THRILLER AUTHOR SETS SCARY TALES IN ASHBURN
HIKE INTO HISTORY AT THE GOOSE CREEK CANAL
FROM HONG KONG TO ASHBURN: THE STORY BEHIND CAFE OPERA
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
THE AXE FACTOR LOCAL LAWYER IS A MASTER IN COMPETITIVE AXE THROWING
INSPIRED VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON MODEL TOURS VERIZON FiOS INCLUDED IN EVERY HOME MILES OF WALKING & BIKING TRAILS YEAR-ROUND FARMERS MARKET SHOP & DINE LOCAL AT OUR TOWN CENTER
B
I S F O R
Brambleton
WALK TO HANSON PARK
MODERN. CONNECTED. WALKABLE. Come see for yourself how phenomenal life is in and around Brambleton. Thoughtfully designed with today’s lifestyle in mind.
Enjoy Loudoun County living at its finest.
VISIT OUR NEW WELCOME CENTER AT 237 10 SCHOOLER PLAZA IN BRAM QUARTER
BRAMBLETON
BIRCHWOOD AT BRAMBLETON
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FROM THE UPPER $800s
55+ LIVING. LIFE REIMAGINED. CONDOS FROM THE UPPER $400s
Tri Pointe Homes | 240-206-6432
Knutson | 703-775-0480
Van Metre Homes | 703-272-2752
Van Metre Homes | 703-764-5426
703-542-2925 | Brambleton.com
JOIN THE BUILDERS’ VIP LISTS FOR NEW SINGLES, TOWNHOMES & COURTYARDS COMING SOON:
ASK ABOUT OUR BUILDERS’ QUICK DELIVERIES, INCENTIVES & SPECIAL FINANCING!
MILLER & SMITH – Text Birchwood22 to 22828 VAN METRE – Call 703-764-5426
703-722-2427 | BirchwoodatBrambleton.com Brambleton is located within close proximity to Dulles Airport and will be impacted by aircraft overflights and aircraft noise.
Ashbur
VO LU M E 4, I SS U E 5 PUBLISHER
Bruce Potter publisher@ashburnmagazine.com 571-333-1538
ADVERTISING
Sales Leader: Connie Fields cfields@insidenova.com
Account Executive: Judy Harbin jharbin@ashburnmagazine.com ART DIRECTOR
Kara Thorpe
CONTRIBUTORS
Jill Devine • Astri Wee PUBLISHED BY
Rappahannock Media LLC • InsideNoVa 1360 Old Bridge Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 318-1386 PRESIDENT
Dennis Brack BUSINESS OFFICE
Carina Richard-Wheat cwheat@insidenova.com ON THE WEB www.ashburnmagazine.com Facebook and Twitter: @ashburnmagazine
Ashburn Magazine is published every other month and distributed to over 13,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Ashburn Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustrations or photographs is strictly forbidden. ©2022 Rappahannock Media LLC.
4
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
BY AS T R I WE E
EDITOR
Chris Wadsworth editor@ashburnmagazine.com
From the Publisher A ‘SUPER PARK’ COMES TO LIFE
T
he cover story of our very first issue of Ashburn Magazine, in March 2019, was titled “Super Parks” and focused on plans for two huge new parks that were expected to open in our community in the years to come. At the time, the plans were just sketches and renderings on paper, so it was exciting to learn about the official opening this fall of one of those parks, the Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park on Evergreen Mills Road south of Brambleton. Technically, the park has a Leesburg Zip code, but for all intents and purposes, it’s an Ashburn park. And what a park it is. At 257 acres, it straddles Evergreen Mills, with athletic fields and other amenities almost as far as the eye can see. On a recent Saturday, walkers and joggers were exploring the nature trails through the woods as shouts and whistles from a girls soccer game echoed across the fields. Children romped on the playgrounds, and several
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
of the pavilions were set up for birthday parties or other events. The pickleball and tennis courts were full of players, a baseball game was underway, and there was even a championship cricket match, complete with a table of trophies. The new park is one of those venues that make Ashburn such a great place to live and raise a family. Another of our community’s unique aspects is the large number of locally owned restaurants. In our “Wine & Dine” feature this month, starting on Page 34, editor Chris Wadsworth profiles the owners of Café Opera, who had the foresight to open a restaurant in the Broadlands in 2004, just as Ashburn’s boom was beginning. Chris’ article also includes the story behind the restaurant’s name – which is actually quite simple. In our cover story this issue, you’ll meet a local lawyer who also happens to be the top ranked women’s axe-thrower in the country. (Yes, axe-throwing is a sport.) That feature begins on Page 22. Elsewhere, we profile a Broadlands resident who has written a series of horror novels – some set right here in Ashburn (quote of the year: “Waxpool is a cursed road…”), an Independence High School student who builds skateboards distributed through a local nonprofit, and the folks behind a local company that developed an innovative camera mount. As we head into 2023, maybe another past cover story will come to fruition. In our January 2020 issue, we explored what Metro’s arrival would mean for Ashburn. At the time, it seemed as though the station was complete and the start of service was just months away. Little did we know it would be nearly another three years before trains started running – if then. The start of Metro service would certainly be a nice holiday gift – the words “doors closing” might never sound sweeter. And as the doors close on 2022, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season – and hope you take time to check out our newest park!
BRUCE POTTER, PUBLISHER PUBLISHER@ASHBURNMAGAZINE.COM
BUYING A NEW AC WILL COST 25% OR MORE NEXT YEAR! Scan the Green QR code to learn more!
RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST TIME IN HISTORY TO UPGRADE YOUR AC & SAVE!
12/31/2022
CONSIDER A REPLACEMENT IF YOUR AC SYSTEM IS
*Included on MOST Every HVAC System we Install!
12/31/2022
meflow.com
M.E. Flow is a top-rated family-owned heating, cooling, and plumbing contractor serving all of NOVA from Woodbridge to Winchester. Founded in 1951 by Millard Edward Flow.
14
CONTENTS
08 AMAZING KIDS
28
SPARE PARTS
TIME OF OUR LIVES FEATURE STORY
Ashburn teen builds skateboards for people in need
ASHBURN’S DARK SIDE
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
Local author sets his scary tales in our community
12
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
MORE AMAZING KIDS
Highlighting local kids doing great things
34
14
FROM HONG KONG TO ASHBURN
WINE & DINE FEATURE
BUSINESS BOOM
IN A SNAP
Local restaurateurs prove they have staying power
Innovative camera mount designed here in Ashburn BY
JILL
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
DEVINE
40
20
GREAT ESCAPES FEATURE
MORE BUSINESS BOOM
TANZANIAN ADVENTURE
Updates from the Ashburn business community
Ashburn photographer makes memorable trip to Africa
22
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
COVER STORY OUR NEIGHBORS FEATURE
46
THE AXE FACTOR
REAL ESTATE ROUND-UP
Local lawyer scores in competitive axe throwing BY
6
JILL
The latest facts and figures about home sales in Ashburn
DEVINE
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
48 AROUND TOWN
An album of Ashburn-area events.
52 HOLIDAY EVENTS
Fun activities for this festive season.
56 TIME TRAVEL
IN SEARCH OF THE GOOSE CREEK CANAL The ruins of a 19thcentury waterway lie hidden in the woods of Lansdowne BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
62
34 40
THE BURN
The latest restaurant, retail, and other cool news O N
T H E
C O V E R
Suzanne Bassett, lawyer by day, axe throwing champ by night, pictured at Axes & O’s in Sterling. (Photo by Astri Wee of Astri Wee Photography)
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
LEARN MORE
AMAZING KIDS
Spare Parts Ashburn teen builds skateboards for people in need BY
CHRIS
WADSWORTH
H
e calls them “Frankenstein boards” – skateboards cobbled together from discarded old boards and donated spare parts. But these boards are anything but monstrous. They offer young people in crisis a chance to get where they need to go, or even just be a kid again. The “he” we’re talking about is Wesley Campolattaro. He’s a 17-year-old senior at Independence High School and a Brambleton resident. And he’s a lifelong skateboarder. “I’ve been skateboarding for as long as I can remember,” Wesley said. “I was probably around 5. I would go skating after school with my brothers [ Jackson, now 22, and Max, 20]. I’ve gotten more serious about it over the past four years.” Indeed, this young man was already doing a lot of charity work through his involvement in the Young Men’s Service League – a nationwide volunteer program for teen boys – when he hit on a brilliant idea: He could combine his love of helping others with his love of skateboarding.
8
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
Wesley used time on his skateboard to clear his mind, to relax, to destress – basically to take a break. What if he could donate skateboards to other young people going through tough times so they could do the same? He reached out to the folks at Mobile Hope, a Leesburg nonprofit providing services to teens and young adults facing homelessness — whether they are at risk of losing their shelter, precariously housed or actually homeless. “The teens receiving support through Mobile Hope are facing stressful situations,” Wesley wrote in an essay about his initiative. “Skateboarding can be an expensive sport, which makes it out of reach for kids like this.” Mobile Hope loved the idea – many of the young people they help use donated bikes and skateboards to get to the jobs they need to get back on their feet. So Wesley got to work, naming his project “WESkate.” He and his mom, Ashley Campolattaro, solicited parts on social media, and they were flooded with donations or new and used boards and parts. They set up
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
(Above) Wesley Campolattaro works on building a skateboard out of donated parts; (right) Wesley works on a stunt while skateboarding. ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
9
Unwrap the Gift of Water Safety! Skip the usual presents and bring health, happiness and pure joy to their world and peace of mind to yours. Kids learn safety skills while having fun, making friends, building confidence and learning life lessons.
Happy Holidays From Your Neighbors at Stream Valley Vet! "All pets deserve Concierge Care. We have been the other family doctor for many local families spanning 20 years! We strive to ensure that your best friend enjoys a long and comfortable life with your family."
HOLIDAY PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE!
Scan here to order your’s TODAY!
Mary A. Corey, D.V.M.
ASHBURN | 703.665.7647 | goldfishswimschool.com |
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
We've Got Your Back
Membership Your
Style
Your massage should be as unique as you are. Every session may utilize various types of massage to provide the best experience possible. Our therapist will tailor your session to fit your exact needs.
DEEP TISSUE SWEDISH MASSAGE SPORTS MASSAGE STRETCH MASSAGE
ENJOY YOUR FIRST MASSAGE AT ELEMENTS FOR JUST
TRIGGER POINTS
$79 AND SAVE $30!
PRENATAL MASSAGE
SpecialtyServices
AND MORE......
The Elements Way Every body and client is unique which is why we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to massage therapy. Whether you are looking to help relieve pain, ease stress and tension, experience relaxation, or prioritize self care - we take the time to listen so we can personalize every aspect of your massage session to meet your individual needs. Focused solely on massage, your experienced massage therapist will combine their skills and abilities to perform the massage that you want. That’s the Elements Way®.
10
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
ASHBURN | 571-223-1615
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
an Amazon Wishlist as well, and one donor sent a huge order of new skate helmets. “The response in support of his project from the community was really heartwarming and makes me very proud,” Ashley Campolattaro said. Yep, it turned out that lots of skateboarders have extra parts lying around. And let’s face it, lots of kids take up skateboarding, and then find out it’s more difficult than it looks. “A lot of people had skateboards collecting dust,” Wesley said. He’s been building his Frankenstein boards since this spring, and – at the time we spoke in October — Wesley had built and donated roughly 25 boards. He still had additional parts and was planning to assemble more. “We love when kids help kids. That’s first and foremost,” said Donna Fortier, CEO and founder of Mobile Hope. “It’s really important for kids in crisis to see that other kids in the community care about them. So, what [Wesley] is doing is really heartfelt and truly needed.” Wesley was excited when the Hanson Regional Park opened this summer near Brambleton because now he has a skate park right by his home. He says he will
When he's not skating or building skateboards, Wesley works at the Weathervane Coffee shop in Ashburn.
Preventive & Diagnostic Medicine • Surgery & Dentistry • Obedience Classes • Boarding • Doggie Daycare • Professional Grooming
Behavior
Emergencies Consultations
Exotic Care
Furry, feathered or Listening troubles? Pet emergency? scaled pet not Let us triage and We'll "Better the Bond" feeling well? We will treat or stabilize! by helping solve any be their doctor too. behavior issues.
Hours of Operation
continue to skateboard once he goes to college, and, depending on where he winds up for college, if he can continue to donate boards, he will do so. Sometimes skateboarders get a bum rap – as Wesley readily admits. He’s hoping his project will help change some people’s opinion of the sport and the kids who love it. “I really like giving back to skateboarders and feeling like I’m making a difference,” he said. “I enjoy building boards for other people to enjoy.” A If you have extra skateboard parts lying around and would like to donate them to Wesley and his WESkate project, head over to this link: www.tinyurl.com/skateboardproject
Monday - Friday: 7 AM - 7 PM Saturday: 8 AM - 3 PM Sunday (boarder pick up only): 5 PM - 7 PM
We're just a few feet away! 703.723.1017 42902 Waxpool Road Ashburn, Virginia 20148 www.streamvalleyvet.com ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
Follow us! @streamvalleyvet
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
11
MORE AMAZING KIDS
Then. Now. Next.
Ashburn Music School Celebrates 10 Years With Special Concert 150 young musicians from across Northern Virginia came together in September for a fundraiser benefiting veterans, first responders and kids in need. The event was called “Feel,” and it was part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for Notes ‘n’ Beats, an Ashburn-based music school. The musicians – ranging in age from 4 to 20 – fused western and Indian music, with selections from ABBA and Queen as well as Bollywood films. The musicians and the more than 900 people who attended “Feel” helped raise roughly $40,000 for charities. The beneficiaries include local organizations Veterans Moving Forward and Loudoun First Responders Foundation. Internationally, some funds will be used to help buy a school bus for differently abled children in India. A
OK, we know all kids are amazing, but if you know of a kid who’s so amazing that they should be featured on this page, please email information to editor@ashburn magazine.com.
You can count on Northwest to be here for you now and for what’s next. We’ve been serving the community for 75 years providing financial services, guidance, and personalized member service. We have the solutions you need with our free checking options, low rate loans, great savings rates and convenient Online and Mobile Banking.
Snap to visit our website and learn more!
Insured by NCUA
Learn more at nwfcu.org 12
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Visit us in One Loudoun l 20400 Exchange Street l Ashburn, VA 20147
BUSINESS BOOM
tions without losing content,” Fleming said. Newberger explained that someone who is fishing, for example, “can mount a camera on the side of a boat aimed at the water, but with one hand they can quickly switch [the camera] to another plate positioned inside the boat to film themselves reeling in their catch.” The two-part Snap Mount fits GoPro and similar “action” cameras. It’s made with N52 rare-earth magnets, the strongest grade commercially available, according to Fleming. The mount requires no tools and quickly affixes to metal surfaces. An adjustable lanyard with a magnetic backplate makes it possible to instantly secure action cameras to clothing and surfaces less than a quarter of an inch thick. “Just snap and go – it’s really that easy,” Sam Newberger said. The team created Snap Mounts in 2018 after designing a customized body-mount device for police cameras.
In a Snap
Innovative camera mount designed here in Ashburn BY
JILL
DEVINE
I
t was an “a-ha” moment for photographer Stephanie Newberger. She was in the middle of a bus tour of the American West with her husband to promote their product called a Snap Mounts – an innovative magnetic camera mount. “I was wearing my Snap Mount while riding a mule down the Grand Canyon when a teenage boy took notice. He said he had been searching for a long time for something just like that and asked where I got it,” Newberger recalled. “That’s when I knew we had found our market.” Whether riding a mule through a canyon, landing a front flip on a snowboard or sailing across a white-capped bay, capturing these exciting moments with a camera is now easier because of the Snap Mount. And it was developed right here in Ashburn. “No suction cups or bulky chest harnesses with this mount,” said Stephanie’s husband, Sam Newberger, a former Marine and CEO of Snap Mounts. He co-founded the company with his friends Ryan Fleming, a former Green Beret, and Brad Hess, an IT specialist. The Newbergers live off Sycolin Road near Goose Creek, and the other two men both live in Loudoun County. The team believes the high-powered magnetic camera mount is a game-changer when filming even the fastest and trickiest activities. “Suction cups, straps and clamps take time to set up and adjust, but a magnet lets you rapidly move between different loca-
14
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023 CL ASS!
(Above) Stephanie and Sam Newberger, part of the local team that is developing and promoting the Snap Mounts product line; (Above right) A Snap Mount can be used to attach a camera to your clothing; (Below) A Snap Mount on a dashboard holds a phone displaying GPS directions.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
A year-long, in-person business educational program for women business owners. Providing hands on business training, a supportive women’s community, and structured accountability to build the foundational framework for a sustainable business that will withstand all market conditions. The Women’s CEO Business School was NOT what I was expecting. THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS I HAVE MADE IN MYSELF & IN MY BUSINESS! The most remarkable experience is the long lasting relationships I have built with other like minded female badass bosses! Erica P. Rowe, CEO, Business Brand Ambassador
Schedule a Strategy Call Today!
My experience in the Women’s CEO Business School has been mind blowing from day one. I have learned things not only about my business and how to grow it, but also about myself and how to improve my mindset. This program has improved my business, and I have been able to double my gross revenue from the year before. Dr. Kajal Roy, CEO, Niyan Medspa
theceowoma n.com • ( 7 03) 7 7 9- 2 69 4 • hel l o @t hec eo w o m a n . c o m ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
15
“We realized something similar would work for GoPro cameras,” Fleming said. “A magnetic mount solves the issue of having to halt momentum and creativity just to unscrew, attach or reposition components.” Newberger said the team developed the initial designs in his garage. With some hired help and a 3-D printer, the team developed a prototype. After an initial spurt of sales, the team enlisted a manufacturing firm in Arlington and a marketing company to help them produce and properly launch the product. “It’s been almost three years now, and we keep growing,” Newberger said. Today, Snap Mounts has seven employees and sells its products primarily online to the tune of roughly 1,200 units a month. The starting price is around $35, and the company is working to secure distributors in Canada, Europe and Australia. “It’s a success,” Sam Newberger said. “We did more than a million dollars in sales last year, and we are on track for 25% growth this year.” Leesburg resident Mike Moore likes the
The Snap Mount, developed here in Ashburn, shown in action holding cameras filming a variety of activities.
It’s been almost three years now, and we keep growing. WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS
Call To Schedule Your
New Patient Consultation Regularly $100 – Includes consult, exam, posture scan, and assessment outlining your best course of treatment
Dr. Misty Paul
Therapies Offered •Chiropractic •Electric Muscle Stim •Ultrasound •High Powered Laser •Massage/Traction Table •Trigger Point Therapy with Cupping & Hypervolt Massager Treating back & neck pain, headaches, sciatica, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel, and so much more! Pregnancy Related care and treatment of Infants, Toddlers, and Children of all ages!
16
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
17
The Newbergers converted a bus into a temporary home and toured 18 national parks to promote the Snap Mount.
Snap Mount cell phone adapter. “I’ve mounted it on my tractor while doing maintenance, so I could check on what I was doing while watching a YouTube instructional video,” Moore said. “The overall quality is stronger than mounts I’ve used before that rely on suction or take up an entire cup holder to be used effectively.”
This summer, the Newbergers road-tested their product during that eight-week cross-country trek. Traveling in a school bus they converted into a stylish, functional house on wheels, the Ashburn couple documented their tour of 18 national parks using a Snap Mount and a GoPro camera. The journey was shared on social media. “We got amazing shots by mounting the camera to the side of our bus at Canyonlands and Grand Teton National Parks,” said Stephanie Newberger. “And attaching the Snap Mount to our clothes freed our hands during intense hikes, especially at Arches and the Chains section of Angels Landing in Zion, where people have serious accidents while taking selfies. It was nice to safely move around without worrying about dropping my phone or camera.” A Jill Devine is a freelance writer and former magazine editor from Loudoun County who writes for a variety of Virginia publications.
BRIGHT. BEAUTIFUL. VIBRANT, CAREFREE SENIOR LIVING.
Opening Early 2023. NOW ACCEPTING CHARTER CLUB DEPOSITS.
Take advanTage of our affordable mortgage options
Brightview Senior Living has been making life brighter for Northern Virginia seniors and their families for nearly a decade.
We have a variety of mortgage programs and products that may help make homeownership a reality:
Now we’re coming to the Reston-Herndon Corridor.
• Low down payment options
Brightview Innovation Center will have everything seniors need to live their brightest lives – resort-like services, amenities, and personal support – all included in a monthly rental fee.
• Expanded credit score eligibility (as low as 620) • Reduced mortgage insurance requirements that result in lower monthly payments Contact me today about working together: eniko Simon-kiddy, Senior Home Lending advisor T: (904) 810-8077 eniko.simon-kiddy@chase.com homeloan.chase.com/eniko.simon-kiddy nMLS Id: 1499188
Senior Living
For down payments less than 20% on conventional loans, Mortgage Insurance (MI) may be required and MI charges may apply. All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval.
Innovation Center In Herndon
Call the Welcome Center to schedule a visit.
571.786.5800
www.BrightviewInnovationCenter.com
Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Home lending products offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ©2019 JPMorgan Chase & Co. 85167DD | 17358871
18
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Independent Living | Assisted Living Gallery Assisted Living | Dementia Care
MORE BUSINESS BOOM
Ashburn Restaurant Makes Washington Post’s Top Five
Club Champion Golf Opens in New Ashburn Center
A relatively new Ashburn restaurant received a noteworthy honor when a Washington Post food critic named it one of his top restaurants. Himalayan Wild Yak opened less than a year ago in the Brambleton Town Center, but has quickly made a name for itself with its unique Nepalese menu and lineup of cocktails. In October, Post food writer Tom Sietsema unveiled his Fall Dining Guide, which had the Yak ranked No. 5. “Luscious chunks of pork, crisp from their time in a clay oven, resonate with mustard oil, ginger and garlic. Chicken stir-fried with onion and bell peppers is finished with a chile sauce that leaves a thrilling wake of heat,” Sietsema wrote.
A golf shop specializing in custom fit clubs has officially opened in Ashburn. It’s called Club Champion and its new store is at 44795 Dulles Overlook Drive. That’s in a new retail center next to the giant Flagship Carwash location on Loudoun County Parkway. Club Champion fits, builds and sells custom golf clubs with brands such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Cobra and more. The shop also has indoor hitting bays with computers that analyze a golfer’s swing and performance and offers something similar for putting. “Many players think they aren’t good enough to be custom-fit, but we’ve participated in multiple third-party studies that showed higher handicappers saw the biggest gains,” said Nick Sherburne, the company’s founder. “Some of these golfers shaved as many as 10 strokes per round.” A
SHOP OUR MONTHLY SPECIALS
CUSTOMIZABLE AQUAGOLD CHEMICAL PEELS PRP & MICRONEEDLING PLASMA PEN CUSTOM HYDRAFACIALS VICHY SHOWER & SAUNA “JP is a true artist. He listened to our vision and created something even better than we could have imagined. We couldn’t be happier with our new built ins!” -Steph We offer Home and Office remodeling providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction. No Job is Too Small!
MEDICAL GRADE SKIN CARE COOLSCULPTING ELITE EMSCULPT NEO
ADVANCED BODY CONTOURING BREAST SURGERY FACIAL & EYELID REJUVINATION BOTOX & FILLER LASER RESURFACING PROCEDURES FOR MEN
EMTONE SEXUAL WELLNESS ULTHERAPY ZINEB MOUSSAFIR, DMA, LMA
Thank you Ashburn for Voting JP HANDYMAN SERVICES, LLC Best Handyman / Home Services for Three Consecutive Years! 20
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
703-987-1688 | www.JPHandymanServicesLLC.com
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Text Or Call Today To Schedule Your Free Estimate Hiring Skilled Craftsmen
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AESTHETICS VOTED BEST MED SPA DIRECTOR IN THE DMV TOP RATED ULTHERAPIST IN THE COUNTRY LICENSED MEDICAL AESTHETICIAN 17+ YEARS EXPERIENCE
LARRY LICKSTEIN MD, FACS AWARD WINNING PLASTIC SURGEON BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE PRINCETON GRADUATE HARVARD SURGICAL TRAINING
21021 SYCOLIN ROAD, SUITE 001, ASHBURN ELLEAESTHETICARTS.COM · 571.440.5005 @ELLEAESTHETICARTS
OUR NEIGHBORS
F E AT U R E
THE AXE FACTOR
A NEW TALENT
An invite to a scavenger hunt a few years ago led Bassett to discover axe throwing. “I was working late and couldn’t go, so my friend suggested I meet with them afterward at an axe throwing place in D.C.,” she said. “I showed up in a dress and had no idea what I was doing. A guy handed me an axe and told me to throw it, and I surprised everyone by immediately being pretty good at it.” Bassett started winning competitions in Washington before joining a league in Baltimore. In 2019, Bassett read about a new axe throwing venue, Axes and O’s, that was opening in Sterling. She reached out to the owners about throwing there. “Watching Suzie throw, I could tell right away, from her form and concentration, that she knew what she was doing,” said Tara Hampton, the owner of Axes and O’s. “Being a lawyer, Suzie is very persuasive, and she convinced me to start a social league, even though I wasn’t sure we were ready. We started with about 12 people, but as pandemic restrictions eased, we quickly grew to more than 50 for the Thursday night league.”
LOCAL LAWYER IS A MASTER IN COMPETITIVE AXE THROWING
BY
JILL
DEVINE
|
PHOTOS
BY
ASTRI
WEE
L
ike most attorneys, Suzanne Bassett flings a heavy satchel over her shoulder when she leaves her office for the day. But sometimes Suzie, as her friends call her, isn’t simply carrying a big load of case files to review. “You never know what a woman has in her bag,” laughed Bassett, as she opened it to reveal a gleaming collection of hatchets, axes and knives. Those eye-opening implements have made it through baggage checks at airports across the country. That’s because, at press time, Bassett is the top-ranked female in the World Axe Throwing League. When you include men, she’s still No. 53 overall – out of more than 5,000 active league participants worldwide.
ARMED & READY
Bassett’s heavily padded competition bag currently holds nine customized axes and hatchets and a set of knives, although she says she owns about 50 related tools total. Competition disciplines are categorized as Hatchet, Big Axe or Duals, with appropriate rules and tools for each. “Everyone loves to watch Duals,” she said. “It’s the most fun because two people throw at the same target at the same time, and sometimes even the best of us screws up and hits each other’s axe. There’s more fun and chaos at Duals – anything can happen.” Her favorite axes have custom wooden handles created by fellow Axes and O’s thrower David Kline, owner of DMV Axes. Because she uses a pinch grip when throwing, Bassett prefers square handles that won’t rotate like round handles.
TARGET: ATHLETICS
“I’ve always been competitive, both academically and in sports,” said Bassett, who lives in the Broadlands. At her upstate New York high school, she was a straight-A student and class valedictorian, and she earned seven varsity letters as a field hockey goalie, softball pitcher and volleyball middle player. She moved to Ashburn about 10 years ago, graduated cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law and now specializes in food and drug law as an associate attorney for the Polsinelli law firm in Washington. Bassett thinks her athletic background conditioned her to be good at axe throwing,
22
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
a sport rooted in lumberjack traditions that didn’t formally exist until the early 2000s. “I’ve used my wrists my whole life, controlling slight movements to get a ball to do what I want it to do,” she explained. “Understanding how my wrist works and having control over my arm helps me throw accurately.”
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
23
Team: 2D
phone: phone: 717-663-4535 717-663-4535 phone: 717-663-4535 email: email: 2D@cmag.com email: 2D@cmag.com 2D@cmag.com fax: fax: --
“He just made one for me with a design like the lace on Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s collar,” Bassett said. She paired it with her favorite leather blade sheath that has RBG’s portrait on one side and an image of the Supreme Court on the other. “RBG is my idol,” she said.
AIMING TO WIN
Bassett has earned a bid to the World Axe Throwing Championships in Appleton, Wisc., in December. She qualified in all three disciplines. “I take pride that I do very well in a male-dominated sport,” Bassett said. “There are no gender differences in axe throwing. We play in the same leagues, compete in the same tournaments, and I don’t get a handicap.” Bassett has won or placed in quite a few different tournaments in the past few years. She took third place at the Tilted Axes Spring Fling, a coed WATL-sanctioned tournament in West Chester, Penn., and was the highest ranking woman in that contest. She won second in the coed Rustbelt Rumble in Rochester, N.Y., beaten only by the reigning world champion. And
phone: phone: 7034507777 phone: 7034507777 7034507777 email: rebeccar@falconhvac.com email: rebeccar@falconhvac.com email: rebeccar@falconhvac.com fax: - CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER AB fax: - YOUR AD ORfax: fax: APPROVE SUBMIT This ad is the property of CLIPPER MAGAZINE and may not be-reproduced.
This This ad ad is is the the property property of of CLIPPER CLIPPER MAGAZINE MAGAZINE and and may may not not be be reproduced. reproduced. Please reviewCLIPPER your proof carefully. CLIPPER MAGAZINE is not responsible Please carefully. MAGAZINE is not responsible Please review review your your proof proof carefully. CLIPPER MAGAZINE is not responsible Ad is approved for any error not marked. for any error not marked. SUZIE BASSETT Sales Rep: for any error not marked.
*
*
DON’T THROW IT Ad is not approved make changes indicated ❑BASEBALL. LIKE A Stephanie Weiss-Johnson TO CHANGE UP People try to throw it hard, to throw it Rep: COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR TOSales PUBLICATION. Stephanie Weiss-Johnson Weiss-Johnson Sales Rep: Stephanie UP SOME COUPON PRIOR SOMETHING through the wall, but you don’t have to COUPON PLACEMENT PLACEMENT MAY MAY CHANGE CHANGEOFFERS PRIOR TO TO PUBLICATION. PUBLICATION. THAT’S NOT do that. The harder you throw, the less SIGNATURE DATE WORKING. controlPRINT youNAME have. People who make the A lot of players big stage are throwing relatively softly. APPROVE YOUR AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON plateau, butABOVE they OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. aren’t willing to & APPROVE CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX FAXAd TOisTHE THE NUMBER ABOVE. APPROVE YOUR YOUR AD AD OR OR SUBMIT SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF TO ABOVE. not NUMBER approved make changes indicated ❑ Ad is approved ❑ Ad is approved with changes change a handle or ❑ Ad is approved Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make changes indicated change their throw. ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Ad is approved ❑ Ad is approved with changes ❑ Ad is not approved make changes indicated That’s the best time SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME to try something different. SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME REPETITION SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME IS KEY. Throw and repeat. When you’re under pressure at DON’T BE a tournament, you AFRAID TO TRY. need that muscle Don’t be put off by memory. Just keep an image of bearded throwing. men in plaid shirts.
❑
AXE THROWING ADVICE
*
Ad is approved with changes ❑ DON’T BE AFRAID
*
That’s not what the community is. There are lots of axe throwing venues so give it a try.
KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE Our Teachers Are Waiting to Welcome You! THIS SEASON
KEEP KEEP YOUR HOME FREE YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE KEEP COMFORTABLE 2ND OPINION FREE 2ND OPINION THIS SEASON YOUR HOME On Repairs & THIS SEASON Replacements $50 FREE COMFORTABLE $50 OFF 2ND OPINION THIS SEASON 2ND OPINION
On Repai Replacem
On Repairs & Replacements
FREE
On On Repairs Repairs & & Replacements Replacements
Must present coupon at time of service. Only applicable during normal business hours. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Expires 12/31/22.
$50 OFF
Find where you belong…at Ashburn Early Learning Academy! We’re saving you a spot for early learning excellence, individualized attention, lasting friendships and loads of fun. SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY! 703-723-5930 elacommunity.com 24
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Early Learning Academies
$50 OFF ANY HVAC OR PLUMBING REPAIR Must present this coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Expires 12/31/22.
(703) 450-7777 www.falconhvac.com ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
25
11-2021 Ashburn 1-4 Page ad_South Riding 1/4 Page Layout 10/4/22 5:15 P
(Left) One of Suzie's axes safely tucked away in a sheath featuring the image of her idol, former Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (Below) Suzie and a group of fellow axe throwers celebrate a victory in a competition.
GARAGE DOOR PROBLEMS FIXED FAST! Ashburn Homeowners... Cold Weather Can Have A Significant Negative Effect On Garage Doors! Take Advantage Of Our COLD WEATHER Garage Door TUNE-UP OFFER To Ensure Reliable, Quiet Operation and Safety.
Savings Coupon UP TO
$200 OFF
*
SELECT NEW GARAGE DOORS FROM ACADEMY DOOR & CONTROL
Savings Coupon
$20 OFF TUNE-UP SERVICE FROM ACADEMY DOOR & CONTROL
Over 49 Years Of Satisfied Customers!
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
Bassett credits her success to consistent practice, her willingness to change her throw or try a new axe as needed, and her ability to channel stress into energy that works to her advantage in competitions. “Suzie’s game is always about what she needs to do with her throw, not who she is throwing against,” said Russell Murphy, Bassett’s duals partner and boyfriend. Murphy recalled how focused Bassett was at a tournament where she was competing against one of the top throwers in the
26
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
PHOTOS PROVIDED
BY AS T R I WE E
earlier this year, she took the title in the Queen of the South competition, a women's tournament in Tyler, Texas. As a woman in a male-dominated sport, Bassett is breaking new ground. "Suzie is currently the top-ranked female in our sport, competing in multiple disciplines against anyone that steps up to the line,” said Mike Morton, commissioner of the World Axe Throwing League. “[She is] consistently proving that success in axe throwing is not tied to one specific gender.”
• Professional and Certified Technicians • We Fix Any Garage Door Problem You Have • We Install New Garage Doors • We Install New Garage Door Openers • We Replace Broken Springs • We Replace Broken Cables • We Replace Garage Door Rollers • We Offer An Unbeatable Guarantee SAME DAY & 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE 365 DAYS A YEAR!
Have A Question? Call us... We’re Here TO HELP YOU
703 912-0455
ACADEMY DOOR & CONTROL CORP. SINCE 1973
www.AcademyDoor.com
world, Mark Tishko. “It was insanely close, and they almost threw a perfect game,” said Murphy, referring to a score of 64. “Suzie lost two matches to him, but she threw two of her best games – 62 and 63 – in a row.” Prizes aren’t usually huge when compared to many other sporting events. They can range from hundreds of dollars up to thousands at major tournaments. Bassett took home roughly $1,000 in 2021 and, because she has competed a bit less this year, she’s taken home roughly $600 so far. Fortunately, Bassett says thanks to her day job as an attorney, she has the luxury of worrying less about the cash prizes and focusing more on inspiring her fellow female throwers as well as encouraging more women to join the league and helping them find sponsors to cover costs. “Most of the time, the men are on the podium. Very rarely do women win any money,” Bassett said. “So my goal is to go there and do my best and make a splash for women in the tournament – and make some men nervous.” A Jill Devine is a freelance writer and former magazine editor from Loudoun County who writes for a variety of Virginia publications. ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
27
s ’ n r u b h s A TIME OF OUR LIVES
F E AT U R E
Local author sets his scary tales in our community BY
CHRIS
WADSWORTH
y day, Michael Layne is a mild-mannered cybersecurity strategy professional for a local government contractor. But by night, he’s… well, OK. He’s not Batman. But Layne does have a pretty cool alter ego – or several alter egos, if you want to be precise. Under different noms de plume, Layne has written more than a dozen novels and short stories. As you can quickly surmise from the covers, his works tend to fall into the horror or thriller categories, featuring all types of creepy crawlies and things that go bump in the night. But the Broadlands resident has several books (so far) of particular note. They are horror novels set right in here in good, old Ashburn – featuring Ashburn landmarks, locations and occasional strange events.
28
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
This three-book series is called “Ashes Still Burn” – get it? Ash-burn? Monsters in Ashburn was enough to pique our interest, so Ashburn Magazine interviewed Layne about his books and the inspiration behind them. Here are portions of our conversation.
How would you describe the “Ashes Still Burn” series? What type of books are these?
“At its most basic, ‘Ashes Still Burn’ is a dark urban fantasy series, where magical beings, like old forgotten gods, demons and other fantasy creatures live and exist just under the radar in Ashburn. Actually, they’re all
k r Da e d i s
(Above left) Mike Layne with his dogs, Elsa and Baloo. (This page) A custom illustration done for Ashburn Magazine that includes the stone LeFevre farmhouse on Waxpool Road. And note what the man in the image is holding in his right hand — a copy of the last issue of Ashburn Magazine.
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
29
(Left) Stacks of Mike's books; (Below) Mike tends to his table at an event at Comic Logic in Ashburn.
Michael Layne Bibliography “The Conservation of Magic,” originally published as “Redemption” (2013) (Novel)
And it took so long. Seven months of waiting only to receive a form rejection letter. When the publishing world began to change, I decided self-publishing was where I wanted to spend my time and energy. The process has been a learning experience at every turn, for sure, but I’m fortunate enough to possess many of the skills most authors have to contract out.”
“Running Club: A Short Dystopian Thriller” (2013) (Novella) “The Gate” (2013) (Novella)
What type of skills?
“For instance, I’m also a painter and an artist, so I do my own covers. And I’m good with new technology, so I leverage a lot of the latest software for writing, editing, illustrating, designing and publishing. Man, it is a great time to be a writer. I mean, am I in bookstores? Not unless I’m doing a local author signing, but my stories have been read all around the world, and I’ve received tons of feedback – good and bad – from readers everywhere. Which is great for me since I love to improve myself and my writing.”
“The Applicant” (2013) (Novella) “Trapped in Whittier” (2013) (Novel) “Hunted Under Vegas” (2014) (Novel) “Becoming Walker” (2014) (Short story, no longer published)
Why did you decide to set this series in Ashburn? What makes it a good setting?
“I started looking around one day as I was driving down Claiborne Parkway. Have you really done that around here? There are a lot of strange things if you look hard enough. The LeFevre house – a 150-year-old Pennsylvania/German stone farmhouse, sitting right next to where all the suburbanites hold their Friday summer concerts. And if you look down while you’re there, you’ll see a huge, kind of mystical, compass painted on the asphalt. We have roads that go nowhere and end in dark forests. And how about Waxpool Road? Try telling someone you’ll meet them on Waxpool and prepare to never find your friend again. So, in my books, Waxpool is a cursed road where unfortunate people sometimes get lost and never arrive at their destination.”
How do local people, places and things become part of your plots?
“The town of Ashburn itself is a character in my books. I don’t use any real people, but I liberally make use of local places, buildings, urban myths, news articles, trails, clubs and whatever else interests me. Remember when all those turkey vultures started hanging around, and the HOA’s first cut at a solution was to hang dead vultures in effigy around the neighborhood [in order to] scare them off? Well, because of that, ‘The Blood of Ashburn’ ended up having vultures in it. But in my story, a vampire who lives in the caverns beneath the town is able to see the world through the eyes of the vultures and command them to do her bidding.”
30
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
“The Equilibrium of Magic” (2014) (Novel) “Buried in Alaska” (2015) (Novel) “The Complexity of Magic” (2017) (Novel)
Your focus seems to be horror, sci-fi and thrillers? How did you become a fan of these particular genres?
“I blame my Uncle Pete for that, mostly. When I was a kid, growing up in Newport News, my mom’s brother used to visit every week and bring a paper bag full of comics and fantasy novels. I was a lucky kid! So, I grew up on regular comics, like ‘Thor’ and ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ but also on horror magazines he would give me, like ‘Creepy,’ ‘Eerie,’ ‘Vampirella,’ ‘The Savage Sword of Conan,’ ‘Heavy Metal’ and others. He also supplied me with plenty of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, Asimov, you name it. Like I said, I was pretty darn lucky. All of that, including Dungeons and Dragons, which was taught to me in public school, if you can believe that, was instrumental in creating who I am today as far as my tastes.”
You’re self-published? What has that process been like? “Yes, all my works are self-published. Early on, before the Internet, I sent some manuscripts to a few traditional publishing agencies. Man, that was brutal.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
“Ashburn: An Urban Fantasy Novel” (2018) (Novel) “Thirst: A Horror Short Story” (2021) (Short Story) “The Demon Slayer of Ashburn” (2021) (Novel) “The Blood of Ashburn” (2022) (Novel)
Get
more out of your retirement! Here, you gain more than a stylish senior living apartment home, you gain a community filled with extraordinary amenities and services—at a value that may surprise you!
Get your free brochure! Call 1-800-981-9329 or visit AshbyPonds.com today.
“Blown Out of Proportion” (TBD 2022) (Novel) “The Evolution of Magic” (TBD) (Novel)
Ashburn, VA AshbyPonds.com
“Untitled Book 4 in the Ashes Still Burn Series” (TBD) (Novel)
531859
trapped in Ashburn by a big bad demon, but readers don’t fully know why, which is part of the mystery and adventure that’s unveiled throughout the novels.”
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
31
What’s New AT ONE LOUDOUN
New Retail Stores and Restaurants
NOVEMBER
NOW OPEN
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
OCTOBER
FEBRUARY 2023
A painting of an old tree done by Mike Layne. Besides writing, Layne is also an artist and he designs and paints covers of his many books.
Where do your ideas come from?
“Funny, but I’m lucky enough to not have to search too hard for story ideas. I keep a file with ideas for novels, and I think there were over 30 fleshed-out concepts in there the last time I looked. But everything I experience, each interaction, every trip I take – they all result in me asking questions, lots of questions, and those turn into these ideas that make me wonder about all the ‘what-ifs’ out there.”
Where do you find the time to write? NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER
“I prioritize it. I make sure I do something for my writing career every night. Maybe it’s writing, or outlining, working on a cover, creating an ad, prepping for a local convention at Comics Logic or answering questions for Ashburn Magazine – whatever is on the burner.”
When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?
“The same as everyone else, I guess. Netflix bingeing. Movies. One Loudoun. I also read as much as possible and am in a great book club that exposes me to books I’d never think to read on my own. I try to exercise a couple times a week. I’m selling a lot of my comic book collection on eBay. I walk my dogs and hang out with them. And I’m trying this dating thing again. So far, so good! And I paint, although not much of that lately. My whole life, I’ve written and painted. Back and forth, but I’m really focused on my writing now.”
·
saturday, december 3
5–7 Pm
You and your family are invited to join us for One Loudoun’s 10th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration!
DowntownOneLoudoun.com
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Your years of service taught you the importance of physical
What does the future hold for Michael Layne? Any more books set in Ashburn?
f itness and keeping your body ready for action. At Falcons Landing this idea lives on, but we replaced the obstacle
“Well, I think I mentioned this already, but I have a lot more books lined up to write than I will ever have a chance to finish. I’m currently almost done with the first draft of a new psychological thriller, written as Michael Wade. Working title is ‘Blown Out of Proportion.’ I am loving the change of pace with this one. No magic. No fantasy. Just straight-up, deranged humans in today’s world. I’ve also outlined book four in the ‘Ashes Still Burn’ series. I also have three non-fiction books that will have to wait until I can get to where this novel-writing gig is full-time. I’m working on getting closer to that point every day.” A
You can learn more about Michael Layne’s books on his website at: www.writerlayne.com.
32
(no alarm necessary)
course with walking trails, drill sergeants with personal trainers and PT in the dirt with a state-of-the-art f itness center, including a Junior Olympic indoor swimming pool. You’ll still break a sweat, but now it will be with a smile on your face.
CALL 703-688-8263 TO SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY!
FALCONSLANDING.ORG
A NON-PROFIT LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY Independent Senior Living | Potomac Falls, VA
HONG KONG WINE & DINE F E AT U R E
BY
CHRIS
T
WADSWORTH
he simple answer was staring us right in the face all along. Cafe Opera, a tiny Chinese restaurant in the heart of Ashburn, got its name because the owners love opera music. Both of them have been performers in concerts and shows. And sure enough, they have opera music playing on the restaurant’s speakers and they often have videos of operas playing on the restaurant’s television screen. But Arthur and Tin Kong, Cafe Opera’s much-loved owners, had anything but a simple journey when they brought their restaurant to Ashburn 18 years ago. “We were both born in Hong Kong,” Tin Kong said. “I was a high school music teacher for 24 years – general music, music history, singing – all the rudiments.” Meanwhile, Arthur owned an interior design
BY AS T R I WE E
(This page) Superimposed over an image of Hong Kong are photos from the Kongs' past, including Tin Kong in a geisha costume while performing in "Madame Butterfly," Arthur Kong working at the Marriott Westfields hotel shortly after he moved to the United States; Tin with some of her music students in Hong Kong; and Tin standing in front of the future Cafe Opera location in Ashburn back in 2003.
Local restaurateurs prove they have staying power
company in Hong Kong for more than two decades. But in 1997, the United Kingdom passed control of the colony back to the Chinese government after 156 years of British rule. “I worried a lot about China taking over,” said Arthur Kong, who feared a crackdown on the freedoms Hong Kong residents had come to take for granted. It was a fear that has proven true in recent years. “The situation there is very bad now.” So, in 2000, with the help of family members already in the United States, Arthur moved to Virginia. Tin followed three years later. And together they were going
to pursue a dream they had been discussing for years – opening their own Chinese restaurant. Arthur had taken some cooking classes while still in Hong Kong, and since emigrating, he had been learning the restaurant business while working at a Marriott hotel in Chantilly. The couple lived in Herndon at the time, but they were hearing about this fast-growing place called Ashburn. “We got a lot of flyers and postcards about homes that were selling in Ashburn. We thought, ‘Wow, Ashburn. Where is that?’” Tin said. “So, we came out here to see and there weren’t many homes yet and Waxpool was just a one-lane road.” But they anticipated people moving in – another prediction that ultimately came true – and they opened Cafe Opera in October 2004 in a small retail plaza on Truro Parish Road. “I remember the first year we opened the restaurant, we were looking out the window going, ‘Where are the people?’” Tin said. “But soon people started to rush in.”
TO ASHBURN
Tickets:
franklinparkartscenter.org/Gift
540-338-7973 Special Events
Visual Arts
Winter Lights Walk: Sweet Adventures
Cabin Fever Film Fest
Dec 9 thru 23 6:00-8:00 pm
In the beginning, the Kongs wanted to create a menu that celebrated and showed off the cuisine of Hong Kong. But, as Arthur says, initially it proved to be a hard sell. “People here didn’t know that style,” he said. In Hong Kong, wonton skins are paper thin, and they are stuffed with copious amounts of shrimp and pork. Americans were used to the opposite — thick wonton skins with a dab of meat inside. And then there was the spice level. “Our beef with black pepper sauce – we toned down the spice level to 15%,” Arthur said with a chuckle. “In Hong Kong, it’s much more spicy.” As they got feedback from their customers, the Kongs slowly adapted some items on their menu to local tastes, while keeping some authentic Hong Kong dishes as well. They also incorporated dishes from other Asian countries, such as teriyaki chicken and teriyaki salmon from Japan and pad
36
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
P H OTO S BY AS T R I WE E
We don’t make a lot of money, but we make a lot of friends
Thai and panang curry from Thailand. “Hong Kong was a very international city, so this made sense,” Tin said. The best-selling dish at Cafe Opera is General Tso’s Chicken – a Chinese dish that is distinctly North American. The Kongs are proud of the fact that they only use white meat chicken in their General Tso’s with a thin breading and a sauce developed by Arthur. “Most restaurants will use dark meat, or a combination of white and dark meat, but Americans are very health conscious, so we stuck to white meat,” Tin said. And customers noticed. Cafe Opera has built a steady clientele over the past 18 years – making it one of the oldest restaurants in Ashburn. Today, the Kongs live in Hamilton in western Loudoun County. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren. Residents from the Broadlands neighborhood and surrounding communities have visited all these years not just for the food and not just for the music of Madame Butterfly and La Bohème playing in the background, but also for the warm smiles and friendly conversation offered up by Arthur and Tin. “We don’t make a lot of money, but we make a lot of friends,” said Tin, her eyes welling up. “The customers are so supportive. During the pandemic, they would come more often on purpose just to support us. So, we always try and do our best for our guests.” A
(All ages) Grab a cup of hot cider. Then, wander through our artistic lights display with the theme, “Sweet Adventures”.
Jan 27 7:00 pm & Jan 28 10:00 am
Featuring films by residents of Loudoun County or those with ties to the community.
Tickets: $5 in-person & Virtual
Tickets: $3 per person
Music
Family
Chorus of Old Dominion: Christmas Concert
Tickets: $5 per person
Dec 11 4:00 & 7:00 pm
(All ages) Christmas concert in the barbershop style, with local high school choral groups Tickets: $6-$15
Eric Byrd Trio: Dec 16 7:00PM
(All ages) Eric Byrd Trio performs music from the classic Vince Guaraldi soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Tickets: $10-$20
PUPPET SHOWS:
Gingerbread Jamboree Dec 28 3:00 pm
Three Not-So-Little Pigs Jan 25 10:00 am
PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS:
Tickets $8 per person 1:00-4:00 pm
Winter Sky Stories Dec 29
The Moon Jan 29
36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA 20132 ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
37
X
X
Business Directory
LAWN CARE
DANCE STUDIO
Servicing Ashburn
10 Week Winter Sessions Hip Hop • Ballet/Jazz • Tap for ages 5 to adult REGISTER BY DEC. 14
Baby Ballerina
for little ones 15 mos. to 5 years
44710 Cape Ct, # 126 • ASHBURN
www.CDCdance.com HOME COLOR EXPERTS
REAL ESTATE
PRIVATE SCHOOL
TURKISH RESTAURANT
#1 Private High School in Loudoun County
Delicious Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine
Give your child a competitive advantage!
Loudoun county’s first and only Turkish restaurant since 2020
Exquisite traditional Turkish food paired with Turkish wines
K4 12th Grade
703-759-5100
Dulles Campus near the intersection of Route 28 & 606
20937 Ashburn Rd #125, Ashburn, VA 20147 in Oldtown Ashburn 571-831-3521 Check our website for seasonal fares | oxus7.com
www.FairfaxChristianSchool.com WELLNESS
Wellness to “Fun-ness” Found Here!
AUTOMOTIVE
Enjoy Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday 3-6pm $4 off Drinks and Appetizers
TITLE COMPANY
ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY
SAVE $10 ON YOUR FIRST PURCHASE
All products are 3rd party lab tested for your safety
#1 CPO in the US
(571) 442-8492
44921 George Washington Blvd., Suite 110
DONATE to the Home goods, furniture, appliances and building supplies.
Free pick-up of large items. Schedule online at loudounrestore.org or call 571-919-6330.
Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | 700 Fieldstone Drive, Leesburg, VA 20176
MOVING COMPANY
ACTIVE ADULT SENIOR SPECIALIST
HVAC
My specialty is Active Adult Communities. Let me help you "right size" your lifestyle!
COOKIES WITH SANTA
Walter Sobie
Office: 703-724-9494 Cell: 703-989-4705 walt.realestate@gmail.com longandfoster.com/WalterSobie
Ashburn Sales 20396 Exchange Street Ashburn, VA 20147
PRE SCHOOL / CHILDCARE
At Celebree School of Ashburn Farm RSVP to ann.camet@celebreeschool.com Follow us on Facebook for more details.
DONATE / THRIFT STORE
December 3rd 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Open M–F, 11am–7pm, Saturday, 11am–5pm Closed on Sundays
22455 Lindsay Cars Court | Sterling, VA 20166 lindsayvw.com | sales@lindsayvw.com | 571-497-5856
COOKIES WITH SANTA
Visit the store for free cannabis education and personalized consultations
Offer good toward your in-store purchase of $50 or more for newly enrolled rewards program members
703-840-2175
COOKIES COOKIES December 3 WITHWITH SANTASANTA 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM rd
At Celebree School of Ashburn Farm DecemberDecember 3rd 3rdto ann.camet@celebreeschool.com RSVP 10:00 AM 10:00 - 12:30 AM PM -Follow us on Facebook for more details. 12:30 PM At Celebree School of Ashburn Farm
At Celebree School of Ashburn Farm RSVP to ann.camet@celebreeschool.com RSVPfor tomore ann.camet@celebreeschool.com Follow us on Facebook details. Follow us on Facebook for more details.
G R E AT E S C A P E S
ANIMALS IN THE WILD
F E AT U R E
“The first day that we go on safari – all of us are brand new to this. We have no idea what is going to happen, and we come upon a herd of elephants. Our guide said it was one of the biggest elephant herds he had ever seen. We were in awe. “Every single animal was different – the leopards were very quiet and sleepy. We were told it was rare to get to see them so close. And there is no way of describing the majestic nature of what it’s like to watch a giraffe run. First, they look like an alien – who has a neck that long? But they are so graceful – it’s like they move in slow motion, like they are defying gravity.”
TANZANIAN TANZAN ADVEN TURE Ashburn photographer makes memorable trip to Africa BY
CHRIS
WADSWORTH
I
f you’re a regular reader of Ashburn Magazine, you may recognize the name Astri Wee. She’s a resident of the Broadlands in Ashburn, a busy wife and mom and a professional photographer. She has shot many of the wonderful photos featured on the cover of past issues of this magazine, as well as on the pages inside. This past summer, Wee and her family – husband Alan Bernardo, stepdaughters Kylie Bernardo, 18, and Katie Bernardo, 16, and son, Kai, 9 – traveled to eastern Africa for a safari. Besides the chance to experience something completely new, it was a dream opportunity for an artist like Wee to capture people, places and animals you can’t find here at home. Wee also decided to try to do some good during the trip. Before leaving, she raised money for a small charity based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It’s called Eripoto for Girls and Women, and the funds go to help protect young girls from forced early marriage, an old custom among some of the population. Eripoto is a word meaning “security” or “safety” in the local Maasai language.
40
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
(From left) Alan Bernardo and Astri Wee with Kai, Kylie and Katie.
Wee collected more than $3,000 from friends, neighbors and colleagues and then was able to present the monies to the girls of Eripoto in person. We’ve selected a handful of Wee’s favorite images from the trip and had her tell us a little about these moments.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
41
SCARY NIGHT
MAASAI VILLAGE
“Our vehicle got stuck in the mud going through a small river. Technically, you can’t be out in the Serengeti past 6 p.m. It’s unsafe with all the predators up and active. We tried to get unstuck for about 20 minutes. Stork vultures started to circle overhead. We took all the luggage out of the truck and tried using a jack. Another 30 minutes. The guide had no mobile service, and nobody was responding on the radio. Long story short, we did finally get the truck out. “It was well past dinner time and getting cold. We drove toward our camp as fast as the bumpy road would allow. Then we got stuck in water. Again. In the dark. Our guide took a phone with a flashlight on it to walk to the closest park ranger. I tried to not let my mind think about all the things that could happen to him. Eventually, our guide returned and then a truck with five or six guys showed up. They had a heavy chain. It took another 30 minutes of digging the wheels out, but we made it to camp. It was late. We were tired, dusty, smokey, hungry.”
“It was amazing – watching something that is so completely different culturally from anything you have seen before. All these people in traditional garb doing a traditional sunset ritual. It was a celebration of life. “They were singing and chanting and smiling the whole time. There was one part of the ceremony where the men go into the middle of the circle and jump up high in the air. They were having a ball the whole time, and they pulled the entire audience in, and we all danced together. And it was all as the sun was setting. We were breathless at the end, full of the joy and love they had shown us.”
42
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
43
To learn more about or support the Eripoto for Girls and Women charity to help protect young Tanzanian girls from forced early marriage, go to www.gofundme.com/f/help-maasai-girls-build-a-better-future
VISIT TO ZANZIBAR “We wanted to have a trip that took us to the land and the sea, so we went to Zanzibar, an island off the Tanzanian coast. I’m an island girl at heart. We went in a boat and chased dolphins. We spent a lot of time on and in the water while we were there. “Zanzibar has a predominantly Muslim culture. I was surprised how prominent it was. In past centuries, it was the hub of the slave trade in that part of the world. Zanzibar was also the home of Freddie Mercury (from the rock group Queen). There’s a show and museum dedicated to him on the island.” A
MORE COZY MOMENTS ARE MADE ON MOHAWK
BENEFITS OF TEAMWORK
Sterling Financial Partners is excited to join W3 Financial Group. Our home will remain in Ashburn, Virginia, but our partners are well established in Ohio, with five offices throughout the state. What drew us to W3 was its focus on putting clients first and servicing clients through a team approach. Their service team consists of Client Service Administrators, Paraplanners, and Office Administrators. With a focus on consistent communication, high-touch service, and a client-first mentality, we are truly excited to work with an organization that offers various services with their priorities aligned with ours. We will continue to bring our clients the high level of service they have already been accustomed to with the addition of W3’s full-service team. Our team looks forward to serving Ashburn and Loudoun County with our new partners. Michael Bui, ChFC® Principal
Edward Skelly, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP® Principal
WEALTH MANAGEMENT | 703.726.1313 44355 PREMIER PLAZA | SUITE 200 | ASHBURN, VA 20147 W3WEALTH.COM
0%
SPECIAL FINANCING
See store for details.
44
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
ASHBURN | PURCELLVILLE
loudounvalleyfloors.com Retailer Name & Logo
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Securities offered through Valmark Securities, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC Investment Advisory Services offered through Valmark Advisers, Inc., a SEC Registered Investment Advisor 130 Springside Drive, Suite 300, Akron, Ohio 44333-2431 1-800-765-5201 W3 Financial Group is a separate entity fromValmark Securities, Inc. and Valmark Advisers, Inc.
R E A L E S TAT E R O U N D U P
Ashburn’s TOP TEN R
ising interest rates put a significant damper on the local real estate market in early fall, according to data from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Across Loudoun County, the number of home sales that closed in September dropped 36% from the prior year, the 13th straight month of declining sales. In Ashburn, sales fell 49.6% in the 20148 Zip code – the largest decline in the county – and 34.5% in the 20147 Zip code. The number of new listings also fell in September after several months of gains. They were down 28.2% in the 20148 Zip code and 17.4% in the 20147 Zip code. Prices continued to rise, although
countywide the median sales price was up just 0.3%. In the 20148 Zip code, the median sales price rose 19.4% to $770,000. In the 20147 Zip code, sales prices rose 11.5% to $612,500. The average number of days on market for homes that sold rose to 26 in the 20148 Zip codes and 19 in the 20147 Zip code. That remains much faster than historic averages, but significantly slower than in prior months. “The Loudoun market as a whole is shifting much closer to pre-pandemic levels,” said DAAR President Rich Blessing. “In addition to steadier price growth and rising inventory levels, Loudoun County homes were on the market for an average of 25 days last month – the longest we’ve seen since February 2020. These are all promising signs for buyers, who have been able to take back a bit of control in their home searches and negotiations.” Highlighted below are the five highest-priced homes that sold in each of Ashburn’s two Zip codes between mid-August and midOctober, along with the sales price and other key information. Data and photos from Realtor.com.
20147
20148
20370 NORTHPARK DRIVE
41239 TRAMINETTE COURT
21930 HYDE PARK DRIVE
42916 VIA VENETO WAY
19668 PLAYER COURT
21580 BURNT HICKORY COURT
20330 KIAWAH ISLAND DRIVE
43048 LAGO STELLA PLACE
44301 LORD FAIRFAX PLACE
41959 BARNSDALE VIEW COURT
$1,880,000 Sold: Sept. 28 4 bedrooms 3½ bathrooms 5,195 square feet
$2,300,000 Sold: Aug. 31 6 bedrooms 6½ bathrooms 7,961 square feet
$1,525,000 Sold: Sept. 14 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 6,358 square feet
$2,150,000 Sold: Oct. 7 6 bedrooms 6½+ bathrooms 7,412 square feet
$1,401,107 Sold: Oct. 6 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 5,206 square feet
$1,651,000 Sold: Oct. 11 4 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 8,426 square feet
$1,310,000 Sold: Sept. 2 4 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 5,886 square feet
$1,565,000 Sold: Sept. 26 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 6,507 square feet
$1,200,000 Sold: Sept. 26 5 bedrooms 5 bathrooms 4,845 square feet
46
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
$1,500,000 Sold: Oct. 13 6 bedrooms 6½ bathrooms 7,129 square feet NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
47
AROUND TOWN An Album of Ashburn-Area Events (Top left) Dignitaries cut the ceremonial ribbon at the opening of the Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park near Brambleton, including Loudoun County supervisors Sylvia Glass (white cap), Tony Buffington (arm raised) and Matt Letourneau (blue suit).
Newest Regional Park Debuts in Ashburn OK, whether it’s fully inside Ashburn or just right next to Ashburn can be debated, but let’s face it – the new Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park is Ashburn’s regional park. The 257-acre project debuted Sept. 23 with a ribbon cutting, a marching band, a color guard – and, most importantly, hundreds of people exploring the new park. There were cricket and soccer players on the fields, joggers on the trails and families with kids clambering over, under and through the many playgrounds. The park is at 22831 Hanson Park Drive. While technically a Leesburg address, it’s just minutes from the Brambleton neighborhood in Ashburn, off Evergreen Mills Road. Here are some photos from opening day and a list of the many amenities at the park: • Cricket pitch • Disc golf course • Four baseball/softball fields with batting cages • Four tennis courts/pickleball courts • Outdoor basketball court • Skate plaza • Splash pad • Ten multi-purpose grass fields • Two artificial turf fields with grandstands and press boxes • Two playgrounds with rubberized surface • Amphitheater • Concession/restroom buildings and pavilions • Fishing piers • Five ponds • Hanson House renovation • Lodge / Event Center • Nature Center • Paved and natural surface trails • Picnic pavilions • Two off-leash areas for dogs
48
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Trusted Care Means Peace of Mind Get Personalized Home Care When and Where You Need it with HomeWell.
Trusted Care. True Compassion
Our caregivers are ready to provide home care, for new parents, veterans, accident victims, those with chronic conditions, and of course, our senior loved ones. No matter your need, HomeWell is here to help you where and when you need us.
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION 45662 Terminal Drive, Ste #200 Sterling, VA 20166 703-431-4706
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
49
Advertisement
SHE GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK
Construction Underway on Loudoun’s New Reservoir Park
www.astriwee.com
&
photography@astriwee.com
present
Manassas Ballet theatre
At long last, construction has officially started on Ashburn’s new Reservoir Park, to be built along the southeast shore of the Beaverdam Reservoir. The reservoir – a manmade lake used for both recreation and as a back-up water supply for Loudoun County – is just west of Belmont Ridge Road south of the Dulles Greenway. The new park will include a welcome center and parking lot, restrooms, a boat rental facility, picnic pavilions, numerous trails, a bridge, a waterfront boardwalk, educational exhibits and more. However, as part of the construction, public access to the reservoir has been closed and will probably remain closed until sometime in mid- to late 2023. Activities such as fishing, boating and paddling will not be allowed. Work on Reservoir Park is expected to be completed in early 2024, with a grand opening to follow. A
in the
Nutcracker
with the Manassas Ballet Theatre Orchestra
Dec. 16-23 at the
10960 George Mason Circle Manassas, VA
Tickets starting at $35 www.hyltoncenter.org 703-993-7759
Melophoto LLC
Also Streaming Starting 12/24 at 7:30 pm EST
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/mbtnutcracker @manassasballettheatre
For more information: manassasballet.org info@manassasballet.org • (703) 257-1811 Manassas Ballet Theatre is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas
50
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
Rowing Facility
Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy and is seeing incredible results! “It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow down anticipating the yellow light.
This was the case with Dan. “I said I wasn’t going to drive again. What if that had been a pedestrian?”
It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to live their life. Dan was now I started to move my foot from the reliant on his wife to drive him around, gas to the brake as any normal even the simple pleasure of cruising person would do when they see down to play golf or taking her out to brake lights in front of them but I dinner was outside his capabilities. couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot. The car kept moving forward and I And even more common, Dan’s just couldn’t get my foot on the brake. general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing And CRUNCH! they could do other than prescribe I finally came to a stop when I him pills that would ease the pain of hit the car in front of me.” his neuropathy. This tragic story was shared with us by That’s where Rachal Lohr and Dan S., an Ashburn resident, who has her staff at FIREFLY come in. peripheral neuropathy. And while no “About 75% of our current one was hurt in this accident, Dan S. patients come to us suffering had suffered almost every day of his life from the same condition as with tingling and burning in his feet until Mr. Dan,” tells Rachal. numbness set in and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath “They’re in constant pain from his foot. neuropathy and it prevents them f “The first stage is pain.” shares Rachal Lohr, Acupuncturist of FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness. “ You feel burning, tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles. This pain eventually subsides and the numbness sets in. Unfortunately the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems.”
rom not only living their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it. Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3-4 months of treatment. I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden.”
Visit www.FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com to learn more and to take advantage of their New Patient Offer!
“I can’t lie,” confides Dan. “I was skeptical at first. The folks down at my pain center told me there was nothing that could be done and then there’s a doctor right here in Loudoun who tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments! My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car! It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly [Rachal] gave me my life back.” While FIREFLY specializes in acupuncture and it’s definitely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery” shares Ann, a Senior Patient Care Coordinator at the clinic. “It’s like watering a plant. ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provide them the proper nutrients to heal and repair.” You can learn more about Rachal Lohr at FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation call (703)263-2142 and do so quickly. FIREFLY is a very intimate clinic and the staff takes pride in their ability to take their time with each patient so they are very limited in their ability to take on new patients.
WORTH A PEEK
Holiday Events
ONE LOUDOUN’S 10TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
28TH ANNUAL ASHBURN FARM THANKSGIVING DAY RACES
Thursday, November 24, 8 a.m. Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn Whether you run to win, run for fun, run to support a good cause or run just because you want a guilt-free day of eating – come out for the 28th Annual Ashburn Farm 10K/5K and 2K Fun Run Thanksgiving Day in-person or virtual races.
52
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
Saturday, December 3 5 to 7 p.m. 20626 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn
The Holiday Tree Lighting at One Loudoun welcomes the community to celebrate the season. Events include Santa photos, train rides, ice carvings and musical performances.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
WANT MORE?
For a complete list of events around Northern Virginia, visit InsideNoVa.com/calendar
BLEND COFFEE BAR’S FIFTH ANNUAL GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
LOST RHINO’S HOLIDAY CELEBRATION & STREET MARKET Saturday, December 10 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 21730 Red Rum Road, No. 142, Ashburn
Get festive with Lost Rhino Brewing Company at its holiday celebration featuring a holiday street market with local artists and craftsmen offering their products for sale, free photos with Santa, live music by the Summer & Eric Duo, plus seasonal food and drink features and plenty of Lost Rhino craft beer.
Saturday, December 17 4 to 9 p.m. 43170 Southern Walk Plaza, No. 120, Ashburn
ST. DAVID’S ‘THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS’ CONCERT
Sunday, December 11, 4 to 6 p.m. St. David's Episcopal Church 43600 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn
This concert features joyous works that celebrate the Christmas season. Highlights of the program include “Lux Nova” by Eric Whitacre, “O Magnum Mysterium” by Kevin Memley and arrangements of “Ukrainian Bell Carol” and “Betelehemu/Sing Noel.”
Come one, come all to one of Ashburn's favorite holiday traditions. Enjoy Christmas carols performed by Studio Bleu, sips and sweets, gluhwein (mulled wine), and all that small town holiday joy while you stroll under the Christmas lights on our heated patio featuring over 20 local artisan vendors with unique, handmade gifts and decor.
RINGING IN HOPE JINGLE BELL ROCK & RUN
Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m. Christian Fellowship Church Campus 4505 Atwater Drive, Ashburn
Celebrate the holidays and get your groove on with the Jingle Bell Rock & Run. Run the 5K or 10K race or bring your little ones for the 1-Mile Jammie Jingle. Then enjoy loads of fun at the after-party, where kids can meet Santa and take part in festivities that will put you in the holiday spirit.
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
53
Enjoy a unique & relaxing dental experience Excellent Dental Care For The Entire Family
Cosmetic Dentistry Including Veneers • Restorative Dentistry • Hygiene & Preventative Care • Dentures & Implants • Crowns & Bridges • Teeth Whitening • Orthodontics For Adults & Children • invisalign for Adults & Teens • Children’s Dentistry • Evening & Saturday Hours • Emergencies Welcome • Financing Available
Located in Ashburn Village 44110 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza, Suite 166 • Ashburn, VA 20147
571-223-7195 www.LansFamilyDentistry.com
54
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
TIME TRAVEL
In Search of the Goose Creek Canal
(Bottom left) Quarried rectangular rocks form the walls of a lock that would have helped watercraft navigate the nearby Goose Creek. This spot is roughly a quarter of a mile from the confluence of Goose Creek and the Potomac River. (Bottom right) Another portion of what appears to be the old canal channel leading to Goose Creek. (Upper right) A map from 1861 shows Goose Creek just south of Leesburg as well as the new Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire railway. It was the change from river transport to railroad transport that led to the demise of the Goose Creek canal project.
the plans came from concern over the rise of the railroad. There was much debate and hand-wringing over whether canals and rivers would continue to be the primary mode for transporting goods if more railroads were built. Another delay was the 1846 death of the canal company’s president, George Carter. Carter is better known around Loudoun County as the one-time owner of the historic Oatlands property in Leesburg. Nevertheless, work eventually got underway. The original goal was to make Goose Creek navigable from the Potomac to several large mills roughly 20 miles away. According to documents in the Library of Congress archives, the idea was to transport goods from landlocked regions of Loudoun, Fauquier and Prince William counties up the Goose Creek to the Potomac, where they could then go upstream a short way and access the C&O Canal on the Maryland side of the river. Roughly 35 minutes into my hike along the narrow sliver of shoreline woods – the Potomac River to my right, the golf course on my left – I slowly noticed that a depression had formed on my left, between me and the golf course. I was now walking on a ridge of sorts between the river and this tree- and shrub- filled depression. Could this low-lying terrain be part of the abandoned canal I was searching for? The answer – yes, it was. Within a couple hundred feet, I arrived at a still extant portion of the first Goose Creek locks – a stone-lined waterway that would have helped boats and rafts navigate around an obstacle on the main creek. Heavy rock walls rose from the underbrush – some crumbling away, others still in remarkably decent shape. Historian Scheel wrote that there was much debate over whether to build the locks from less expensive wood or go with the pricier stone, which would be much more durable. Ultimately stone was selected, and sandstone was transported from nearby quarries. To make up some of the cost, the length of the locks was shortened from the original plan. If I could reach back through time and speak to those early builders, I would tell them mission accomplished. The locks they created about 170 years ago are still
The ruins of a 19th-century waterway lie hidden in the woods of Lansdowne STORY
AND
PHOTOS
BY
CHRIS
WADSWORTH
B
y nature, I’m a history buff. I enjoy learning about the past – especially the local past and the history of the places where I live. Before becoming editor of Ashburn Magazine, I wrote three history books about the Florida community I lived in. So, when I heard that ruins of an old canal and stone locks were in the woods along Goose Creek near the Potomac River north of Ashburn, I was intrigued. I wanted to know more about them and to see them for myself. That was a decade ago. I am nothing if not a procrastinator. But after years of thinking about it, I finally decided to tackle finding this section of old canal hidden so close to home. So, on a cool October morning, I set off on my quest. I headed to the Bazil Newman Riverfront Park in Lansdowne. (You may recall this used to be known as the Elizabeth Mills Riverfront Park until the county changed the name earlier this year.) I parked in the small public parking lot, walked past a starter’s booth at The Golf Club at Lansdowne and made my way down a golf cart path before veering off into the park. From there, I headed in a northerly direction down a shaded path along the Potomac. As I hiked, I thought about the canal and what I had learned about it. According to the writings of local historian Eugene Scheel, the official name of the project was the Goose Creek and Little River Navigation Co. Planning and fundraising for a series of canals and locks started in the 1830s, and construction began a decade later. Part of the delay in finding support for
56
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
57
The remnants of a stone wall that was once part of a canal and lock system along Goose Creek in the Lansdowne area.
here – or at least part of them. I walked farther along the path, hoping to find more ruins. While the depression that was the canal continues to wend and wind through the woods – including a portion with a stream running down the middle, I didn’t
spot any more stone walls. However, several spots in what would have been the waterway have huge rocks that could have once been part of a structure now tumbled to pieces. Ultimately, the fortunes of the canal didn’t pan out. By 1851, a series of locks
and dams and canals had made Goose Creek navigable roughly to the Evergreen Mills Road area south of today’s Beaverdam Reservoir near Brambleton – far short of the 20 miles originally planned. And the naysayers’ worries about the railroads had proven prescient. By the late 1850s, the canal project was languishing and in disrepair as new train tracks in Loudoun were stealing all enthusiasm for the waterway. I, on the other hand, was feeling quite enthused over my exploration. After years of wondering about the ruins in the woods, I had made the hike out there, seen the local canal and locks for myself and touched the cool stones that were cut by unnamed – and, sadly, possibly unpaid – workers more than a century ago. It was local history come to life and a fall morning well spent. A
Inspired!
M ade in A mer ica
Furniture • Interior Design • Window Treatments • Reupholstery 312 E. Market Street in Leesburg • 703.771.9484 • theguestroomfurniture.com
Explorers
A great education empowers students
Problem Solvers
to discover their passions and make a
Innovators
difference. With our expert faculty,
Loudoun School for Advanced Studies
innovative curriculum and exciting
Entrepreneurs
enrichment opportunities, we prepare
Global Thinkers
students to excel in college and thrive
Future Leaders
in a changing world. At Loudoun School for Advanced Studies, we believe that diversity, empathy, curiosity and critical thinking will make the world a better place.
Apply Now for Fall 2023! Spots are still available for the 2022-2023 school year.
Inspiring Students Grades 6-12 Call us at (571) 946-1640 or visit www.loudounschool.org to schedule a tour. 20577 Ashburn Road, Ashburn, VA 20147
58
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
59
Celebrate Your Holidays Ashburn Style Now Showing Silent Night, Deadly Night
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Dec 3, 10, 17 and 18 at Oatlands in Leesburg Dec 4 at Bright Box in Winchester • Dec 9 at Effingham Manor Winery in Nokesville Dec 16 at Creek’s Edge Winery in Lovettsville
Carolina Wren Carolina Chickadee shown on GiftWren Card Carolina
Carolina Wren Carolina Chickadee Carolina Chickadee shown onshown Gift Card Carolina on GiftWren Card
A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol
Carolina Chickadee shown on Gift Card
Carolina Wren Carolina Chickadee shown on Gift Card
Musical Staged Production Dec 10, 11, 17, 18, 19 and 20 at 7:00pm
Junior Claus
Musical Staged Family Production December 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 2:00pm and December 21, 22 and 23 at 7:00pm
The Wizard of Oz
for Every Backyard for Every Backyard for Every Backyard for EveryBackyard Backyard for Every Give the Gift of Bird Feeding Give the Feeding Give theGift Gift ofBird Bird Give the of Gift of BirdFeeding Feeding Give the Gift of Bird Feeding
Musical Staged Family Production Jan 21, 27, 28, Feb 3 and 4 at 7:00pm and Jan 22, 29 and Feb 5 at 2:00pm • Sly’s Fabulous Las Vegas Style Magic Show – Dec 9, Jan 13, Feb 10 • StageCoach Bandits Improv – Dec 16, Jan 20, Feb 17
Experience a new way to travel I-66 outside the beltway. The new 66 Express Lanes are now open between Route 28 and Gainesville. By the end of this year, you’ll be able to travel the Express Lanes to I-495. With convenient access points and multiple payment methods, you’ll experience more predictable travel to the things that matter most. Plan your drive, see current toll rates, and learn about the project and VDOT’s upcoming I-66 change to HOV3+ by visiting ride66express.com.
All performances are held at StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn except as noted. Gift cards for performances and classes make wonderful holiday presents! Registration is open for After School Classes in Acting, Improv, and Musical Theatre for ages 5-18.
44110 Ashburn Shopping Plz, Unit 174, Ashburn, VA 20147 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plz, Unit 174, Ashburn, VA 20147 (703) 687-4020 • www.wbu.com/ashburn
Ashburn Unit 174, Ashburn, VA 20147 (703) Shopping 687-4020 www.wbu.com/ashburn 4411044110 Ashburn Shopping Plz,•Plz, Unit 174, Ashburn, VA 20147 (703) 687-4020 • www.wbu.com/ashburn (703) 687-4020 • www.wbu.com/ashburn 44110BIRD Ashburn Shopping Plz, Unit 174, Ashburn, VA 20147 BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN • UNIQUE FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN ACCENTSACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS GIFTS (703) 687-4020 • www.wbu.com/ashburn BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN ACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN ACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN ACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS
Indoor Air Quality Creates a Healthier Happier Home...and Office too!
From Removal To Remediation To Restoration We are Your One Stop Shop! • NEW – Construction, Concrete Overlay & Patch • Water Damage & Waterproofing • Mold Remediation • Restoration and Remodeling GREEN SOLUTIONS LLC
WWW.GREENSOLPRO.COM • 703-858-2000
Call today for your free, no obligation quote! Keeping your home and office clean & green!
Learn more by visiting ride66express.com
THE BURN A round-up of the latest restaurant, retail, and other cool news from Ashburn and beyond. Check out The Burn at TheBurn.com and follow it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6
Y ARKWA O UN COUNT Y P
D VI L
E BLV D . L AG
BURN AS H RO A
5
OU
L
D
ASH BU RN
IBOR N E PARK WA Y
C LA
PARKW
WA XP O OL
EN WA Y
ROA D
267 RYAN ROAD
ber. The popular chicken finger fast-food restaurant has more than 700 locations in 35 states. The new location is in the Dulles Eastern Plaza on Atlantic Boulevard. That center is also home to a Best Buy, a Chili’s restaurant, a World Market store and a Bed, Bath & Beyond. BRAMBLETON STORE IN THE WORKS
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
U
LES
6 GNC HAS NEW
While it isn’t Ashburn specifically, there is high interest across eastern Loudoun as the first Raising Cane’s location in Northern Virginia will be opening soon near Dulles Town Center. The brand has announced plans to open in Decem-
O
AY
AY
5 RAISING CANE’S AIMING FOR DECEMBER OPENING IN LOUDOUN
W
•
A new Thai restaurant has opened in Ashburn. It’s called My Home Thai Bistro II and is in the Belmont Chase shopping plaza off Claiborne Parkway. It has the Roman numeral II after the name because it’s the second location for the brand. The first is in Reston. A dining room decorated with hanging flowers greets customers, and the menu features Duck Ka-Pow, Panang Curry and Bangkok Shrimp.
1
RK PA
ASHBURN MAGAZINE
RESTAURANT OPENS IN BELMONT CHASE
7
AN CH
ER
62
BR
ST CE
Ashbrook Commons Plaza, a shopping center
4 NEW THAI
GL
CENTER GETTING A FACELIFT NEXT SPRING
Paris Baguette, an international fast-casual chain specializing in fresh bread, sandwiches and pastries, is actively looking for future locations in Loudoun County, including Ashburn. The brand, founded in South Korea, is actively expanding in Northern Virginia. Locations in the area include one in Tysons and one in Centreville. While we are told Ashburn is part of the discussions, at press time, no deals had been confirmed.
2
E GR
2 LOCAL SHOPPING
3 PARIS BAGUETTE ACTIVELY SEEKING LOCATIONS IN LOUDOUN
RUS SE LL
DU L
Lovesac, a furniture retailer, is coming to One Loudoun in Ashburn. For the uninitiated, Lovesac specializes in “Sectionals,” a modular seating system that can be put together in different configurations. They also have “Sacs,” which are foam-filled seats reminiscent of bean bag chairs. Lovesac has stores across the country as well as here in Northern Virginia, but this will be the first one in Loudoun County. It’s the latest in a flurry of new businesses coming to One Loudoun, including Lululemon, Warby Parker and Sweetgreen.
4
OAD
IS GETTING LOUDOUN’S FIRST LOVESAC STORE
near the intersection of Route 7 and Ashburn Village Boulevard, will be getting a new look next year. The landlord has announced that an updated façade, including a lighter paint color and wood-toned awnings and accents, will be added in the spring. Just like any other business, looking up-to-date helps attract both customers and new tenants. Ashbrook Commons is home to a Harris Teeter grocery store, as well as a HomeGoods, a Jersey Mike’s, a Sweet Frog and several other businesses.
BELMO NT RID GE R
1 ASHBURN
GNC, the national health and nutrition products store, has a new location in the works at the Brambleton Town Center. According to documents viewed by The Burn, GNC will be taking over an endcap spot on the southern end of the
Town Center. It’s the space next door to the Good Dog Rocky pet supply store. Fittingly, that space is also directly across the street from the Onelife fitness center. A
28
Ashburn
Presort STD US Postage PAID Permit #21 Freeport OH
Published by
P.O. Box 3632. · Warrenton, Virginia 20188 703.318.1386 · ashburnmagazine.com
$25 OFF
ONE EXAM FEE FOR EXISTING CLIENTS
Thank you for Trusting us with your Fur Babies Health and Care!
We Are Your Other Family Doctors
• Blood work & In-house Laboratory • Preventative care • Vaccinations • Surgery • Nutrition counseling • Digital Radiography • Ultrasound • Acupuncture • Herbal and Homeopathic Medicine • Board Certified Surgeon Available • Dentistry and Dental Radiographs
Ashburn Farm
43330 Junction Plaza Blvd. Suite 172 Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 726-8784
Brambleton Office
42385 Ryan Rd. Suite 112 Brambleton, VA 20148
703-327-8471
STOCKING STUFFERS GALORE. STOP BY!