent 2019-2025: Top Producer

Carolyn Sappenfield TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 4809 Bethesda Ave. | Bethesda, MD 20814 240-353-7601 | carolyn@carolynhomes.com CarolynHomes.com Ranked in the top 1 percent of agents nationwide with more than $700 million in career sales, Carolyn Sappenfield and her team deliver exceptional service and maximize client returns in every transaction. As lifelong Washington, D.C. area residents, they draw on deep local expertise and an extensive network to guide clients confidently from start to finish. The team’s success is grounded in integrity, creative problem-solving and unwavering dedication. Their thriving referral-based business reflects both a proven track record and the lasting trust they’ve built with clients over time.

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HOME

Fine Earth Landscape 2026, 2025, 2020: Winner, Contractor for Outdoor Living Spaces 2026, 2025, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013: Winner, Landscaping Company 2011: Winner, Landscaper

Joel Hafner and Bernie Mihm, Co-Owners 301-972-8810 FineEarth.com

From Left: Ann Schruben, Heather Armstrong, Jacob Hafner, Joel Hafner, John McCarthy, Bernie Mihm, Mark Smith, Melinda Boswell

HEALTH

In business for nearly 50 years, Fine Earth Landscape offers the experience, reliability and resources to meet your landscape needs as we create beautiful outdoor environments that will delight you. Our landscape architects and designers offer a cohesive vision, from initial plan to completion, from choosing the right plants for you to designing and building extensive hardscape projects. Our depth of knowledge includes everything from plantings and plant maintenance to patios, water features, retaining walls, site grading and layout and swimming pool design/construction.

Capital Laser & Skin Care 2026, 2025, 2024, 2022, 2020: Winner, Dermatology Practice 2026, 2025, 2024, 2022, 2020: Winner, Medical Aesthetics Practice/Place Top Doctor, 2023, 2019

5471Wisconsin Ave., Suite 200 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-798-9699 CapitalSkinLaser.com Capital Laser & Skin Care is the premiere aesthetic dermatology practice in the Washington, D.C. metro area. We are an award-winning dermatologic laser center dedicated to delivering the most advanced and natural-looking treatments in a welcoming environment. Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Geeta Shah, Dr. Tania Peters and Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi use state-of-the-art technology, years of clinical experience and dedication to a patient-centered approach to truly customize each treatment plan to maximize outcomes and patient satisfaction.

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DINE

No Regrets Pizza 2026: Finalist, Cocktails and Zero-Proof Drinks 2026: Winner, Pizza 2026: Finalist, Restaurant in North Bethesda/Rockville 2025: Editors Pick, Best Pizza

5454 Nicholson Lane N. Bethesda, MD 20852 301-200-3003 NoRegretsPizza.com No Regrets Pizza Co. was founded in 2024 by mortgage bankers Richard Weiner and Nicholas Framarini, turning a passion for food into an award-winning pizzeria. The menu features housemade pasta, Italian street sandwiches, gourmet salads, and three pizza styles—Neapolitan, Roman and New York. Nearly everything is made from scratch with premium ingredients. With a full bar in North Bethesda and a new QSR Bethesda location opening in 2026, No Regrets continues to serve with heart and flavor.

SENIORS

CarePlus Inc. 22026: Finalist, In-Home Health Care Service 2024, 2022: Finalist, In-Home Health Care Provider

7361 Calhoun Place #301 Rockville, MD 20855 301-740-8870 CarePlusInc.com CarePlus has been a trusted partner for more than 30 years, supporting adults aging in place and collaborating with senior living communities across the region. Led by Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Heather Najjar, our highly trained team provides compassionate in-home care to help adults live safely and independently. Our dedicated RNs, LPNs and CNAs also deliver dependable clinical support for adults in senior communities with complex medical needs.

Contact CarePlus today for better care, better health.

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LAW

Malech Law 2026: Finalist, Family Law Attorney 2024: Finalist, Family Law Practitioner 2022: Winner, Family Law Practitioner

7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1430 Bethesda, MD 20814 202-441-2107 MalechLaw.com Lloyd Malech, managing partner of Malech Law, is proud to be named again as a finalist for Best Family Law Practitioner—a trusted attorney whom families rely on throughout the community. Malech Law has long represented high-net-worth families with empathy, excellence and discretion. From divorce and custody to high conflict matters, Lloyd delivers expertise to help clients achieve the best possible outcomes. His Ask Lloyd series supports families with answers—reach out anytime to ask your question. Malech Law: Family Law Re-envisioned.

HOME

Margie Halem 2024, 2021: Finalist, Real Estate Team 2023: Winner, Real Estate Agent 2010–2021: Finalist, Real Estate Agent

The Halem Group of Compass 301-775-4196 margie@compass.com TheHalemGroup.com

From left: Kristen Wendel, Danielle Mannix, Courtney Halem, Harrison Halem, Margie Halem, Lori Silverman, Benjamin Pate, Maya Youssef, Matt Gloger, Elizabeth Meltzer

The Halem Group is led by Margie Halem and is a highly experienced and successful real estate team specializing in the DMV. Their expertise and impressive track record of more than 1 billion in career sales make the Halem Group a compelling choice for anyone looking to buy or sell in the DMV. Whether a first-time buyer, senior seller, builder or investor, The Halem Group makes time for everyone and is committed to providing top-notch white glove service.

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HOME

Bray & Scarff 2026, 2025, 2021: Winner, Place to Buy High-End Appliances 2023: Winner, Home Appliances Retailer 2011: Finalist, Kitchen Store 2007: Finalist, Kitchen Design Store

6801 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD 20815 301-654-4150 BrayAndScarff.com Bray & Scarff, established in 1930, has been a trusted name in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas for more than 90 years. As the leading local, independent appliance retailer, we pride ourselves on employing factory-trained experts who provide personalized service and guidance. Our commitment to excellence includes a price match guarantee and a streamlined repair process, ensuring customers receive the best value and support. With more than 20,000 kitchens installed, our in-house designers and installers work diligently to turn dream kitchens into reality.

HEALTH

Dr. Rachel Cohn & Dr. Jennifer Karmiol 2026, 2025, 2023, 2021, 2015: Finalist, Place to Buy Glasses (Not a National Chain) 2022, 2019, 2017, 2013, 2010, 2008: Winner, Place to Buy Glasses (Not a National Chain) 2024: Winner, Locally owned glasses 2026: Winner, Optometrist, Dr. Rachel Cohn 2026: Finalist, Optometrist, Dr. Jennifer Karmiol 2025, 2023, 2019: Winner, Eye Doctor, Dr. Rachel Cohn 2017: Finalist, Eye Doctor, Optometrist, Dr. Rachel Cohn

Wink Eyecare Boutique 1095 Seven Locks Road | Potomac, MD 20854 301-545-1111 | Wink.net At Wink Eyecare, our focus is on you. We’ve created a warm and welcoming environment.

Longer appointment times allow Dr. Cohn and Dr. Karmiol to get to know each patient. Using the latest technology, we provide comprehensive eye exams designed to ensure the best possible care for your vision. Our highly trained optical team will guide you in finding the perfect frame from our handpicked selection of eyewear from around the world—so you can look and see your best.

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Peake ReLeaf 2026, 2025: Winner, Marijuana Dispensary 2024, 2022, 2020: Finalist, Medical Marijuana Dispensary

2001 Chapman Ave. Rockville, MD 20852 301-703-2400 PeakeReLeaf.com Instagram.com/peakestagram YouTube: Releaf.tv/yt “Committed to Community.” Since 2015, Peake ReLeaf has been Rockville’s trusted source for premium medical and adult-use cannabis. We combine deep industry expertise with community care to offer a dispensary experience that is knowledgeable, safe and tailored to your unique needs. Whether you seek hands-on guidance from our specialists or a seamless visit, we are dedicated to improving your quality of life.

Discover the higher standard of natural wellness at Peake ReLeaf.

PETS

Kenwood Animal Hospital and Canine Clubhouse 2025: Finalist, Pet Day Care 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018: Finalist, Veterinary Practice 2021: Finalist, Best Dog Day Care 2019: Finalist, Vets for Dogs 2017: Finalist, Vets for Cats 2014, 2007: Finalist, Best Veterinarian

5439 Butler Road | Bethesda, MD 20816 301-654-3000 | KenwoodVet.com Nestled in the heart of Bethesda, MD, our hospital has been a beacon of compassionate pet care since the 1930s. Our services are provided by our wonderful veterinarians and a legacy of family ownership that spans decades.At Kenwood, we believe in holistic veterinary care that honors the triad of our community: pet owners, our staff and the pets we love. Every visit is met with the highest levels of kindness, respect and professional care.

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HEALTH

Jason A. Cohen, DDS 2026, 2025, 2023, 2011: Readers’ Pick, Winner, Best Dentist 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013: Finalist, Best Dentist

5530 Wisconsin Ave. #560 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-1201 CosmeticDDS.com Dr. Jason A. Cohen and his team strive to provide dental treatment with the professional care, skill and judgment we would want for ourselves and our family members. This includes personalized treatment for each patient’s unique desires and needs. Their goal is to preserve, protect and enhance your dental health by creating a caring and gentle atmosphere, where the level of treatment is second to none.

HOME

Monarch Prime 2026: Finalist, Builder for Home Renovation 2026: Finalist, Contractor for Outdoor Living Spaces Member of National Kitchen + Bath Association and National Association of Home Builders

407 North Stonestreet Ave. Rockville, MD 20850 301-208-0348 info@monarchprime.com www.monarchprime.com Monarch Prime is a woman-owned design-build firm led by Amy Hetz, a doctor-turned-contractor known for her construction-forward design approach. Working throughout Montgomery County and Northwest Washington, D.C., the firm guides homeowners through design, planning, and construction with high touch project coordination and communication. Monarch Prime focuses on practical design, quality materials and careful craftsmanship to bring thoughtful, lasting improvements to every home.

Reimagine. Remodel. Redefine.

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HEALTH

Emily Porter Gerson, MD, FAAD 2026: Finalist, Dermatology Practice 2022: Finalist, Dermatology Practice 2014: Finalist, Best Dermatologist 2011: Winner, Best Dermatologist 2009: Finalist, Best Dermatologist for Adults and Best Dermatologist for Adolescents

Gerson Zatezalo Skin & Face 4910 Massachusetts Ave., NW | Washington, DC 20016 P: 202-991-9000 | F: 202-793-4900 Dr. Emily Porter Gerson is a board-certified dermatologist with over 25 years of experience, known for providing exceptional care to both children and adults. Well known for her expertise in medical and cosmetic dermatology, she leads a patient-focused boutique practice that emphasizes individualized attention and highquality outcomes. Her practice—conveniently located in Washington, DC’s Spring Valley neighborhood—has earned numerous awards, reflecting her commitment to excellence and a warm, personalized approach to dermatologic care.

HOME

GTM Architects 2026, 2025, 2020, 2018, 2016: Winner, Architect for Custom Homes 2026, 2025: Winner, Architect for Home Renovation 2024, 2022: Finalist, Architect for Custom Homes 2023, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008: Finalist, Architect 2021, 2019, 2017: Winner, Architect

7250 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 200 Bethesda, MD 20814 240-333-2000 | ask@gtmarchitects.com GTMArchitects.com

Founded in 1989 by George Myers, GTM Architects delivers award-winning, customized architectural and interior design solutions, blending creativity, precision, and functionality. Now celebrating over 36 years of transformative design, GTM’s 70+ professionals across Bethesda, Washington, D.C., and Frederick, Maryland, have completed over 15,000 projects nationwide. Specializing in residential, commercial, multifamily, retail, and hospitality design, GTM’s success stems from a commitment to delivering exceptional client service and innovative design. “We see each new architectural project as an opportunity to create lasting spaces that inspire and enrich the lives of those who experience them.”

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HOME

Sandy Spring Builders, LLC 2026, 2025, 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016: Winner, Best Builder for Custom Homes 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2008: Winner, Best Builder 2020: Finalist, Best Builder for Home Renovations 2018, 2016: Finalist, Best Remodeling Firm 2014: Winner, Best Remodeling Firm 2012: Finalist, Best Remodeler 2012: Finalist, Best Green Builder

4705 West Virginia Ave. | Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-5995 | SandySpringBuilders.com

ANICE HOACHLANDER

Sandy Spring Builders is the premier custom homebuilder in the Washington, D.C. area. For over 40 years, they have built award-winning new homes and renovations, bringing their clients’ vision to life. They have won 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.

LAW

Altman & Associates 2026: Finalist, Trusts and Estates Attorney 2025: Winner, Trusts and Estates Attorney 2023: Finalist, Estate Attorney

11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 708 Rockville, MD 20852 301-468-3220 AltmanAssociates.net This is an honor we cherish. The community’s trust in our estate planning law firm inspires us to create wills, trusts, powers of attorney and advance directives with clear guidance and rocksolid strategies tailored to each client. Planning your estate is one of the most important steps you can take for your loved ones and for securing your legacy. We use a collaborative, personalized approach to create an estate plan tailored to your unique circumstances.

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Leahy Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 2026, 2025, 2023, 2021, 2014, 2012, 2010: Winner, Plumber 2008: Finalist, Plumber

5519 Wilkins Court Rockville, MD 20852 301-652-0478 LeahyPlumbing.net Established in 1927, Leahy Plumbing & Heating is a family-owned business, proudly operated by its thirdgeneration owner, John Leahy. With nearly a century of experience, we specialize in providing residential plumbing service and repairs throughout Bethesda and Montgomery County. As your neighborhood plumber, we are committed to delivering exceptional service and maintaining the trust and satisfaction of our customers. We are grateful for our loyal customers and thank you for once again voting us Best of Bethesda’s Best Plumber.

HEALTH

Drs. Ensor, Johnson & Lewis 2026: Finalist, General Dentistry Practice 2026, 2025: Finalist, Pediatric Dentistry Practice 2026, 2025, 2024, 2020: Finalist, Orthodontics Practice 2018: Winner, Orthodontia Practice

11810 Parklawn Drive, Suite 101 | Rockville, MD 20852 301-881-6170 | info@ejldental.com EJLDental.com Drs. Ensor, Johnson and Lewis provide top-tier dental and orthodontic care to residents of Rockville, Bethesda and Kensington. Their skilled team offers personalized care using the latest technology for all ages, from infants to adults.

Services include pediatric dentistry by Drs. Lewis, Ensor and Patel, orthodontics by Dr. Johnson, and restorative, cosmetic and preventive care by Drs. Matelis and Staub. The EJL team is dedicated to building lasting relationships with compassionate, expert care for the entire community.

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PETS

Your Dog’s Friend 2026, 2025: Readers’ Pick, Winner, Best Pet Trainer

12221 Parklawn Drive Rockville, MD 20852 301-983-5913 info@yourdogsfriend.org YourDogsFriend.org Your Dog’s Friend is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to keep dogs out of shelters by educating and supporting their humans. We offer training classes for puppies and dogs of all ages in North Bethesda/Rockville and online; a free online Dog Training Foundations class, free webinars; free personalized guidance; and referrals to trusted dog professionals. We are committed to force-free, positive methods of training that are effective and fun.

HEALTH

Feldman Hearing Studio 2026, 2025, 2024, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013: Finalist, Audiology Practice 2022, 2020: Winner, Audiology Practice

301-652-8847 FeldmanHearingAids.com Feldman Hearing Studio prides itself on optimal customer service in a friendly atmosphere. We are committed to bringing you the latest technology with a customer service experience above all others. Our audiologists are committed to providing the best service possible. We thank you for choosing us for all your hearing and hearing aid needs.

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HEALTH

Dr. Ronald S. Perlman 2026, 2025, 2017: Winner, Cosmetic Surgeon 2019: Finalist, Cosmetic Surgeon

5225 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 200A, Chevy Chase, MD 20015 202-362-7300 RonPerlmanMD.com Dr. Ron Perlman, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a nationally recognized plastic and reconstructive surgeon with more than 35 years of experience serving the Washington, D.C. region. Renowned for his artistic precision, surgical expertise and compassionate, patient-centered care, Dr. Perlman has long been affiliated with Sibley Memorial Hospital. Beyond his clinical work, he is deeply committed to service, providing pro bono reconstructive surgery to survivors of abuse and serving on multiple national nonprofit boards dedicated to healing, advocacy and restoring dignity.

HOME

Shiva Zargham 2026: Winner, Real Estate Agent 2025: Finalist, Real Estate Agent

7200 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 100 Bethesda, MD 20814 240-893-4195 ShivaZargham.com Thank you to my amazing clients for voting me Best of Bethesda—your trust means the world.

I fell in love with real estate because it marries my three passions: people, design and numbers.

Here’s how I work: I treat every home like it’s mine— negotiating fiercely, caring deeply, and obsessing over every detail. I love what I do, and I’m thrilled to keep serving you with heart and dedication.

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HOME

Capital Crest Group of Long & Foster Real Estate 2026: Winner, Real Estate Brokerage, Long & Foster Real Estate 2026: Finalist, Real Estate Team

1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 560 Rockville, MD 20852 240-663-8516 | CapitalCrestGroup.com With more than five decades of combined experience, Capital Crest Group delivers exceptional results across Montgomery County, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. The team’s personalized approach blends deep market knowledge with strategic insight to seamlessly guide clients from listing to settlement.

Having sold more than $235 million in volume, Capital Crest Group is annually recognized among Long & Foster’s top producers—valued for integrity, expertise and an unwavering commitment to helping every client achieve their real estate goals.

HEALTH

Counseling Center Group 2026: Best Therapist for Children and Adolescents (Caroline Green, LGPC, pictured on right) 2026: Finalist, Best Individual Therapist (Jen Fields, LMSW, pictured on left) 2026: Finalist, Best Marriage/Family Therapy Practice 2025: Best Therapist for Children and Adolescents “(Emily Rizzo, LCPC/LPC) 2025: Best Marriage/Family Therapy Practice (CCG)

8030 Woodmont Ave., Third Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 301-742-2282 | CounselingCenterGroup.com Expert, personalized support from day one, suited to your unique needs.

At the Counseling Center Group we guarantee you’ll be paired with the right therapist for your unique needs, and every member of our team provides care only in areas where they have deep clinical expertise.

With us, you’ll receive expert, personalized support from day one. Live a life you love.

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HOME

Dana Rice Group 2026: Finalist, Compass, Real Estate Brokerage 2025: Winner, Compass, Real Estate Brokerage 2024, 2022, 2020: Finalist, Compass, Real Estate Brokerage for Luxury Homes 2018-2023: Finalist, Real Estate Team 2023, 2021: Finalist, Real Estate Agent

5471 Wisconsin Ave. #300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-669-6908 DanaRiceGroup.com From first showing to final signature, Dana Rice Group delivers more than real estate expertise. They deliver peace of mind. With experienced agents, creative staging and a designer’s eye for detail, this awardwinning team turns every transaction into a seamless experience. Personalized service, local insight and a touch of fun are always part of the process. Choose Dana Rice Group and discover how moving forward can feel effortless.

PETS

Dogtopia 2026: Finalist, Pet Boarding, Pet Day Care 2025: Finalist, Pet Boarding, Pet Day Care, Pet Trainer 2024: Winner, Dog Boarding 2017: Finalist, Dog Spa 2013: Winner, Doggie Day Care 2009: Finalist, Pet Boutique

Dogtopia of Bethesda | 4936 Fairmont Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 | 240-283-7131 Dogtopia.com/Bethesda Dogtopia of White Flint | 4920 Wyaconda Road North Bethesda, MD 20852 | 240-389-5124 Dogtopia.com/North-Bethesda-White-Flint Dogtopia of Bethesda and White Flint are proud Best of Bethesda winners, recognized for Doggie Day Care and Dog Boarding, and finalists in Pet Boarding, Day Care and Training.

We provide safe, supervised play, expert training and loving care for every pup. Enjoy peace of mind with live webcams, track activity with DASH collars and keep your dog healthy with our wellness plans.

Experience award-winning care and fun!

Schedule your dog’s first day of daycare today.

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HOME

Douglas Construction Group 2026, 2025, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016: Finalist, Builder for Custom Homes 2025: Finalist, Builder for Home Renovation 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015: Finalist, Builder 2014, 2012: Winner, Green Builder

8429 Fox Run | Potomac, MD 20854 301-983-6947 | Doug@dcghomes.com DCGHomes.com We have been building and renovating unique homes for our neighbors for more than 25 years and we recently completed our 235th 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. Our clients will be confident knowing our unwavering attention to detail, award-winning craftsmanship and commitment to advanced building techniques result in a comfortable and beautiful living space that they will be proud to call home.

LAW

Lerch, Early & Brewer 2026, 2025: Winner, Family Law Attorney, Erin Kopelman 2024, 2022, 2020: Finalist, Family Law Practitioner, Erin Kopelman 2018: Winner, Family Law Practitioner, Erin Kopelman

7600 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 700 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-347-1261 LerchEarly.com/Attorneys/Erin-L-Kopelman Erin Kopelman is a divorce attorney who handles cases involving domestic relations and family law, including divorce, custody, child support, property settlement, alimony, post-judgment issues, prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements in Maryland and the District of Columbia. She is a fierce advocate for those she represents in negotiations and in the courtroom.

Erin is straightforward and communicative, making sure her clients have the information to make the best decisions for themselves and their children.

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HOME

Anthony Wilder 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2013, 2012: Finalist, Architect 2026, 2025, 2020: Finalist, Architect for Home Renovation 2020: Finalist: Builder for Home Renovation 2021, 2019, 2015, 2013: Finalist, Builder 2022, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012: Finalist, Remodeling Firm 2017, 2015: Finalist, Interior Designer 2026, 2025, 2024, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016: Finalist, Architect for Custom Homes 2026, 2025, 2022, 2020, 2016: Finalist, Kitchen Design Firm 2026, 2025, 2020, 2018, 2016: Finalist, Builder for Custom Homes 2026, 2025: Finalist, Contractor for Outdoor Living Spaces 2022 2020: Winner, Contractor for Outdoor Living Spaces

7913 MacArthur Blvd | Cabin John, MD 20818 301-907-0100 | Info@anthonywilder.com At Anthony Wilder, we strive to understand how our clients live and what brings them joy. Through open dialogue, we embrace their vision and exceed expectations. We care for homes as if they were our own and guide decisions in their best interest.

Our mission is to deliver the ultimate design-build experience, inspiring everyone to live their dreams with creativity and unwavering commitment.

LAW

The Hill Law Group 2026: Winner, Trusts and Estates Attorney, Meredith Hill

7200 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-244-9040 TheHillLawGroup.com Meredith Hill is the owner and principal attorney of The Hill Law Group. She focuses her practice on estate planning and administration throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Providing estate planning to individuals and families is one of her passions, especially after seeing the devastating impact of improper planning. Meredith enjoys teaching the community, empowering families with knowledge, and making the planning process clear and approachable. She is grateful for the trust her clients place in her.

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DINE

“I’m a firm believer that the best memories are made around the table.”

- SUSAN LACZ, CEO

Ridgewells Catering 2026: Finalist, Caterer 2025, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007: Winner, Caterer

5522 Dorsey Lane Bethesda, MD 20816 301-652-1515 Ridgewells.com Gathering, and the shared experience of delicious food, is the heart of what we do. For more than 97 years, our talented chefs and visionary event designers at Ridgewells Catering have built a legacy on bringing people together to create unforgettable memories and extraordinary experiences. From intimate family dinners to epic galas, for the milestone celebrations, traditions, and all of life’s most precious moments—our team is with you every step of the way.

HOME

Logan Design & Build 2026: Finalist, Contractor for Outdoor Living Spaces

301-941-7261 info@logandb.com LoganDB.com The experience is just as exceptional as the result.

We partner with homeowners to deliver thoughtful, creative renovations that elevate daily life and maximize your investment.

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Whole Home Renovations Thank you to our clients for trusting us with your homes.

Limited 2026 openings.

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SENIORS

Maplewood Park Place 2026, 2008: Finalist, Best Senior Living Community 2025-2010: Winner, Best Senior Living Community

9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-850-1950 MaplewoodParkPlace.com Experience the magic of Maplewood Park Place, a quaint, suburban neighborhood inside the Capital Beltway that’s calling your name. Welcome to a right-sized community where residents are empowered to make meaningful connections and friendly neighbors create a unique sense of belonging. As the only resident-owned community in the area, we pair an intimate atmosphere with countless opportunities for a vibrant, independent lifestyle, including our 20 clubs and committees.

That’s what we call living that’s just right.

HOME LAW

Geoffrey S. Platnick 2024: Finalist, Family Law Practitioner, Geoffrey Platnick, Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield, P.C. 2022: Finalist, Family Law Practitioner, Geoffrey Platnick

Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 360-7A Potomac, MD 20854 240-617-0404 ModernFamilyLawFirm.com Geoffrey Platnick (“Geoff”) is managing partner of Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield, 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.

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HEALTH

Washington Psychological Wellness 2026: Winner, Individual Therapist, Leda Kaveh 2026: Finalist, Therapist for Children and Adolescents 2025: Finalist, Marriage/Family Therapy Practice 2025: Finalist, Therapist for Children and Adolescents (Dr. Kaveh) 2022: Winner, Therapist for Children and Adolescents

Rockville, Gaithersburg and Online | 301-769-5878 Washington-PsychWellness.com Info@washington-psychwellness.com Washington Psychological Wellness is a boutiquestyle mental health practice offering personalized, attentive and deeply compassionate care. Our award-winning clinicians provide tailored therapy for children, teens, adults, couples and families in our thoughtfully designed Rockville and Gaithersburg offices, as well as through warm, seamless telehealth. We accept insurance and provide superbills for out-of-network plans. Reach out today for your complimentary 15-minute consultation and experience the difference of truly individualized, boutique mental health care.

EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE, LLC EVENTS 2025, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017: Winner, Best Event Planner 2026, 2015: Finalist, Best Event Planner

WASHINGTON TALENT

Cara Weiss Potomac, North Bethesda, and Rockville, MD 301-983-6222 | SaveTheDateLLCEvents.com

At SAVE The DATE, LLC Events, we don’t just plan events — we create moments, memories, and a whole lot of magic.

SAVE THE DATE, LLC Events offers event services that guide clients through every step of the planning process. We believe the journey should be just as enjoyable as the celebration itself. Our award-winning company has collaborated on weddings, mitzvahs, and milestone events across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, bringing creativity, expertise, and heart to every occasion.

We offer day of only and fully customized services for gatherings of all sizes — from intimate socials to large corporate events. By educating and empowering our clients, we provide the tools and support needed to create successful, memorable, and budget-friendly celebrations.

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HOME

Palisades of Bethesda 2024, 2021, 2020, 2016, 2015: Winner, Best Luxury Apartments 2026, 2025, 2023, 2022, 2019: Finalist, Best Luxury Apartments

4835 Cordell Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-725-4723 PalisadesBethesda.com At The Palisades of Bethesda, we offer indescribable luxury and charming sophistication.

Boasting a premier location on the corner of Cordell and Woodmont avenues, this beautiful high-rise community offers a living experience that far exceeds expectations and delivers customer service that is second to none. The Palisades of Bethesda provides the perfect blend of convenience, comfort and residential services that you’ve been looking for.

HOME

Andy Alderdice 2026, 2025: Winner, Real Estate Brokerage, Long & Foster 2024, 2022, 2020: Winner, Real Estate Brokerage for Luxury Homes, Long & Foster 2019: Finalist, Real Estate Agent

7373 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1700 Bethesda, MD 20814 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 more than 50 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.

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Musician and activist Daryl Davis in his living room in Silver Spring

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PHOTO BY JIMELL GREENE

12/16/25 5:20 PM

Bethesda Interview

THE SILVER SPRING MUSICIAN AND ACTIVIST ON PERFORMING WITH A LONG LIST OF LEGENDS, HELPING PEOPLE RID THEMSELVES OF HATE, AND THE STATE OF RACE RELATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY

A CONVERSATION WITH

DARYL DAVIS

By Mike Unger

T

he wood-paneled walls of Daryl Davis’ Silver Spring living room are covered with framed photos of him with … just about everyone. Here he is with Little Richard. There’s Bill Clinton. Look—it’s Davis and Chuck Berry. But near a picture of Davis with Bob Seger and another in which his arm is around Fats Domino, is an image that truly stands out, almost inconceivable in its contrasts. In the shot, Davis, a Black man wearing black clothes, stands next to Roger Kelly, a white man dressed in the white robe and hood of the Ku Klux Klan. Neither wears much of an expression on their face.

Davis, 67, says he and the former imperial wizard of the KKK in Maryland are old friends. They met when Davis, a renowned blues pianist, was pursuing his other calling: searching for an answer to a question that has eaten away at him since he was 10 years old.

“How does somebody hate somebody else when they don’t even know them?”

he says, seemingly still puzzled more than a half-century later.

Davis’ intellectual curiosity and almost preternatural open-mindedness led him to dozens of encounters and interviews with members of the white supremacist organization for his 1997 book, Klan-destine Relationships: A Black Man’s Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan. In the ensuing years, he has continued to nurture relationships with those who ostensibly should hate him simply for the color of his skin. Now a lecturer (and still a full-time musician), Davis speaks at schools, corporations, civic organizations, churches, synagogues and police departments around the world about race relations. He says he has helped hundreds of Klan members, neo-Nazis and other purveyors of hate realize the error of their ways.

“I never set out to convert anybody,” he says.

“That was not my mission. … A leopard cannot change its spots, and a tiger can’t change its

“I never set out to convert anybody.

That was not my mission.”

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Davis, left, with a Klansman

Davis, right, with Jerry Lee Lewis

Davis, right, with Chuck Berry

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stripes, but those are immutable characteristics they are born with. The Klansman is not born with that hood. The Nazi is not born with that swastika armband. Those are learned behaviors, and what can be learned can be unlearned.”

Davis was born in Chicago and lived in several countries growing up as the son of a Foreign Service officer before his family settled in Montgomery County when he was a teenager. A 1976 graduate of Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, he earned his undergraduate degree in music from Howard University. He still practices on the Kawai electric piano he got in 1983 that sits in the house he’s lived in since 1990, performs with his band, and plays in others at venues throughout the U.S., including occasionally the Bethesda Theater. In 2024, he released another book, The Klan Whisperer, and hopes someday to open a museum dedicated to understanding both hate and reconciliation.

“Music is my profession,” Davis says, “but trying to improve race relations is my obsession.”

The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

TOP PHOTO BY JEFF TAYLOR; BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY DARYL DAVIS

12/18/25 9:15 AM

WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING THE PIANO?

Kind of late in life. I never played until I was 17. I’ve always liked music, going to see concerts and things like that. I saw Elvis Presley, I saw Chuck Berry. And when I saw them, I decided that’s what I want to do. They made millions upon millions of people all over the world happy with their music. They touched them through their music. The fact that they could impact people like that without even knowing them and make them happy and joyous was something that really appealed to me.

WHAT WAS IT THAT GRABBED YOU ABOUT THEIR STYLE OF MUSIC? One was the effect that it had on people, but also it is the undercredited genre that contributed to Civil Rights. Because back in the day, let’s say in the 1940s, Sinatra, [the] Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey, would be playing in concert halls and theaters that were segregated—if they allowed [somebody like] me in at all. That same Jim Crow law was still in effect in the 1950s, but [something] happened: The invention of rock and roll by Black musicians like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley and others, and the popularization of it by white musicians like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly and others.

When those artists, Black or white, came out onstage playing this new beat, white kids and Black kids could not sit still. They jumped up out of their seats, started dancing and boogying in the aisles together, and so a lot of rock and roll concerts would get banned because they [thought] this new thing called rock and roll was corrupting white youth and causing race mixing.

Music had brought people together.

WHAT WAS THE BREAK THAT ALLOWED YOU TO START MAKING A LIVING AS A MUSICIAN?

Being in the right place at the right time.

And persistence. Chuck Berry was my idol, and I wanted to play with him. I started writing him letters even before I could play, telling him, ‘I’m going to learn how to play, and I want to play with you

HOW DID YOU REACT?

I was very angry. She was standing right next to me, and she took off running. I went running after her. Her adrenaline must have kicked in because I was the fastest kid in our school, but man, she outran me. A couple of my friends on the playground circled the block and trapped her and dragged her kicking and screaming and crying back to where I was. And I made her apologize to me.

NAME: DARYL DAVIS FROM: CHICAGO LIVES IN: SILVER SPRING AGE: 67 COLLEGE: HOWARD UNIVERSITY, BACHELOR OF MUSIC OCCUPATION: MUSICIAN, AUTHOR, LECTURER one day.’ He no longer traveled with a band, so the local promoter had to supply a band. He was playing in Baltimore, and so I called the promoter. I said, ‘You need to hire me because I know more about Chuck Berry than anybody else.’ So he hired me, and Chuck liked what I did. I worked with Chuck Berry for 32 years.

AS A TRAVELING MUSICIAN, DID YOU OFTEN FIND YOURSELF AS THE ONLY BLACK MAN IN A ROOM FULL OF WHITE PEOPLE?

Yeah, quite a bit. [The venues] weren’t segregated by law; that was before my time. But they were segregated, I guess, by preference. At a lot of the Chuck Berry or the blues shows, you wouldn’t find that many Black people in the audience unless you’re in Chicago or somewhere the blues is part of the culture.

Black people tend to move on a lot quicker than white people. Now, when I say Black people, I’m specifically referring to Black Americans. White Americans have a sense of nostalgia, like the oldies. Black Americans don’t. They’re always moving on to something else, because they had no ties, no roots.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU FACED OVERT RACISM?

Yeah, I do. I was 10 years old. It was one of the times we had come back from overseas. We were in Massachusetts, and I was one of two Black kids in my entire school. And I was a member of a Cub Scout troop, and I was the only Black Scout anywhere in the area. During a parade, I had soda pop cans and bottles and rocks thrown at me. It was also the first time I was ever called a n-----. It was by one of my classmates.

YOU SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT QUITE WELL. Oh yeah. Those are formative events.

It’s never left me.

HOW DID YOU ENCOUNTER YOUR FIRST KLANSMAN? My first Klansman or my first positive experience with a Klansman?

LET’S HEAR ABOUT BOTH.

OK. So I was in Frederick, Maryland, one night, and when we finished playing I went to get something to eat at an all-night restaurant. After I pulled into the parking lot, maybe 20 feet away I saw a guy on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant straddled across a woman. She was lying on her back, and he was sitting on her chest. He was banging her head into the sidewalk and smacking her in the face.

And there were three or four other white guys standing there watching. Not one of them was intervening or calling the cops.

There were no cellphones back then, but there was a whole bank of pay phones.

So anyway, they’re just there watching. And I’m going to get over there and yank the guy off. The slamming of the car door caused him to look up. He looked up at me, and I’m looking at him, and he says, ‘What the f--- are you looking at, n-----?’ And I said, ‘I’m looking at you.’ He goes, ‘You want a piece?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I do.’ And he got up and came at me, and I beat the daylights out of him. And then one of the white observers went and called the cops. … Turns out the guy was a Frederick County firefighter.

AND THE POSITIVE ONE?

So the positive one was in the same area: Frederick, Maryland. The Silver Dollar Lounge had a reputation, which I

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“It’s exhausting, knew before I’d ever some Black guy and But I interviewed, I’d say, between but you know gone there. It was not 40 and 50. want to hang out and what? It’s more buy him a drink. So welcoming to Black people. I was a fullknow this guy is WAS YOUR GOAL TO CONVINCE THEM TO exhausting for them you time musician now. joking with me. I’m LEAVE OR JUST TO LEARN FROM THEM? I’m out of college I never set out to change anybody. laughing at his joke. than it is for me.

I thought that’s who they are. All I He went inside his with my degree, and I don’t want to have to know is: How can you hate pocket, pulled out his Hate is exhausting.” wallet, and handed wanted a day job. I want to me? You don’t even know me. Just tell play music. Country and blues is basically the same music.

Same three chords, so it was very easy for me to play. So I joined this country band that was pretty well established here in Maryland. They had played the Silver Dollar Lounge many times. Now I’m the only Black guy in the band. So here I am in the Silver Dollar Lounge.

People looked at me when I came in, but they didn’t bother me.

And we played, people danced to our music. On the break, I feel somebody from behind reach over and put their arm across my shoulder. It was a white guy, and he was 15, maybe even 20 years older than me. Big smile. And he’s saying, ‘You know, man, I sure love the way you play that piano.’ I said, ‘Thank you,’ and I shook his hand. He said, ‘It’s the first time I ever heard a Black man play piano like Jerry Lee Lewis.’ I was not offended by the statement, but I was surprised, given his age, that he did not know the Black origin of Jerry Lee Lewis’ piano playing. So I proceeded to tell him.

And he was incredulous. ‘I ain’t never seen no Black man play like that before.’

I said, ‘I know Jerry Lee Lewis. He’s a friend of mine. He’s told me himself.’

He didn’t believe that either. But he was fascinated with me and insisted that I come back to his table and let him buy me a drink. I don’t drink alcohol, but I let him buy me a cranberry juice, and he took his glass and he clinked my glass.

Then he said, ‘You know, this is the first time I ever sat down and had a drink with a Black man.’ Now I’m even more mystified. I said, ‘Why?’ He was silent.

His buddy hit him with his elbow and said, ‘Tell him, tell him, tell him.’ I said, ‘Tell me.’ He looked at me and said, ‘I’m a member of the Ku Klux Klan.’ And I just started laughing at him because I know a whole lot about the Klan, and I know they don’t just come up and embrace

me his Klan membership card. It wasn’t funny anymore. I gave it back to him, but we talked about the Klan and different things, and he gave me his phone number and wanted me to call him whenever I was to return to the Silver Dollar to see, as he put it to me, the Black guy who plays like Jerry Lee. And I’d call him every six weeks, and he’d come.

me that and then we’ll say goodbye and part ways. And something interesting happened. Over time, interviewing these people, some of them began changing. When the first person quit, I thought it was a fluke. But then it happened again and again. I began wondering, what is it that I’m doing that’s causing them to quit?

WHY DID YOU CALL HIM?

WHAT CONCLUSION DID YOU ARRIVE AT?

HOW MANY KLANSMEN DID YOU INTERVIEW FOR THE BOOK?

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS OR YOUR ANGER WHEN YOU HEAR SUCH VILE WORDS DIRECTED RIGHT AT YOU?

Why not? He enjoyed the music. He wanted to share it with his friends.

He’d come, and on the breaks I’d make my way over to his table, thank him for coming. I’d meet some of the other Klan people. Two of them, when they would see me coming, they’d get up and walk to the other side of the room.

Eventually I quit the band and forgot about the guy, more or less. And then it dawned on me. I had formed a question in my mind at the age of 10 after the bottle- and rock-throwing thing, which was, ‘How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?’ I’d always been looking for an answer to that question. And so it dawned on me: Daryl, the answer that’s been plaguing you since the age of 10, it fell right into your lap. You didn’t even realize it. Who better to ask that question of than someone who would go so far as to join an organization with [an] over 100year history of hating people who don’t look like them? So get back in contact with that Klansman in Frederick and get him to fix you up with the Klan leader from Maryland. Interview the guy. Write a book on the Klan. No book had been written by a Black author on the Ku Klux Klan from in-person, face-to-face interviews. So I decided mine would be the first.

The ones who made it into the book, there were probably over a dozen.

I was applying something that I had absorbed subliminally because I grew up in a diplomatic family. When you combine my childhood travels with my adult travels, I’ve played in all 50 states, I’ve been to 64 countries on six continents. My dad’s job was to foster better relations between a foreign country’s government and our U.S. government.

That’s the purpose of a diplomat, right?

Being around that and seeing my dad talk to these people, I think I picked up on a lot of things.

I narrowed it down to five core values that every human being in the world wants. Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone wants to be respected.

Everyone wants to be heard. We all want to be treated fairly and truthfully. And we all want the same things for our family. If we can learn to apply those five core values when we find ourselves in some adversarial situation or some cultural society in which we are uncomfortable or unfamiliar, I can guarantee you that your navigation of that situation, that culture, that society will be much more smooth, much more positive, and much more productive.

Everything we do in life, starting from day one, is a stepping stone to what

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we’re going to be doing later. If I had grown up here my whole life and never traveled, and my first experience with white people was having rocks and bottles thrown at me, maybe I wouldn’t be doing this work today. But I had been exposed to people from all over the world, every color. And I saw people whiter than those people, from Sweden and Finland and places like that, who treated me better. So it had nothing to do with the color of my skin, it had to do with the culture in our country.

WHY DO YOU KEEP PHYSICAL RELICS LIKE KLAN ROBES AND HOODS?

I don’t know why I wanted my first robe, but I wanted it. … I have a bunch of them now. I keep most of them locked up offsite. I want to start a museum. It’ll be an interactive museum where people—former racists or even racists—can come and explain why they feel that people like me should not exist or whatever. I don’t care. Come tell me. Come tell everybody.

DO YOU EVER LOSE FAITH IN HUMANITY?

It’s exhausting, but you know what?

It’s more exhausting for them than it is for me. Hate is exhausting. It takes a lot to hate. I’ve heard them tell me they wake up in the morning wondering who am I going to hate on today?

Maybe I’ll hate on the Jews today, or hate on the gays, or the Muslims, or the Blacks, or whatever.

HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE STATE OF RACE RELATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY? Right now, we’re in a bad place, but we are in the best place ever. Donald Trump has put us there. And I’m not a Donald Trump fan. What do I mean?

For the longest time, this country has turned a blind eye to racism. If I don’t see it, I don’t hear it, it doesn’t exist, right? Oh, and we’ve had a Black president. Racism is over.

No, it’s not over. Donald Trump has put it front and center. No matter which way you turn, you’re see-

YOUR SMILE. EXPERTLY CRAFTED.

ing it. You’re hearing it. So now is the best time to fix it and address it because you can’t hide from it. It’s sort of like, if you live here in Montgomery County and you want to take a trip down to Georgia. You hop in your car, but by the time you hit the [Interstate] 95 exit in Springfield, your car starts making all kinds of racket. So you go to a mechanic right there and you ask the guy, ‘Can you drive my car around the block and see what this noise is?’ So he hops in the car, and you all ride around, and the noise is gone. So he tells you, ‘Well, I can’t fix what I can’t hear.’

That’s what people have been doing.

If I don’t see it, I can’t fix it.

Now we hear it. Now we see it. Now we have to fix it. We’re in a very good place right now because if we don’t fix it, it’s our own fault.

Mike Unger grew up in Montgomery County and lives in Baltimore.

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Celebrations Year of the

Bashes that took the cake—two chic weddings, a home-run bar mitzvah and a glam 50th birthday party

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A ‘Wicked’ Good Time These brides defied gravity and thunderstorms at their vibrant Woodend Sanctuary wedding BY SOFIA APPOLONIO THE COUPLE: Kara Charpentier, 28, is a District of Columbia Pub-

lic Schools special education teacher originally from Chicago.

Kendall Jones, 25, works as a fleet coordinator for an electric vehicle fleet management company and is from Nashville, Tennessee. The couple lives in NoMa, Washington, D.C.

HOW THEY MET: The two matched on the dating app Hinge while

in Nashville before their work took them to D.C. Kara was in grad school at Vanderbilt University and Kendall was on summer break from the University of Tennessee, at the time. After agreeing to meet at a coffee shop for their first date, initial impressions were somewhat disastrous. Kendall jokes about how she talked the entire time, leaving Kara conflicted. “My mom [said], ‘I think she’s probably nervous, you should give her a second chance,’ ” Kara says. “So we give my mom a lot of credit for our relationship.”

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THE PROPOSAL: Kendall popped the question in March 2024. The couple’s friends waited in the bushes around the United States National Arboretum in D.C. to capture pictures of the moment. Kara says the proposal didn’t come as much of a surprise.

“I mean, [Kendall was] like, get dressed nice. … And we’re getting in this Uber and my parents were in town and I’m just like, ‘OK.’ ” While the element of surprise wasn’t on Kendall’s side—a friend of theirs slipped out of the bushes before the big question— the joy of the moment couldn’t be spoiled.

The two laughed throughout their engagement photoshoot. Kendall did manage to surprise Kara with an engagement party that night. Kara gave her own proposal to Kendall on the beach in April 2024 during a trip to Valencia, Spain. They each picked out their rings from Etsy vendors.

THE CEREMONY: After considering multiple

venues in the D.C. area, Kara and Kendall selected Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion in Chevy Chase for their summer evening cer-

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emony. In front of 112 guests, they got married on July 12, 2025. For the brides, part of Woodend’s appeal was its lush outdoor areas, but a sudden thunderstorm threw a wrench in their plans. “We might have all died by a tree being struck by lightning, so we did not have our ceremony outside,” Kara says. Fortunately, before the storm hit, the brides and wedding party posed for a photo shoot against the backdrop of the sanctuary’s resplendent garden, with the members of the bridal party dressed in the lesbian flag color scheme—pink, orange, red and purple.

A last-minute swap placed the cocktail hour before the ceremony. With the evening moving indoors, the brides entered down the stairs of the mansion to kick off the night’s events. Hor’s d’oeuvres were passed, with bacon-wrapped scallops becoming a favorite. The brides used their middle names in the monikers of their signature cocktails: “Jane,” a pineapple paloma, for Kara; and “Elaine,” a cucumber gin rickey, for Kendall. Kara embroi-

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dered cloth cocktail napkins with hearts with “K+K” in the middle, which everyone could take home. Guests soon moved into their assigned seats for the reception to watch the ceremony. “It was very intimate.

Everyone got to hear us very well and see everything. … There [were] people like 5 feet from us or less,” Kara says.

THE RECEPTION: In celebration of lesbian pride, touches of pink, orange and red accentuated the dining hall and call room—a space featuring a guest book, gift table and dessert table. Pops of blue lined the tables and napkins for dinner. Eyecatching portraits on the mantels highlighted family members of the brides and notable lesbian couples, with a sign honoring the “love stories that paved the way.”

Guests were invited to sign playing cards and grab a cute temporary tattoo. “This love is forever. These tattoos are temporary,” one sign read. Sustainability was another theme of the event, which featured reusable dining items and cocktail napkins. Part of the rental fee for the venue went toward sustainability efforts, an important cause to the brides.

During the party, Kendall brought out orange and white pom-poms to honor her alma mater, and guests waved their orange, white and pink fans while dancing the night away. After changing into her second look, Kendall sang “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked. The impromptu performance was in “true Kendall fashion,” Kara says.

THE OUTFITS: “My first wedding dress was

pink, this big ball gown, tier, tulle and it reminded me of Glinda,” Kendall says of the Vagabond Bridal dress she picked up from a bridal salon in Nashville. “I had several [elements] that were very Glinda or Ariana Grande-related, like my hairstyle. … My nails ended up being Glinda-inspired nails I saw on Pinterest with bubbles.” Kara opted for a slimmer, flower embroidered Watters gown from Anthropologie.

THE FOOD: Upon RSVP’ing, guests selected

their main dish for the evening. A grilled peach salad started off the summery menu. Entrees included vegetable lasagna, blackberry chicken, and red snapper with corn and tomato. A heart-shaped

cake featuring the initials of the couple in lacy pink frosting was reserved for glutenand dairy-sensitive guests. For others, the couple chose a spread of churros, brownies, Key lime pie bites and tiramisu.

THE HONEYMOON: The couple did a minimoon to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun and are planning a honeymoon to Northern Italy and Amsterdam.

VENDORS: Baked goods, Sweet Crimes Bakery; boutique/dress, Anthropologie Bridal (Kara), A&Bé Bridal in Nashville (Kendall); catering, Corcoran Caterers; DJ, MyDeejay/Brian Jones; flowers, Wildly Native; hair and makeup, JKW Beauty; photography, Cait Kramer Photography; rings, Etsy; tailor, StreetSmart Tailoring; transportation, RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation.

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Le Temps de L’Amour This wedding reception in Poolesville immersed guests in its sultry French bistro theme

BY SOFIA APPOLONIO

THE COUPLE: Joanna Horn, 31, who was raised in Potomac, is the

head of special projects to the CEO of an AI company. Alex Klaris, 34, is from New York and works in the business side of Walmart through its advertisement group, Walmart Connect. The couple lives in Los Angeles.

THEIR FIRST DATE: Their love story began on a dating app dur-

ing the COVID-19 pandemic. “We couldn’t see each other, so we randomly started FaceTiming, and kind of went from there,” Joanna says. After four months of talking online, the couple went on their first date in June 2020, but not in Maryland. When they both realized they’d be taking separate trips with friends to Delaware, the couple made plans to meet up for sandwich wraps and a walk along the beach. For Joanna, the occasion reminded her of summers in the area with her family and the couple agrees it was a “highly anticipated day.”

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THE PROPOSAL: Alex asked Joanna’s parents for her hand on Thanksgiving in 2023 and proposed in January the next year. Joanna’s preference of understated moments inspired him to go for an intimate proposal, forgoing flashy cameras and spectacle. He popped the question in their apartment one morning, before the couple had their morning coffee.

THE CEREMONY: Designed with a “sexy

French bistro” concept in mind, the duo wedded at Aix La Chapelle farm in Poolesville on Oct. 5, 2024, in a dreamy Parisian-inspired ceremony. The rich eggplant, maroon and olive green color scheme complemented the elegant black chuppah the couple married under. On the farm’s lawn, 210 guests filled simple onyx chairs that looked like they were taken from a French cafe exterior. Mini statues of cherubs hid in plain sight around the farm, clutching bouquets of red roses in their marble hands. Joanna’s mother, Karyn, made the chuppah. Karyn was heavily

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involved in planning the day. “The chuppah had things from my house growing up, so the table and the sculpture and the chandelier were things I grew up around,” Joanna says. The honor of marrying the couple went to the wife of one of Alex’s best friends, who was also a childhood camp friend of Joanna’s.

Selecting the farm for the day was a no-brainer for the couple, due to Joanna’s family connections with the owner. “My grandma was really good friends with the owner’s mother,” she says. “It had a little special family tie.”

The couple exchanged vows on a sunny afternoon. “I loved hearing Alex’s vows,” Joanna says. “I was surprised that the ceremony was one of my favorite parts. I mean, I felt like everyone just looked forward to the party, but I really loved the ceremony.” Joanna says the good weather was not mere luck. A month prior, her mother buried a bottle of bourbon upside down on the farm, honoring a southern tradition for clear ceremony weather.

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THE RECEPTION: The couple’s early eve-

ning ceremony extended deep into the night for a lavish reception. Fairy lights stretched from every corner of the reception tent, covering three long banquet tables and illuminating the night sky around Aix La Chappelle. On tables, mini black vase centerpieces spilled over with rich red, purple and orange ranunculus and roses. Beside them were large bouquets of crimson roses, enhancing the sultry bistro vibe. Guests could also spot assortments of artichoke, garlic and eggplant throughout the reception venue, with little lamps on cocktail tables for an intimate restaurant feel in the reception area. Everyone was in their evening best including elegant gowns in maroon, green and buttery shades. Guests dined on a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres, including mahi-mahi tacos, soft-shell crab sliders and Peking duck handhelds. Of course, the charcuterie board and wine couldn’t be left out. Alex was excited to see some of the closest people in their lives meeting each other for the first time.

For the final evening celebration, guests filed into a hall complete with a checkerboard tiled floor for dancing, plush chairs and couches, and cocktail high tables.

THE MUSIC: The couple treated guests to a harp player for the ceremony and a violinist and DJ during cocktails, switching over

to a saxophonist accompanying their DJ, Drew Pierce, for the rest of the evening.

THE OUTFITS: Guests followed through on

the glamorous theme in various yellow, black and purple outfits. Joanna shined in an ivory Michael Lo Sordo gown, which she ordered online. Her flowy top for the ceremony arrived from Floral Bridal.

THE CAKE: What is a trip to France with-

out a stop by a bakery? Omitting a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, the couple featured a chic pop-up bakery with treats from Catering by Seasons. Guests perused the open window display of mini-desserts, including cupcakes, sandwich macarons and cannoli.

THE HONEYMOON: Once the festivities were over, the couple went back to Potomac to regroup with friends and family before setting out to Riviera Maya, Mexico, for their honeymoon.

THE VENDORS: Baked goods and catering, Catering by Seasons; band, Zandi Entertainment; DJ, Drew Pierce; flowers, Mickey Rubenstein; hair, Salon Jean and Day Spa; makeup, Kayla Balkin Beauty; photography, Eli Turner Studios.

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A Grand Slam This bar mitzvah knocked it out of the park with a doughnut wall, party favors and plenty of dancing BY DANA GERBER THE BAR MITZVAH: Ryan Sternberg, 13, lives in Bethesda.

He is a seventh grader at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, also in Bethesda.

THE PREP: To learn his Torah portion, a section of the Jew-

ish scripture, Ryan worked with a tutor, and to write his accompanying speech, he did a “boot camp” at his synagogue, Temple Sinai in Upper NW Washington, D.C., says his mom, Stacey Kaltman. As for his mitzvah project—a good deed that kids do ahead of their bar or bat mitzvahs—Ryan ran dozens of miles for the American Heart Association, collecting more than $4,000 in donations. “I felt proud of myself,” he says.

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THE CEREMONY: About 115 guests, including

roughly 40 kids, gathered to watch Ryan make the rite of passage at Temple Sinai on Aug. 23, 2025. Ryan had some jitters on the big day, but they were short-lived, he says—especially once he saw his friends in the congregation. “Once a few minutes had passed, I was like, ‘OK,’ ” he says. In his speech, “Ryan talked about how we, all the time, have to make decisions and we can make decisions that have good consequences or decisions that have bad consequences,” Kaltman says. He then discussed how that’s a dilemma he faces often on his travel baseball team. “When the coach isn’t looking, is he going to practice really hard?

And if he does, then the consequences are usually really good, that he plays well in the games,” Kaltman says. “He kind of ended by saying that we should all really consider the consequences of our actions more.”

Kaltman was a bit worried about whether Ryan’s friends, mostly boys, would stay quiet during the ceremony, “but they were awesome. They were so well behaved,” she says. Afterward, as Ryan went down the aisle to leave, “All his friends shouted so loud for him when he walked by,” she recalls. Though the occasion is supposed to mark the transition from boy to man, Ryan isn’t so sure about that part. “I’m still a kid,” he says. “I don’t feel any different.”

THE RECEPTION: As guests made their way

into the reception, also at the temple, they were greeted with pops of blue and pink, Ryan’s favorite colors. Napkins, pillows, and even the kids’ drink bar were emblazoned with the logo designed for the occasion, featuring Ryan’s greatest passions: doughnuts, dogs and baseball.

“If Ryan had a baseball team, that would be the logo of the team,” Kaltman says.

Throughout the party, nods to Ryan’s love of America’s pastime were everywhere: Boxes of popcorn served as place cards, baseball “trees,” made from an upright bat and faux greenery, adorned tables as centerpieces and baseball highlights played above the DJ on a screen, meant to evoke a jumbotron. The party favors were baseball caps featuring Ryan’s logo, as well as more popcorn boxes and takeaway bags for guests to stuff with candy.

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In between playing a mix of oldies and modern hits, the DJ led games such as a rock-paper-scissors tournament and Ryan-themed trivia. Air hockey and an electronic basketball game were also on offer, but guests kept coming back to the dance floor. “They ended up dancing the whole night,” Kaltman says of Ryan’s friends. Meanwhile, Ryan’s grandma led a conga line, and Ryan was lifted in a chair during the hora. “Of course, my dad kept, like, fake-dropping me,” he says.

Though Kaltman was relieved when the day was over—“It was a lot of work,” she says—she was glad to see Ryan get the recognition he deserves. “He doesn’t call a lot of attention to himself, and so it was particularly fun planning this thing for him, just celebrating him and seeing him be successful,” she says. Ryan, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy his stint as the center of attention. “It was the best day of my life, for a short 13 years,” Ryan says.

THE OUTFIT: Ryan went to Nordstrom to get his first-ever “tailored, good suit,” he says, for the ceremony—a gray-blue blazer and matching slacks, a powder160 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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blue shirt, and a navy tie (with baseballs on it) from Vineyard Vines. “I was all blue-d out,” he says. He changed into more comfortable duds for the party.

THE FOOD: What was Ryan most excited

about for the big day? “The food,” he says— and the spread did not disappoint. “The idea was to kind of have it be like ballpark food, but a little elevated,” Kaltman says.

For Ryan and his friends, that meant appetizers of pigs-in-blankets and soft pretzels, followed by slider and flatbread stations, which also served up nachos and macand-cheese cups. The kids even sipped a signature mocktail: “Ryan’s Home Run,” a combination of juice, La Croix and dragon fruit powder. The adults, meanwhile, chowed down on hors d’oeuvres of mini chicken tacos and caprese skewers alongside the pigs-in-blankets and had a grain bowl station in addition to more grown-up versions of the kids’ stations (think Brussels sprout flatbreads and a portobello burger option). For dessert, there were Key lime and apple pie “shots” for the adults, “dirt” cups (crushed Oreos, chocolate pudding and gummy worms) for the kids, and doughnuts for everyone; guests could grab them from pegs on a wall surrounded by LED lights. “Could’ve ate the whole wall,” Ryan says.

VENDORS: Basketball and hockey games,

Snap Entertainment; catering, Simply Fresh Events; decorations and doughnut wall, Electric Events DC; DJ, Unique Dreams Entertainment; logo, Camper Design Studio; photography, Jessica Latos Photography; planning and day-of coordination, Save the Date, LLC Events; venue, Temple Sinai.

Making a Statement On View | National Mall

From the red carpet to the museum, get a close look at a first-ofits-kind collaboration between quillwork artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) and luxury fashion brand Gucci.

See the two gowns Oscar-nominated actress Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi [Blackfeet]/Nimiipuu [Nez Perce]) wore at the 96th Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

AmericanIndian.si.edu | @SmithsonianNMAI Gladstone at the 96th Academy Awards. Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images

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Something Sweet A Gaithersburg woman used her 50th birthday as a reason to let loose with more than 200 of her friends and family members—and show off her dessert-making chops

BY DANA GERBER

THE CELEBRANT: Neelma Kohli, 51, lives in Gaithersburg with her husband,

THE PLANNING: Kohli didn’t initially imagine an elaborate soiree for her 50th

Neelma Kohli, left, at her birthday party with her friend

birthday party. In Indian culture, Kohli says, “celebrations are larger-than-life, and we all like to celebrate each other. So it started off with, like, ‘OK, well why don’t we have something small,’ ” she says, but before she knew it, “it turned into this big party.” It was her family’s first happy gathering in nearly two years; in late 2022, her eldest brother died from a sudden cardiac arrest. “Losing him was devastating for our family,” Kohli says, and her other brothers skipped parties for their milestone birthdays. But as her 50th birthday approached, her parents, who live in Iran, told her they wanted to honor the occasion alongside

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her—marking their third trip to the U.S. since Kohli relocated here in 1996. “The main purpose for this party was truly to celebrate my family and bring everyone together since my brother’s passing, especially to honor my parents and to give them some happiness,” she says. “We were trying to get back to life.”

THE VENUE: More than 200 guests packed

into the Mehfil Banquet Hall & Conference Center in Germantown for the fete on Nov. 16, 2024. “It’s a one-stop shop, so you as a host really don’t have to do anything,” says Kohli of the venue, which supplied necessities such as tables, chairs and dishware. A stage area was festooned with artificial florals in white, pink and orange hues against a golden velvet backdrop, as well as plenty of faux greenery.

THE MUSIC: Kohli’s daughters, then 22 and

sda Chambe the ro Be

100th

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The Grea te r

17, served as emcees, kicking off the celebration with a light roast of their mom.

After that, some of Kohli’s friends got up to perform a choreographed, flash mob-style dance to a folk Punjabi song. “I knew they would do something, but I had no idea that it was going to be like this,” Kohli says. “It was hilarious. It was so much fun to watch them do this—especially the guys, because guys don’t normally do these things.” There was also a live musician playing a doubleheaded drum called a dhol. Before long, Kohli recalls, “the party just broke out, and everybody was on the dance floor.” Guests

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vors, Kohli knew the desserts had to be the star of the show. So she whipped up around 400 sweet treats, such as mango mousse, gulab jamun tres leches and Grand Marnier carrot cake. With her parents staying in her house, finding the “peace and quiet” to make the desserts was no easy feat. “That was my biggest stress,” she says. “But it was a good decision, because in the end, everyone loved them.” She even hired a “content creator” to make social media-ready videos showing off the spread, laid out on a lavish table dripping with gold sequins, to help give her business a boost. “I’m like, ‘There is no way I’m not going to have this captured,’ ” she says. “I think that truly was the best investment of this event for me.”

grooved to Indian tunes, spun by the same DJ who had performed at Kohli’s wedding to her husband nearly 30 years prior. “It was just a thing that he just had to DJ this party,” she says.

THE FOOD: The evening’s feast—ranging from butter chicken to goat curry—was served buffet style. As a professional confectioner specializing in South Asian fla-

THE OUTFIT: Kohli asked a longtime friend

in India, a designer, to create her bigday outfit, called a lehenga—a yellow skirt paired with a blazer-like top, both of which featured plenty of pearls. “I just gave her this inspiration picture, and I said, ‘All I know is I want pearls. So do what you have to do and make it look pretty,’ ” Kohli says. “She did her magic, and it looked amazing.” To finish off the look, she wore a dramatic gold necklace,

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earrings, and headpiece called a maang tikka. She also asked guests to incorporate pearls into their outfits.

SPECIAL MOMENT: During the festivities,

Kohli’s father told her he wanted to say a little something. “He never speaks at any event,” she says. “I’m like, ‘Well, what are you going to say?’ He’s like, ‘Leave it to me.’ ” Seated beside Kohli and her mom on the stage, he recited an emotional poem for her in Farsi, then translated it into English, which Kohli described as “a surreal moment.” “When I looked up, everyone in that hall was silent and crying,” she says.

“It melted my heart.” Afterward, she asked him who had written the poem. “He’s like, ‘I did,’ ” she says. “I’m like, ‘Wait, what?

You’re 90 years old, and I didn’t even know that you could write?’ ”

VENDORS: Catering, Silk Banquet & Cater-

ing; content creator, Sarah Mahmood (@sfmoods_ on Instagram); decor, Spoonful of Sugar Party Decor; desserts, Swaadish By Neelma; DJ and dhol player, Extra Hot DJs; hair and makeup, Glam By Jeet; photography, Navjeet Saggu Photography; venue, Mehfil Banquet Hall & Conference Center.

PHOTOS BY NAVJEET SAGGU PHOTOGRAPHY

12/16/25 3:18 PM

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PR OF IL E S

Family Business

Potomac Audiology D R . G A I L L I N N , A U D I O L O G I S T, C C C - A D R . T R I C I A T E R L E P, A U D I O L O G I S T, C C C - A “We’re not just selling hearing aids; we’re improving the quality of life,” says audiologist Gail Linn. “We’re helping people hear again, and that’s amazing.”

11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 105 Rockville, MD 20852 240-477-1010 PotomacAudiology.com

At Potomac Audiology, delivering highquality audiology services using the latest technology is a family affair. A native of Iowa, Gail Linn founded the practice after moving to Maryland in 1998; in 2011, following a position at Georgetown University Hospital, her daughter Tricia joined her. Vince Terlep, Tricia’s husband, manages the business.

Using cutting-edge technology has been key to the practice’s success.

Real Ear Measurements, the use of a microphone inserted into the ear to determine whether hearing aids are amplifying adequately at the correct frequencies, are used to optimize the effectiveness of hearing aids. Though considered the gold standard, Real Ear Measurements are not commonly used by audiologists, and Gail is working with ASHA to require their use industry wide.

Gail collaborates regularly

with researchers and hearing aid manufacturers working to advance the industry. She has partnered with audiology researchers at NIH and is currently working with a Korean manufacturer to distribute a tinnitus blocker, a device that masks “ringing” in the ear. Tricia, a specialist in pediatric audiology, treats central auditory processing disorder, a disorder that prevents the brain from processing sound.

Today, Potomac Audiology has grown to five audiologists who, in addition to their work, regularly supervise doctoral students from area universities. A second office is now open in Frederick. “We’re not just selling hearing aids; we’re improving the quality of life,” Gail says. “If you or a loved one is missing out on the sounds of life, please contact us. We’re helping people hear again, and that’s amazing.”

COURTESY PHOTO

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

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Family Business

PR OF IL E S

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

Family Medicine Shady Grove M A N I S H A K A L R A , M D , FA A F P R O H I T S E E M , M D , FA A F P Drs. Kalra and Seem are boardcertified family physicians and fellows of the American Academy of Family Physicians. They emphasize nutrition as a cornerstone of disease prevention and reversal, working with patients to incorporate sustainable diet and lifestyle changes rather than simply managing symptoms. Dr. Kalra trained at the Mayo

COURTESY PHOTO

Clinic; Dr. Seem at the University of Iowa.

15215 Shady Grove Road, Suite 304 Rockville, MD 20850 301-284-8990 301-644-2835 (membership inquiries) MyFamilyMedDocs.com

In an era when most doctors feel pressured to see 20 to 30 patients a day, Drs. Manisha Kalra and Rohit Seem are bucking the trend.

After practicing together in high-volume corporate settings since 2002, the husbandand-wife, board-certified team opened Family Medicine Shady Grove in 2014 to return to the kind of thoughtful, relationship-driven care they had always believed in—and to do so together, under one roof, the way family medicine was meant to be.

Their shared belief in preventive care, nutrition as medicine, and whole-person wellness gives every patient—from age 6 through adulthood—a uniquely seamless and collaborative healthcare experience: The same two physicians know your entire family history, collaborate instantly on complex cases and deliver consistent, coordinated guidance. In late 2025, Drs. Kalra and Seem transitioned to a membership-based concierge model to give patients the unhurried, relationship-driven care they deserve.

The difference is immediate: 30–60-minute appointments, same- or next-day scheduling, 24/7 direct access to your personal physician, virtual visits when appropriate and proactive wellness planning that incorporates diet and sustainable lifestyle changes, often preventing—or even reversing—chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Today, the practice reflects their commitment to both clinical excellence and innovative modalities. Patients also benefit from cutting-edge offerings rarely found in traditional practices, including Galleri multi-cancer early detection blood test and in-office medical-grade red light therapy to support healing, reduce inflammation and improve memory and bone health.

Grounded in shared values and a unified vision of holistic health, Family Medicine Shady Grove delivers compassionate, modern primary care built on trust, relationships and truly personalized medicine.

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Home

Everything you need to create a beautiful space

Shades of brown bring an on-trend touch to any kitchen. PAGE 170

COURTESY PHOTO

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HOME HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

1

Hot Chocolate Brown is back, in shades from mocha to mink, adding warmth and sophistication to your home

BY CAROLYN WEBER

1 Bowled Over

Elevate everyday meals like spaghetti with these pasta bowls in a rich cocoa color. Part of the Latte stoneware collection: Amelie edition, the stackable bowls measure 7¾-inches around, have a smooth glazed surface and are dishwasher-safe. $48 for a set of four at Anthropologie, 4801 Bethesda Ave. (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-345-9413, anthropologie.com

2 Stylish Seat

Curl up in this timeless roll-arm chair upholstered in espresso-colored faux mohair velvet. Appropriate for a living room, bedroom sitting area or den, the Penelope chair complements most decor styles and color schemes. $1,249 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-1598, potterybarn.com

2

As part of the warming trend, BlueStar introduced Signal Brown to its line of colorful appliances. The shade coordinates with many cabinet colors. A 36-inch freestanding dual fuel range starts at $11,995, and a 36-inch Ridgeline exhaust hood starts at $7,495 at ABW Appliances, 5526 Nicholson Lane, North Bethesda, 301-770-8579, abwappliances.com

COURTESY PHOTOS

3 What’s Cookin’

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3

5 4 4 Take Cover

It’s cold outside, so add another layer to the bedding with a waffle blanket. This breathable organic cotton cover is useful year-round and is available in three sizes and multiple colors, including this cozy walnut brown. $239 to $279 at Boll & Branch, 7280 Woodmont Ave. (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-973-2626, bollandbranch.com

5 Moody Hues

Benjamin Moore’s 2026 paint color of the year is Silhouette AF-655, a complex shade of rich espresso with charcoal undertones. Use it to create a dramatic accent wall or as a wholeroom neutral backdrop. $82.99 per gallon for Regal Select in eggshell at Regal Paint Center, 500 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, 301-424-8555, regalpaintcenters.com (and at additional stores)

6 Check Mate

Preppy gingham gets a tasteful update thanks to a muted color called mink. The Hyannis linen duvet cover comes in twin, queen and king sizes, and matching shams are available. $358 to $528 for duvets and $128 to $148 per sham at Serena & Lily, 7121 Bethesda Lane (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-531-1839, serenaandlily.com

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HOME KIDS ROOMS

ce ntra l These enchanting spaces give tots, tweens and those in between room to grow

BY WENDY A. JORDAN

SPACE RANGER n planning her son Liam’s bedroom, interior designer Liz Potarazu of Potomac-based LP & Co. says she “wanted a room that would grow.” While celebrating the themes he loved as a 6-year-old when the room was completed in 2023, she says she included “some things that would not need to be switched out as he got older.”

At the time she remodeled the 14-by-16-foot room in their Potomac house, “he was into space and dinosaurs.”

Design liftoff came when Potarazu found Ruggable’s 8-by10-foot “Dinosaurs in Space” rug featuring, yes, dinosaurs in space sporting astronaut helmets. She took it from there, creating a room that “feels like a planetarium, and is warm, enveloping and cozy,” she says.

Spacelike navy blue wraps the room, from the Benjamin Moore Polo Blue wall and crown molding paint to the Spoonflower “Night Sky Stars” ceiling wallpaper, which has gold highlights that almost shimmer. The two-tone, roomdarkening curtains from Pottery Barn Teen include dark blue, too. A few white accents—on the window, window frame and curtain rods—set off the vast blue.

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PHOTO CREDIT TK

Shades of blue from the floors to the walls to the ceiling give the room a vast, spacelike feel.

PHOTO BY ANGELA NEWTON ROY PHOTOGRAPHY

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HOME KIDS ROOMS Space-themed touches, including art, can be easily swapped out as interests change.

Flanking the bed are adjustable sconce lights from Wayfair that are shaped “a little like a space station,” Potarazu says. When Liam was younger, she used one as she read to him. Now that he is a strong reader, he likes to read by himself in bed.

The white At Home table lamp on the dresser also has a space-age vibe.

Potarazu scouted out space-themed art—“it’s not hard to find,” she says—and floated unframed images on the walls. Some rest on transparent display shelves. All can be swapped out easily.

So can the space theme bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. None of the furniture will need to be replaced.

That was part of her plan to design “an elevated kids room, a room that is not too juvenile” or overdone. The finish of the bed and dresser from Pottery Barn Teen is dark espresso, a tone that works as well in the cozy planetarium room as in a teen’s room. They match the Crate & Barrel nightstands.

The camel-tone leather West Elm recliner chair is neutral enough to fit the room now and later. All the furniture is “decent quality,” Potarazu says, so it should last for many years.

Liam’s interests have already changed. At 9, “he’s into baseball cards,” Potarazu says. No problem. In place of the telescope, his card collection is arranged on a nightstand.

Transparent shelving gives the illusion that books, art and bobbleheads are floating.

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PHOTOS BY ANGELA NEWTON ROY PHOTOGRAPHY

12/18/25 11:53 AM

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12/9/25 4:42 PM

HOME KIDS ROOMS

FINDING THEIR NICHE

A colorful reading nook makes for a comfy screen-free spot to chill

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ll three of Rob and Jen Rathmell’s kids—preteen girls and a 13-year-old boy—like to chill out in the one-of-akind reading nook in their Potomac house. Lisa & Leroy, a full-service design firm in Washington, D.C., remodeled the basement of the 1953 house in 2024, designing a gathering room that opens to the patio. During the planning process, Lisa Shaffer, company CEO and creative director, says the Rathmells often complained about the unneeded and “weird built-ins and closets” in the basement. She removed them. The Rathmells also emphasized that “they wanted a special space for the kids, a place where they could lie down, take a nap, do something besides watch TV,” Shaffer says.

Looking at a particularly odd storage built-in facing the gathering area, Shaffer put two and two together, gutting the storage closet and tucking a nook into the space. “When we opened it up, we found more space behind the built-in. That happens a lot” in older houses, Shaffer says. Here, it allowed Lisa & Leroy to nest an irregular pentagonal nook, about 30 inches front to back and 70 inches long, behind the wall of the main room. It’s snug and cozy, yet big enough for someone to stretch out and read, or even for a couple of tweens to hang out.

The nook entry, a 4-foot-diameter circle about 20 inches off the floor, offers “a fun peekaboo moment,” Shaffer says. It lures everyone inside. Even the cat.

“We built up the nook floor to 15 inches to accommodate a 3-inch-thick cushion” at entry level, says Meggie Ladonis, a senior designer at Lisa & Leroy. Inna Sew Versatile of Leesburg, Virginia, crafted the custom cushion and a wedge-shaped back cushion, upholstering them with Granada Truffle by Fabricut. Inna Sew Versatile covered a pillow with a floral velvet from Fabricut. The green pillow is from Ryan Studio.

The sophisticated fabrics and wall colors were a conscious choice. “We stay away from primary colors” and bright shades in kids spaces, says Shaffer, because they look “too juvenile.” The Rathmell kids like orange. Lisa & Leroy painted the nook in Sherwin-Williams 7583 Wild Currant, which is “a moody” burnt orange, says Shaffer, that “will grow with them as they grow older.” The color also offsets the Grasscloth from York Wallcoverings outside the space.

Wall cubes inside the nook are great for books, decor and water bottles. The nook “is a great spot to have a high-low budget,” Ladonis says. “Splurge on the statement fabrics and save on basic cubes.” These are Ikea cubes, Eket style, in light gray-blue.

With an adjustable wall sconce and a wall outlet to power devices, the nook has everything for kids, whether they want to squeeze in together or use it alone as “I need a minute” getaway space, Shaffer says.

PHOTO BY JENN VERRIER

12/16/25 5:17 PM

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12/17/25 2:59 PM

HOME KIDS ROOMS

HOME SWEET PLAYHOUSE uliette Poussot and Duko Hopman moved with their two young children from Miami to a new house in Chevy Chase in August, just before the school year started. As an icebreaker, their 5-year-old daughter’s new school asked each child, “What’s one thing we should know about you?” For her, the answer was easy: “There’s a playhouse inside my house!”

Poussot was delighted. A design director at the architectural firm Gensler, she created the built-in playhouse as “something for my kids to get excited about” after moving to a new house. Garrett Park builder Patrick Keating and his daughter Bretton Mork partnered with Bethesda-based GTM Architects to design and construct the contemporary shingle-style spec house, incorporating a large basement as a recreation area. Coming from Florida, where most houses lack basements, Poussot says she wanted to tap into the “basement culture.” She set up one end of the 18½-by-42-foot room as a lounge, and the other as “an inviting place the kids would want to be in.” Setting up a basement kids zone was a way, she adds, of “keeping the rest of the house pristine.”

A recess about 2½ feet deep spans much of the end

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wall and was an ideal place for a built-in. Poussot designed an elegant ensemble with shelving and storage cabinets on two sides and a playhouse in the middle. Features such as angled top pieces keep the shelving from looking “too stiff or library-esque,” she says. Nodding to the style of the house itself, the playhouse has the same roof pitch. White oak veneer panels on the playhouse rooftop, pediment and walls, and the luxury plank basement flooring by Mott, pick up the tones of the oak flooring elsewhere in the house.

Abernethy Sticks of Kensington fabricated the built-ins, delivering them in sections that fit down the stairs and reassembling them on-site. The company programmed a router to cut grooves in the playhouse’s roofing panels to simulate shingles. Abernethy stained some components and painted others using Benjamin Moore blue-gray Amsterdam paint, which Poussot chose for its warm contemporary aesthetic.

She accented it with bright yellow light fixtures and fabrics for a combination that “pops.”

Inside the playhouse is a cushioned bench with cubbies below. Poussot upholstered the cushion herself with commercial-grade Kvadrat Ria fabric. BulbSquare yellow sconces light each end of the playhouse’s interior. Poussot had a little pup-

PHOTOS BY SARAH PITTERLE MALDONADO

12/16/25 5:17 PM

Ample storage means the playhouse can become a coffee shop or grocery store with a simple swap of toys.

With curtains drawn open, the stage is set for a puppet show.

pet theater growing up, so a puppet show window with a ledge and a citroncolored curtain made from Designtex’s Curtain Call drapery occupies center stage on the playhouse.

Poussot and Hopman’s 2½-year-old son loves that opening. These days he plays barista or storekeeper. The kids often use the playhouse as a clubhouse, a cozy spot and a place to bring friends.

But this is “our forever home,” Poussot says, “and I want it to stand the test of time.” Solution: The playhouse is removable. “It’s screwed onto the face frame and can be popped off” when the family outgrows it, says Joe Abernethy, owner of Abernethy Sticks. Distinctive trim tracing the roof shape is a permanent element, but details such as the bench fabric can be updated easily. The whole built-in wall structure, Poussot says, “will remain a beautiful bookshelf and seating area.”

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12/18/25 9:13 AM

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HOME BY THE NUMBERS

OCTOBER’S MOST EXPENSIVE

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $7.5 MILLION Address: 2 Oxford St., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 137 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

LIST PRICE: $2.95 MILLION Address: 5060 Overlook Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 3 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/0

$7.3 million

A peek at one of the area’s most expensive recently sold houses

$2.95 million

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

$2.95 million

LIST PRICE: $6.8 MILLION Address: 2824 Chain Bridge Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 8 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

LIST PRICE: $3.8 MILLION Address: 4822 Quebec St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$6.5 million

$4.18 million

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $6.5 MILLION Address: 11105 Bellavista Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 1 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 8/1

LIST PRICE: $3.25 MILLION Address: 6455 Barnaby St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

$6.3 million

SALE PRICE:

$4.85 million

LIST PRICE: $4.95 MILLION Address: 9900 New London Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 5/3

$3.25 million

SALE PRICE:

$3.2 million

LIST PRICE: $3.2 million Address: 5907 Aberdeen Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 1 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $4.84 MILLION Address: 5711 Potomac Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 12 Listing Agency: EXP Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

LIST PRICE: $2.88 MILLION Address: 11318 Cushman Road, Rockville 20852 Days on Market: 22 Listing Agency: Coldwell Banker Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

$4.6 million

$3 million

LIST PRICE: $2.95 MILLION Address: 4915 Cumberland Ave., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

$2.9 million

LIST PRICE: $3.3 MILLION Address: 2911 45th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 3 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.9 million

LIST PRICE: $2.9 MILLION Address: 5059 Glenbrook Terrace NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 125 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 6/0

SALE PRICE:

$2.64 million

LIST PRICE: $2.55 MILLION Address: 126 Grafton St., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: Serhant Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

PHOTO BY CRAIG WESTERMAN

HOME SALES

Data provided by

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SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2.65 MILLION Address: 4900 Palisade Lane NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 24 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION Address: 3910 Livingston St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION Address: 3100 44th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 80 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

$2.63 million

$2.46 million

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2.54 MILLION Address: 4224 Van Ness St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 160 Listing Agency: Samson Properties Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 6/0

LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION Address: 10036 Chartwell Manor Court, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 27 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

$2.5 million

LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION Address: 4501 Walsh St., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 55 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.36 million

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION Address: 4613 Chase Ave., Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 62 Listing Agency: RLAH @properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

LIST PRICE: $1.86 MILLION Address: 6917 Renita Lane, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 290 Listing Agency: Toll MD Realty Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

GTM ARCHITECTS.COM

$2.42 million

SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million

$2.42 million

SALE PRICE:

$2.5 million

$2.4 million

LIST PRICE: $2.4 MILLION Address: 10726 Normandie Farm Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 5 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

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HOME BY THE NUMBERS

BY ZIP CODE

REAL ESTATE TRENDS OCT. 2024

OCT. 2025

11 $1.68 Mil. 6 7 2 11

16 $1.6 Mil. 20 5 7 15

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

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

20814 (Bethesda)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

19 $2.53 Mil. 31 5 9 19

19 $2.48 Mil. 35 5 11 18

15 $1.67 Mil. 22 6 7 12

12 $1.51 Mil. 24 4 7 1

20815 (Chevy Chase)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20816 (Bethesda)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

11 $1.46 Mil. 17 6 5 10

17 $1.94 Mil. 36 7 8 15

5 $1.35 Mil. 12 1 2 4

14 $1.83 Mil. 18 6 5 12

20817 (Bethesda)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

27 $1.5 Mil. 19 10 15 24

33 $1.5 Mil. 34 9 20 28

OCT. 2024

OCT. 2025

11 $809,818 10 8 2 0

12 $865,500 10 5 6 4

20832 (Olney) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20850 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20851 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

14 $933,464 11 9 5 5

16 $1.07 Mil. 10 7 9 7

19 $560,289 13 9 6 0

4 $487,975 23 2 2 0

20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20853 (Rockville) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20854 (Potomac)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

11 $999,500 17 5 4 5

14 $1.22 Mil. 28 5 8 8

17 $671,794 13 13 4 0

26 $627,205 24 9 15 2

36 $1.84 Mil. 32 18 16 29

35 $1.71 Mil. 26 9 22 29

20855 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

OCT. 2024

OCT. 2025

8 $734,812 25 4 4 1

11 $783,454 32 3 6 1

20877 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

6 $694,916 17 1 3 1

9 $569,449 28 4 3 0

20878 (Gaithersburg/North Potomac)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

26 $1.07 Mil. 13 14 9 9

20879 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

6 $633,666 30 0 6 0

23 $1.05 Mil. 27 9 10 9

6 $715,257 34 1 4 0

20882 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

7 $944,655 13 5 2 3

20895 (Kensington)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

31 $1.12 Mil. 17 13 12 15

6 $845,833 21 1 4 2

24 $1.08 Mil. 31 7 11 10

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OCT. 2024

OCT. 2025

19 $671,797 9 11 5 0

14 $671,121 26 2 10 0

20901 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20902 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20 $681,357 38 6 8 2

19 $620,073 14 5 9 0

OCT. 2024

OCT. 2025

2 $553,500 37 0 1 0

4 $505,250 24 0 4 0

20903 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20904 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

23 $650,126 20 10 10 0

19 $700,651 25 3 11 2

OCT. 2024

OCT. 2025

9 $758,929 9 4 4 0

15 $853,833 17 4 6 3

20910 (Silver Spring) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20912 (Takoma Park)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

10 $890,602 11 7 2 2

6 $697,916 16 3 3 1

Information courtesy of Bright MLS, as of Nov. 15, 2025. 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. Bright serves approximately 100,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve over 20 million consumers. For more information, please visit brightmls.com. This information includes single-family homes from Oct. 1, 2025, to Oct. 31, 2025, as of Nov. 15, 2025, 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.

Discover The Kensington Bethesda Assisted Living • Memory Care • Couples Care

W

elcome to The Kensington Bethesda, a premier senior living community, privately owned and operated by a close-knit group of founders and partners who are local to Greater Washington. Together, with their dedicated teams, they proudly uphold their promise to love and care for your family as they do their own. From our heart to yours, we invite you to join the Kensington family.

Join us for a celebratory New Year Open House with light brunch bites!

Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 11:30am-1:00pm RSVP to Anne Buckley at ABuckley@KensingtonSL.com.

NOW OPEN

5485 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20816 www.TheKensingtonBethesda.com

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

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summer camps

CAMP

TYPE

GENDER

AGES

LOCATION

WEBSITE & PHONE

Glen Echo, Rockville, MD

adventuretheatre-mtc.org/ camps/summer-programselementary 301-251-5766

Adventure Theatre Watch your child take the stage with their friends in a two-week (or three-week), full day, in-person camp that culminates in a delightful ensemble musical.

Day

Coed

Rising Grades 1-6 & Rising Grades 7-12

Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences Summer Camp 2026 Nature, Art, Science

Day

Coed

3.5-14

Barnesville, MD

barnesvilleschool.org/ summer-camp 301-972-0341

Barrie School 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

barrie.org/camp 301-576-2818

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 & Overnight

Coed

5-17

Dickerson, MD calleva.org & Poolesville, 301-216-1248 MD

Camp Tall Timbers Voted one of the area’s best summer camps. ACA accredited. Variety of Sessions and Activities offered.

Aquatics, Horseback riding, Sports, Aerial Park and Outdoor Programs, Creative and Performing Arts. We focus on building confidence, independence, and friendships in a safe, nurturing environment.

Overnight

Coed

7-16

High View, WV

camptalltimbers.com 301-874-0111

Camp Woodend Nature, STEM, Cooking, Photography

Day, Overnight, Travel

Coed

Grades K-9

Chevy Chase, MD

natureforward.org/ camp-woodend 301-972-0341

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

holtoncreativesummer.org 301-365-6003

C-Unit Dance Studio Join us for one or more of our summer camps/summer intensives from ages 3 & up. Intensives include celebrity guest choreographers!

Day

Coed

3 & up

Bethesda, MD

c-unitstudio.com 301-664-7900

ESF Camps Traditional Day Camps, Multi-Sports Camp, Specialty STEAM Camps

Day

Coed

Rising Grades Kensington, Preschool MD to 10th

esfcamps.com/bethesda 301-493-2525

FIELD TRIPS

Summer Camps

HORSES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WATER SPORTS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Essential information on 18 Summer Camps

FIELD TRIPS

summer camps WATER SPORTS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

HORSES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CAMP

TYPE

GENDER

AGES

LOCATION

WEBSITE & PHONE

Green Acres Camp Swimming at our on-campus pool; Create your own path in science, technology, sports, music, art and more while exploring our 15-acre campus!

Day

Coed

4-13

N. Bethesda, MD

greenacrescamp.org 301-468-8110

KID Museum Coding; Building and Engineering, Art, Design, and Textiles; Woodworking; 3D Printing and Fabrication; STEM; Creative Problem-Solving; and more

Day

Coed

Grades 2-9

Bethesda, MD

kid-museum.org/programs/ summer-camp 301-941-4905

Montgomery County Recreation Specialties include art, dance, leadership, magic, music, sports, STEAM, therapeutic recreation and more

Day

Coed

3.5-18

Located throughout Montgomery County

mocorec.com/camp 240-777-6840

Oneness-Family School Summer Programs Montessori, Hiking, Swimming, Gymnastics, Environmental Education, Waterplay, Museums, Pool & Beach Visits, Playground Field Trips, Theater, Art

Day

Coed

Age 2Grade 8

BethesdaChevy Chase, MD

onenessfamily.org/ summer 301-652-7751

Panda Programmer Our camp offers a perfect blend of coding, creativity, and fun! Students create games and animations using Scratch. Robotics, Python and JavaScript are available for advanced students. Kids will thrive with expert guidance, outdoor adventures, games, and other extracurriculars.

Day Camp with full day and half day options available

Coed

5-13

Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, MD and Washington, DC

pandaprogrammer.com 443-267-2632

Round House Theatre One-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

roundhousetheatre.org/ camp 301-585-1225

Steve and Kate’s Camp Sewing, Coding, Stop Motion Animation, Baking, STEM & Maker Crafts, Virtual Reality, Sports & Rec and More!

Day

Coed

4-12

Chevy Chase & Silver Spring, MD

steveandkatescamp.com/ dmv-camps 425-389-5437

Stone Ridge Summer CampUs Choose your own adventure from over 45 classes including: musical theater, STEM, basketball, soccer, painting, cartooning, jewelry making, sculpture, dance, cardboard boat regatta, cooking, swimming, diving, adventure camps, Trout Lines Fishing Camp, and more!

Day

Coed

4-17

Bethesda, MD

stoneridgesummercampus. org 301-657-4322 ext. 5001

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SummerEdge at McLean School With full-day and half-day sessions for kindergarten Day through grade 12, campers of all ages are sure to increase their edge in reading, writing, math, science, and beyond.

Coed

5-18

Potomac, MD

summeredge.org 240-395-0679

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Full-Day Weekly Programs Ages 4–18 June 15–July 31, 2026 Little Gators (Pre-K–Grade 1): Hands-on activities, water play, science, games & crafts.

Gator Grab Bag (Grades 2–8): Mix & match on-campus classes in arts, sports, STEM, swimming, cooking & more.

Summer 2026 is almost here…

Adventure Camps: Off-campus adventures for Grades 4–12, including our popular Trout Lines Fishing Camp.

High School: Take enriching summer classes or join an Adventure Camp.

9101 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814

www.stoneridgesummercampus.org email@stoneridgesummercampus.org Don’t miss out—join the fun at Stone Ridge Summer CampUs!

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WE L VE CAMP Summer Adventures for Ages 4-15

Maryland best of bethesda award Winners for 6 consecutive years

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SUMMER CAMP AT KID MUSEUM JUNE 22 - AUGUST 21 2026 BSAS

YEARS 3.5-14

SUMMERCAMPS WEEKLY CAMPS MID JUNE - MID AUG

JOIN US THIS SUMMER FOR A SEASON OF JOY, FRIENDSHIP, AND DISCOVERY! WITH WEEKLY THEMES, EXCITING ADVENTURES AND OUTDOOR FUN, YOUR CHILD WILL CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES! SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE

Code Crushers Wizard KIDs biotinkering Movie Makers innovative art lab More 8 sessions & 2 Convenient Locations

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Oneness-Family School

Summer Programs

2026

Earth Keepers

Waterfalls

Pool

Science

Summer Theater onenessfamily.org/summer

Montessori

Script Writing

Bethesda

Hiking

Scene Design

Day Camps

Grades 1-8

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summer camps

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THEATRE CAMPS GRADES K-12 in Silver Spring and Bethesda SUMMER 2026

E

OUR Y S S E XPR

SELF

301.585.1225 Explore sessions and register at RoundHouseTheatre.org/Camp

Have you made summer plans yet?

Join us to learn more!

Ages Camp Open House 3.5 - 14 Sundays 12:00 to 2:00pm Jan 4 • Feb 8 Barrie.org/Camp Ask about our Leadership Program for rising 9th and 10th graders!

Transportation and Extended Day available Minutes from the ICC and Glenmont Metro

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Good Life Shopping, travel, wellness and more

Trek to Highland County, Virginia, for an annual festival in March celebrating all things maple. PAGE 202

PHOTO COURTESY CRISP PICS LLC

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GOOD LIFE SHOPPING

C O L D - W E AT H E R F R I E N D S From patterned prints to bold showstoppers, we’ve got you covered with these stylish statement coats BY JACQUELINE MENDELSOHN

PLAID ABOUT YOU

French shadow navy blue coat, $256 at Jurisdiction, 7937A Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), Potomac, 301-250-6987, jurisdictionclothing.com

COLOR STORY

“Laurent” cocoon dickey coat, $1,198 at Veronica Beard, 4840 Bethesda Ave. (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-425-4808, veronicabeard.com

BERRY COOL

“Dria” jacket, $398 at Rails, 4852 Bethesda Ave. (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-858-4165, rails.com

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TIED UP

Shearling jacket, $3,850 at Tory Burch, 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda, 240-345-1211 toryburch.com

SPOT ON

“Leo” statement coat, $89 at Scout & Molly’s, 11882 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-348-5047, scoutandmollys.com

TWICE AS NICE

“Aurora” reversible coat, $2,225 at Jenni Kayne, 4856 Bethesda Ave. (Bethesda Row), 301-364-9160, jennikayne.com

Readers’ Pick, Finalist, Best Pet Grooming

Because your pet deserves the very best!

Experience luxury boarding, daycare, grooming, & spa care trusted by Bethesda’s pet families.

12230 Wilkins Ave., N. Bethesda, MD

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GOOD LIFE TRAVEL

Philladelphia mascots promoting the “Phambassador” welcoming committee for the city’s events honoring Americas’s 250th anniversary; Below: The city will host special events every weekend in 2026.

Traveler’s Notebook

Philadelphia is a hub for celebrating 250 years of American independence BY CHRISTINE KOUBEK FLYNN

On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, the city of Philadelphia has trained thousands of “Phambassadors”—locals eager

to share their civic pride, culture, history and neighborhoods—to create one giant welcoming committee as the city hosts a yearlong semiquincentennial celebration that includes 52 weeks of “firsts.”

Each Saturday in 2026, a “First-ival” (visitphilly.com/52-weeksof-firsts) will commemorate a groundbreaking event that took root in the City of Brotherly Love, with observances throughout town. January and February activities will honor milestones such as the nation’s first folk parade (established in 1901, this rowdy neighborhood tradition became the longest-running event of its kind in the U.S.); America’s first professional basketball league, founded in 1898; the 1775 formation of the nation’s first abolitionist society (through which activists laid the groundwork for a national movement to end slavery); and the establishment of the nation’s first medical school in 1765.

Discover lesser-known facts about the Declaration of Independence at the Museum of the American Revolution (amrevmuseum. org), where a new exhibit called The Declaration’s Journey is a

centerpiece of Philadelphia’s 2026 semiquincentennial happenings. On view through Jan. 3, 2027, this multimedia experience— featuring more than 120 historic artifacts, documents, artworks and videos—illustrates the Declaration’s enduring influence in the U.S. and abroad.

The National Constitution Center (constitutioncenter.org), the nation’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution, will unveil two new galleries in 2026. America’s Founding Gallery, slated to open in February, tells the story of the early struggles for American independence. The Separation of Powers Gallery, debuting in May, will delve into the government’s three branches and the balance our forefathers sought to establish between the federal government and states’ rights. An original copy of the U.S. Constitution—one of only 14 surviving copies—and a rare first printing of the 17 constitutional amendments will also be on display throughout 2026.

See visitphilly.com/2026-philadelphia for a list of events, attractions and hotel packages.

PHOTOS COURTESY PHAMBASSADORS

Firsting With Pride

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Stay Classy Hotel Anna & Bel opened in August 2024 in Philly’s artsy Fishtown neighborhood, its name a nod to the property’s femalefocused history, as well as its location at

FROM TOP: PHOTO BY JASON VARNEY; GOLDENBERG PHOTOGRAPHY

the intersection of Susquehanna Avenue and Belgrade Street. The brick building, which in the late 1800s served as the communal Penn Home for Indigent Widows and Single Women, is now a hip hotel with 50 unique guest rooms, including studios and one- and two-bedroom suites.

Each room has its own character, thanks to custom wood bed frames, nightstands and bespoke bathroom tiles, combined with creature comforts such as eco-friendly mattresses, luxe linens, Frette terry towels, Nespresso machines and electric kettles. Select suites have sleek kitchenettes tucked inside locally crafted built-ins. Interior-facing guest rooms open onto a wrap-around balcony overlooking a pool and courtyard reminiscent of New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Elements from the past, preserved during the restoration, lend character to the architecture in the form of exposed brick walls, decorative fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings and an original window seat on the grand staircase landing. Bastia, the hotel’s Mediterranean cafe and restaurant, features Sardinian and Corsican inspired cuisine. The storzapretti (ricotta dumplings with guanciale) are a guest favorite.

Relax by the fire in the inviting lobby lounge, or warm up after a day of exploring in the fitness center’s infrared sauna. A heated outdoor plunge pool is open from late spring through the fall. Rates begin at $300 per night.

Clockwise from top: Courtyard pool at Hotel Anna & Bel; the hotel’s Bastia restaurant; the Caletta bar; a stylish bathroom sink area in a guest room; a modern guest room in the reimagined historic space

Hotel Anna & Bel, 1401 E. Susquehanna Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 267-682-8253, annaandbel.com

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GOOD LIFE TRAVEL

Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens features inspiring art displays. Left, from top: The city skyline sets a backdrop to the new arts destination; guests can take in modern works in its galleries; Alexander Calder installing a sculpture in 1949

Works by legendary sculptor Alexander Calder inspire curiosity and contemplation at Philadelphia’s new Calder Gardens,

which opened in September on 1.8 city acres, immersing visitors in a confluence of architecture, art and nature. Gardens and meadows conceived by famed Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf form the backdrop for large-scale installations by the museum’s modernist namesake, a third-generation artist and sculptor who spent his formative years in Philly.

The museum building itself—a gently curved structure with a shimmering metalclad north facade and an understated wood south facade—is reminiscent of the bohemian home in Roxbury, Connecticut, where Calder spent much of his adult life.

Works on display, both indoors and outdoors, range from towering forms made of painted sheet metal to rarely seen masterpieces such as a suspended mobile called Black Widow (1948).

Another mobile, 29 Feuilles Blanches (1960), is on public view for the first time.

In a deliberate break from gallery tradition, Calder’s pieces are presented without text, allowing viewers to derive their

own interpretations of what they see.

“Calder Gardens embodies a kind of ‘no-design’ architecture, allowing the works of art to express their diversity and ambiguity,” says museum designer Jacques Herzog, a partner with international architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. “It’s a place where you can sit, wander and observe, whether it’s nature or art, with the ease one has when one sits under a tree.”

Sound- and movement-based performances, self-guided audio walks narrated by noted cultural figures, horticulturefocused initiatives, film screenings and readings and are in the works for 2026.

Visit the gift shop for books, apparel, illustrated playing cards and other art mementos. The museum and gardens are open Thursday through Monday. Admission is $18 for ages 19-64, $16 for 65 and older, $5 for college students (with valid ID) and teens, free for kids 12 and younger.

Calder Gardens, 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-278-7250, caldergardens.org

FROM TOP: PHOTO BY IWAN BAAN; TOM POWEL IMAGING; PHOTO BY HERBERT GEHR

Mobile Access

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Bethesda Urban Partnership and Bethesda Magazine will honor writers at the Local Writer’s Showcase.

ESSAY, POETRY AND SHORT STORY CONTEST ENTRY DEADLINES: SHORT STORY – JANUARY 6, 2026 ESSAY AND POETRY – JANUARY 13, 2026 For eligibility and rules, please visit www.bethesda.org or www.bethesdamagazine.com

TWO FREE EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA! The Local Writer’s Showcase will celebrate all selected winners at the awards ceremonies and readings.

Friday, March 13 at 7pm

Essay & Short Story Awards Ceremony & Reading The Bethesdan Hotel – 8120 Wisconsin Avenue

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GOOD LIFE DRIVING RANGE

In Search of Sweetness SAMPLE VIRGINIA’S MAPLE HERITAGE IN HIGHLAND COUNTY

BY ERIN GIFFORD

T

ucked into the Allegheny Mountains near the West Virginia border, Virginia’s Highland County is home to 10 working sugar camps where the sap from sugar maple trees is collected and boiled into liquid gold. These sugar camps operate seasonally, relying on the freeze-thaw rhythm of late winter to coax the sap from the trees.

Since 1959, visitors have flocked to the annual Highland County Maple Festival to witness the “opening of the trees,” to see how sap becomes syrup and to celebrate a way of life that hasn’t changed much in generations. March marks the festival’s 66th year, when upwards of 60,000 visitors are expected in the town of Monterey and the surrounding area.

The 2026 festival is scheduled for March 14-15 and March 21-22.

As I began planning a visit in 2025, I

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quickly realized there was far too much going on for just one day. So my son Max and I made a weekend of it, driving from Ashburn, Virginia, visiting five sugar camps on Saturday, overnighting in Staunton, Virginia (lodging in Highland County is limited), and continuing the sticky-sweet adventure on Sunday.

A Slower Way of Life

The moment we turned off Interstate 81 in Mount Crawford, Virginia, and started winding west, I knew I was no longer in the hectic D.C. area. The road meandered through misty valleys, past red barns and rolling ridges. The farther we drove, the more the noise of modern life faded away.

Highland County is a place where cell service wanes, conversation comes easy and, on festival weekends, the air carries a faint sweetness. That sweetness, of course, comes from the county’s sugar maple trees.

PHOTO BY LAURA HONAKER

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Sugar camps in Virginia open their doors to visitors during the annual Highland County Maple Festival.

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Bottles of syrup on display at Eagle’s Sugar Camp in Doe Hill, Virginia

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5 MAPLE FESTIVAL MUST-DO’S In late winter, warm days (above freezing) and cold nights create pressure inside sugar maple trees, causing sap to flow. Producers drill small holes and insert taps to channel the sap, which is nearly clear and mostly water, into buckets or plastic tubing. To turn it into syrup, the sap is boiled for hours until most of the water evaporates, leaving behind pure maple sweetness.

It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. Flavor depends on many factors, from the heat source used to boil the sap to the time in the season when it’s collected. Early-season syrup tends to be lighter and milder, while later batches are darker and richer.

“Winter can be pretty slow here. The festival opens up the spring season for us. There’s just an energy that’s in the air,” says Chris Swecker, executive director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a way of life that is just not around anymore, the smalltown, community-oriented festival. That really is pretty unique.”

A Taste of Tradition

Clockwise from top left: Stacks of wood at Eagle’s Sugar Camp; maple doughnuts from the Mill Gap Ruritan club; pancakes with local syrup; a demonstration of how syrup is made

PHOTOS COURTESY CRISP PICS LLC

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We arrived in Monterey around 10 a.m. on opening day. Highland Elementary School buzzed with people waiting in line for pancakes doused with local maple syrup. The line snaked down hallways as local volunteers flipped pancakes by the dozens as part of a fundraiser. The smell of sizzling batter and warm syrup made the hourlong wait feel like a prelude to something special.

Festival map in one hand, fork in the other, we sketched a twoday plan to visit every sugar camp.

Most of the 10 working farms open their doors only during the festival’s two weekends each year.

Some are sleek and modern, others are rustic, still simmering sap over wood fires in century-old pans.

Plan in hand, we headed to Claire’s Cakes & Café on West Main Street for maple lattes. On one wall, a wooden hutch was for the “Mug

Ahead of this year’s Highland County Maple Festival, we caught up with Chris Swecker, executive director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce, for his take on what not to miss at the festival:

GET A MAPLE DOUGHNUT. “That’s your first,” Swecker says.

VISIT A SUGAR CAMP. “That sounds silly to say, but you’ve got to get some syrup from one of the camps.”

GO TO A PANCAKE BREAKFAST. “If you wait an hour, it’s worth it,” he says.

CHECK OUT THE ARTS AND CRAFTS. Local artisans set up in Monterey and McDowell.

STOP IN A LOCAL SHOP. Pop into a country store or restaurant “just to get some of the local flair,” Swecker says.

Club,” where first names identified the cups’ owners. Regulars simply grab their mug when they stop in for a cuppa.

Steam and Sweetness

Our first syrup-tasting stop was Mill Gap Farms in Monterey, where gleaming stainless steel evaporators boiled maple sap. The guide explained that Mill Gap is Virginia’s only producer of certified organic maple syrup. In addition to bottling its syrup, the farm also produces flasks of Farm Stand maple syrup, a label created to help smaller farms bring syrup to market.

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GOOD LIFE DRIVING RANGE

From there, it was a short drive to Duff’s Sugar House at Fair Lawn Farm in Monterey, run by Tim and Terry Duff, who marked their 20th year welcoming festival visitors in 2025. By early afternoon, the fullsize flasks were sold out, but I was able to snag a petite souvenir bottle.

Unlike most camps, Duff ’s proudly keeps things old school.

Inside, wood fires crackle beneath open pans just as they did in the 19th century. There’s a reason for this devotion to tradition. “We tell people during the tour, if one of the camps doesn’t continue doing it the old way, in another generation or two it’ll just be something you have to read about,” Tim Duff says.

Farms open up to visitors during the festival.

Duff ’s process is hands-on by design and intentionally slow. “We get the kids and parents involved.

They actually feed the fires. They skim the syrup for us. We have a very, very interactive sugar house,” Duff explains.

Last year, Duff’s produced about 50 gallons of syrup, each imbued with flavor only patience can create. “We don’t want to do fast cooking. We want our syrup to linger, which allows the sugars to fully develop their flavors,” he says.

“There’s more depth of flavor in a pan-cooked syrup.”

Following the Maple Trail

By lunchtime, we were fully immersed in Highland County’s maple magic. At Back Creek Farms in Monterey, a taco truck parked out front lured hungry visitors.

Inside, a sweet haze hung in the air.

Samples of a dozen syrups lined a metal tray—each slightly different, depending on when the trees were tapped and how long the sap simmered. The adjacent shop offered bottles of syrup, cookbooks and packs of maple stout.

Before the day ended, we visited Townsend Draft Goods in Monterey,

Visitors at Back Creek Farms sample syrups.

a new shop devoted to balancing “spirit and health,” where I discovered Sap! maple soda, a sparkling beverage made from maple tree sap and birch tree sap. We then ventured to Southernmost Maple in Bolar, complete with a barbecue truck and, blessedly, indoor restrooms. Our last stop, the Sugar Tree Country Store in McDowell, was alive with outdoor vendors selling kettle corn and maple doughnuts.

By 8 a.m. on Sunday, we were back on the trail, first to Tonoloway Farm in McDowell, the only producer in Highland County crafting black walnut syrup, a darker, more robust cousin of maple. Then came Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard in Blue Grass, where plastic tubing zigzagged among trees, collecting precious maple sap. Inside, volunteers sold hot dogs and snacks to grateful guests.

At Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard in Monterey, we stepped into living history. Operated by the same family for six generations, the small, steamy sugar house radiated heat and nostalgia. The syrup here carried a faint smokiness from the wood fire. A taste of the past is preserved in every pour.

Modern Makers

Our next stop, Laurel Fork Sapsuckers in Hightown, blended innovation with tradition. The sugar camp sits behind a snack shack famed for its maple BLTs, a sweet-savory pileup of crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, a tomato slice and a drizzle of maple syrup. We ordered one

TOP PHOTOS COURTESY CRISP PICS LLC; BOTTOM PHOTO BY ERIN GIFFORD

Syrup for sale at Back Creek Farms in Monterey, Virginia

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WHERE TO EAT, DRINK & STAY Each March, Highland County springs alive for the Highland County Maple Festival (highlandcounty.org/maple-festival). However, lodging in this quiet part of the Allegheny Mountains is limited, so plan ahead.

Book early at the Monterey Inn (montereyinnva.com), a beautifully restored 1905 Victorian with just five guest rooms in downtown Monterey. Each room offers a plush bed, luxe bathrobes and inviting views. Guests are treated to a daily breakfast. Think stuffed French toast and hearty breakfast frittatas.

If rooms are full, make your base 45 miles southeast in Staunton at Hotel 24 South (hotel24south.com). Opened in 1924 and restored in 2005, this 124room landmark pairs historic elegance with modern comforts. Expect pillow-top mattresses, a well-equipped fitness center and a heated indoor pool, along with a relaxed 1924 Lounge for casual bites and handcrafted cocktails.

For breakfast or a light lunch, Claire’s Cakes & Café (clairescakeco.com) on West Main Street in Monterey satisfies with signature breakfast sandwiches and housemade quiche. Across the street, The Curly Maple (facebook.com/ thecurlymaple) wins fans with maple lattes and warm pastries.

In Monterey, High’s Restaurant (highs restaurantmonterey.com), a favorite since 1934, serves comfort fare such as fried trout and country fried steak. The Highlander (highlandermonterey. com) is a reliable spot with favorites such as pizza, subs and fried chicken.

Monterey’s Big Fish Cider Co. (bigfishcider.com) features crisp hard ciders made from local apples. Try the Allegheny Gold, a sparkling semidry cider that captures the sweet heritage of Highland County.

for each of us, and after the first bite, I understood the hype. Behind the shack, a short interpretive trail led through the woods, where plastic tubing crisscrossed the trees like translucent veins.

“Our goal is to educate people. It is very important to us that when you come to our sugar house that you learn something and you have a new appreciation for maple syrup and how it’s made,” says Missy Moyers-Jarrells, a third-generation producer and events manager for the sugar camp.

Laurel Fork Sapsuckers makes about 300 gallons of syrup annually, and its creativity knows no limits. It offers a handful of infused syrups including elderberry, cinnamon-vanilla (which tastes remarkably like French toast), and even wild blueberry. “Every July, my mom and I go out and pick blueberries [on the farm] to freeze and use for pies. Then I was like, ‘Hey, let’s try syrup with this,’ ” Moyers-Jarrells says.

PHOTO COURTESY THE CURLY MAPLE

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The result was a hit.

The farm has since added bourbon barrel-aged syrup and maple vinegar to its lineup. “It’s trial and error,” she says, already dreaming up a hibiscus-infused maple syrup.

Before heading home, we made one last stop at Eagle’s Sugar Camp in Doe Hill, home to a small outdoor hut serving warm maple doughnuts. Outside, metal pails clung to tree trunks, gradually filling with sap.

Small-Town Spirit

Back in Monterey and McDowell, the festival buzzed with small-town energy.

Grassy lawns overflowed with more than 100 artisans and crafters from throughout the region, their booths offering everything from hand-knit scarves to maple cotton candy. At The Highland Center in Monterey, twangy bluegrass music filled the air, entertaining festivalgoers.

“We have a rural charm and hospitality,” says the Chamber’s Swecker. “If people can take that away with them, then that’s a win. The real measure of success is if everybody’s having a good time, and you just see the smiles on people’s faces. That’s what’s rewarding.”

Beyond the Syrup

By Sunday afternoon, my son and I had sampled and stocked up on enough maple syrup to last the year. But the festival offered more than sweetness. It provided a glimpse into the soul of Highland County.

Home to about 2,300 residents, it is Virginia’s smallest county by population, but its heart feels remarkably large. As we motored north along the interstate, back toward the familiar hum of suburban life, I found myself reflecting on what makes the county so special.

Highland County isn’t just about maple syrup. It’s about preserving tradition, supporting local makers and celebrating the simple rewards of hard work and community.

Ashburn, Virginia-based travel writer Erin Gifford enjoys spending her free time on the hiking trails, often turning her outdoor adventures into stories that encourage others to get out and explore.

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GOOD LIFE HEALTH

Kneeling, from left: Dr. Asha Subramanian and Dr. Aruna Nathan at the first Walk with a Doc event for the Wheaton chapter at Brookside Gardens in October 2018

On the Path to Health

Local walks with doctors offer tips, connections and more

BY CHRISTINE KOUBEK FLYNN

On a sunny Saturday morning in May, nearly two dozen people gather by the main entrance of Brookside Gardens in Wheaton for the monthly Walk with a Doc event. The participants listen to a talk on the benefits of dietary fiber before heading to a trail with three doctors for a stroll and casual chats about everything from stress management to favorite recipe websites.

Dr. Asha Subramanian, a family medicine physician who works with Commu-

nity of Hope health center in Washington, D.C., and with clients virtually, met Walk with a Doc founder Dr. David Sabgir, an Ohio cardiologist, in 2017 at an American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference.

Soon after, Subramanian asked Dr. Aruna Nathan, an internal medicine physician who now works in lifestyle medicine at AbsoluteCare in Prince George’s County, if she’d like to co-found a Montgomery County chapter of Walk with a Doc. The

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two set out to find a good place to host the organization’s simple format—a brief health talk followed by a group walk. They thought Brookside Gardens’ 1-mile “Heart Smart Trail” loop was ideal for all ages and paces given the trail is stroller-, walkerand wheelchair-friendly.

Subramanian and Nathan spread the word for their first walk in 2018 by emailing patients, hanging flyers in libraries and coffee shops, and reaching out to

PHOTO COURTESY ASHA SUBRAMANIAN

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primary care doctors. They quickly had a core group that attended monthly, and have since watched the outings grow and evolve as people bring friends and family. Now, about 20 people typically attend.

Dr. Marsha Seidelman, a retired pulmonologist who speaks about lifestyle topics at area homeless shelters and to community organizations, joined as a fellow leader in 2022. The three doctors have 80 years of combined experience as physicians and are certified in lifestyle medicine by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

Similar to Sabgir, the physicians had grown increasingly interested in ways to help their patients and others address medical conditions through lifestyle choices.

Before hitting the trail at the May walk, Subramanian spoke about how fiber can contribute to weight loss, improved gastrointestinal health and immune support and a decreased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“ IT COMBINES TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS—WALKING OUTDOORS AND PRACTICAL MEDICAL ADVICE.”

“Fiber is in plant foods,” she says, listing several sources: fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

“Increasing the number of plant – DEB RANSING, A GAITHERSBURG foods in your diet boosts the RESIDENT AND NEONATAL NURSE diversity and health of your gut PRACTITIONER WHO ATTENDED microbiome—30 plants a week A WALK IN AUGUST is a good goal.”

Before anyone could worry about how to reach 30, she points out the variety you can get in a morning the brain-gut connection—and if there bowl of oatmeal if it includes things such are any shortcuts. “If you could pick one as cinnamon, berries and flaxseed. food that would nourish your body, what “I had spaghetti for breakfast,” one would that be? And you can say beer,” walker says. one walker jokes.

Everyone laughs.

“Can I name three?” Seidelman says Subramanian doesn’t miss a beat. with a smile. “Berries, dark leafy greens “Tomatoes, basil...” and cruciferous vegetables, which are cabPeople ask about the best ways to bage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, brocimprove your gut microbiome follow- coli—and arugula is even in that class.” ing a course of antibiotics, how a food’s The conversations continue as the preparation impacts its effectiveness, group hits the trail. The doctors stagger

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themselves among groups walking at various paces so that everyone has a chance to talk.

Nathan shares lifestyle medicine’s approach through six pillars of health: physical activity, healthy eating, restorative sleep, effective stress management, social connections and avoiding risky substances such as tobacco and excessive alcohol.

Dr. Thu Tran, an OB-GYN who recently retired from Capital Women’s Care in Rockville and joins the walks often, mentions a seventh unofficial pillar: time in nature and how it has been shown to alleviate stress, improve sleep and more.

Shortly after joining Walk with a Doc, Seidelman was thrilled to witness several pillars in action when one of her patients, who lives at Leisure World in Silver Spring, joined a walk and met someone who also lived at the community for 55-and-older residents.

“By the end of the walk they’d exchanged numbers and made plans to continue walking together,” Seidelman says.

Subramanian recalls the time a woman returned for a walk and said, “I listened [to the talks] and I’ve lost 15 pounds, and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.” Says Subramanian, “Maybe she’ll now influence someone in her family.”

Having multiple physicians on the trail allows for ample opportunities to chat with at least one along the route. Participants each month can opt to walk a portion of the 1-mile loop up to two full loops, taking in the beautiful gardens through the seasons.

Deb Ransing, a neonatal nurse practitioner who lives in Gaithersburg, attended her first walk in August. “Getting this health info while walking was a bonus for me,” she says. “It combines two of my favorite things—walking outdoors and practical medical advice.”

Nathan hopes other doctors form their own walking groups. “It has been a great experience for all of us as physicians to have this opportunity to connect with people in the community,” she says.

As of November, there were 646 Walk with a Doc chapters in the U.S. and other countries; 182 of them were established in 2025. “We are very blessed to be seeing some hockey stick growth,” Sabgir says of the upward trend of new chapters forming. “And we attribute a lot of that to increased awareness.”

WALK WITH A DOC LOCAL CHAPTERS

THERE ARE FOUR CHAPTERS OF WALK WITH A DOC IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY: THE WHEATON CHAPTER, ONE IN SILVER SPRING THAT STARTED IN 2024, AND OTHERS IN BETHESDA AND POTOMAC THAT LAUNCHED IN 2025. ALL WALKS ARE FREE; SOME REQUIRE REGISTRATION. FOR DETAILS, VISIT WALKWITHADOC.ORG. D r. Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie’s SILVER SPRING chapter meets the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m. at Sligo Creek Walk Trail (125 Dale Drive near Piney Branch Road). Gonsahn-Bollie, an obesity physician-researcher, co-led a Richmond, Virginia, chapter before founding her own in Silver Spring.

The BETHESDA chapter— founded by Dr. Simran Malhotra, a lifestyle medicine physician and certified health coach— meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Saturday of every month at Fleming Park’s pavilion (9929 Fleming Ave.) then walks on the Bethesda Trolley Trail.

F ounding physicians Anjali Srivastava, Sonia Juneja, Suzan Song and Oluyemisi Famuyiwa’s POTOMAC chapter also meets on second Saturdays. Currently on a winter hiatus, the group will resume monthly walks at Gaithersburg’s Rio in March.

Meet at 9 a.m. at the “X” next to Uncle Julio’s, in front of the walking bridge.

F ind the WHEATON chapter with Subramanian, Nathan and Seidelman to the right of Brookside Gardens’ Visitor’s Center on the third Saturday of every month, at 10 a.m. from September through May, and at 9 a.m. June through August.

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