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Letter from the Editor The Winter Issue
Table of Contents Jim Sisley 6
“Always remember, energy flows where the mind goes. Mindset is vital.” –Pratima Ranjan The Winter Issue of NVSL Magazine has been a collaboration of multiple creatives living in the Northern Virginian region, with varied backgrounds and methods, and yet all whom are dedicated to their craft, their business, and their communities. A common thread connects the stories in this issue: the theme of second chances and celebrating opportunities. In this issue, we hear from Jim Sisley, a Leesburg resident, successful in real estate and art; who values public service and pours his energy into the local art world. Catherine and John Warren, founders of In the Buff, share how their clothing company has provided them the opportunity to embrace family and teach entrepreneurism to their children. Many who shared their stories of creativity also shared stories of sacrifice and of finding the time to make their dreams a reality. In “From the Boardroom to the Boulevard,” Chris Little profiles Sleepy Hollow Studios in Historic Herndon which hosts local, national, and global recording artists working with the likes of ESPN, Verizon, the NBA Players Association, and AOL. The owners reflect on the juxtaposition of their daytime work at the office and their night time work at the recording studio, “It’s not unusual that I could be sitting at a board meeting at 10:00 am and then recording an up-and-coming college band at 10 that evening. And I love that. I just wish there were more hours in the day.” Of course, wintertime coincides with the New Year which brings to mind setting new goals, starting fresh and celebrating. With Holly Chapple’s winter wreath making guide and Kim Moenke’s macaron and wine pairing, readers will be well prepared to host a winter gathering. And should anyone feel chilled by the season’s cold temperatures, warm up with a winter bourbon and put on a wool sweater from Franny Kansteiner’s Gum Tree Farm. Or visit Greenhouse Bistro in the bustling Tysons Corner, and sip tea in the lounge or dine on urban garden cuisine. Meanwhile, let Chef Daniel Wilcox Stevens inspire you with his love for fine foods while he pays homage to friendship, family, and tradition at Mokomandy in Sterling. Or relax with Anita of Rouge Spa in Leesburg as she educates and soothes you at her apothecary and spa, or with a reiki treatment that balances you at P.S. Reiki in Ashburn. Wintertime is, as Pratima Ranjan points out, a time for reflection, but also a time to explore, begin anew and celebrate. To help our readers make this season better than ever before, we share inspiring stories of those who are making, doing, and building their lives and the community that is Northern Virginia. From equestrianism, to working out with NFL players, to taking art at a gallery owned by a former Redskin player, those who visit Northern Virginia or who live here have a kaleidoscope of activities to choose from this winter. However you choose to spend your winter, when in Northern Virginia, you will have time to reflect, explore, savor, renew, and celebrate the good life. Jessica Monte Editor in Chief
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Amaya Washington 8 Focused on Family: In The Buff
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Sleepy Hollow Studios
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Wreath Making with Holly Chapple
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Macarons & Wine 24 Gum Tree Farm 28 Cooley Gallery 34 Shoe Shine 37 The Equestrian: Virginia Costa
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The Greenhouse Bistro 44 People To Emulate: MASE Gym
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Winter Whiskeys
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Adventures Underground
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Commonwealth Vault & Safe Deposit Co.
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Winter Skincare 64 Curing the Winter Blues
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Chef Daniel Wilcox Stevens
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Focused on Family
“In the Buff is about family and community and the symbol of the buffalo; our company has become an opportunity to teach our kids about entrepreneurship and hard work.� Interview & Photography by Jessica Monte 10
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If you were to attempt to search out Sleepy Hollows Studios on your own, you’d be up for a stiff challenge indeed. It’s that way by design, achieved with painstaking effort, all the way down to misleading geo identifiers and location addresses on the internet. So, only after receiving a speak easy style invite, would you find this underground studio tucked away in the middle of plain sight in historic Herndon, Virginia. Upon entering and kicking off my shoes at the door, one thing becomes apparently obvious: if cleanliness is Godliness, then this place is a creative slice of heaven. Visually, all the way down to the vacuum lines in the carpet and couches, nothing seems out of place. This place is a dream for a neat freak. In you knew Neal’s wife, that’s not by accident or just for an article photo shoot, it’s more of a way of life. Neal sums it up: “Everything is on purpose. From the color scheme to the lighting to the amenities. Our goal is to make everyone feel comfortable because that is when the best music is made.”
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I was first introduced to Neal and his brother, Kyle, the foundation of Sleepy Hollows itself, through my wife. One of her best friends from Herndon High School and college married Neal. So, I’ve had a front row seat to watch the studio grow from its humble beginnings in Fairfax, Virginia, circa 2003, to what it is today: hosting local, national and global recording artists and providing custom music for small to large corporations such as ESPN, Verizon, the NBA Players Asociation, and AOL, just to name a few. “To be able to spend time with my brother, one of my best friends, and do something creative, is my favorite part. We have so much to show, and hear, for all the time we’ve spent together making music, and that will last forever. Ideally, I will be able to say the exact same thing about my kids someday.”
network of friends, artists, sound engineers, musicians, and writers, many of whom have corporate day jobs, but are still in search of a creative outlet and release at night. Neal, a partner at a Tysons CPA & Consulting firm, and Kyle, a prominent Program Manager at one of the nation’s largest government contractors, are the norm at “The Hollows.” Neal states, “It’s as common for us to record CFOs and database engineers as it is bartenders and construction workers. It really runs the gamut, just like the material we record. It’s not unusual that I could be sitting at a board meeting at 10:00 am and then recording an up and coming college band at 10 that evening. And I love that. I just wish there were more hours in the day.” The Hollows adopted the mantra “Where Family Makes Music & Music Makes Family” and that shines through starting with the welcome you receive from everyone when entering the studio. I have not visited the studio as often as I would have liked over the years, but like an old familiar face, it takes only seconds to feel right at home.
What started as “two turntables and a microphone” in Neal’s bedroom in Aspen, is now a full service music and voice-over recording facility, boasting cutting edge technology, equipment and engineering. In this day and age of the side hustle, that’s achieved through a
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Tastemaker’s Club
Retail across the United States and in the Northern Virginia region is experiencing a paradigm shift: a return to the requirement of quality and craftsmanship is on the rise. Over-processed and artificial are not what the people want. When it comes to shopping for food, the home, and for self care, consumers are returning to the comfort of knowing how and where things are sourced, grown, and made. Across the Northern Virginia region, residents and travelers enjoy the trend of Farm to Table dining, and now, thanks to the efforts of local farmers, high quality and locally sourced products are becoming available for apparel as well.
Gum Tree Farm Raised in Virginia, Made in America. By Jessica Monte
Franny Kansteiner and her family own Gum Tree Farm in Middleburg, Virginia. Franny was excited to raise her children on a farm where they could grow their own vegetables, educating her kids in the reality of where food actually comes from and the work that it takes to cultivate it. Early on, along with their beloved horses, they introduced three sheep to their farm. Over the years, those few sheep have grown into a flock of 100 Merino sheep. 28
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The Equestrian Virginia Costa
Horse Lover, Mom, and Booz Allen Hamilton Contractor
Virginia Costa fell in love with horses when she was just 8 years old. As a wide eyed young lady from Richmond, she was enthralled by the Middleburg Hunt when her parents brought her to see it while visiting friends in Purcellville, Virginia. She begged her parents for riding lessons and eventually got involved with the United States Pony Club at a chapter in Richmond, Virginia —a great national organization that focuses on teaching horsemanship. She later advanced to hunter/jumper competitions right before college. While attending the University of Richmond, Virginia rode for her college ISHA team and trained with her long time dear friend Ada Cosby of Manakin-Sabot, VA, who continues to be a large part of her life and riding. Currently Virginia rides and trains with Jonelle Mullen of TuDane Farm in Middleburg. In this interview, Virginia talks about her intelligent and beautiful horse Marco, who she competes with in the Northern Virginia area. How did you get Marco? My trainer Jonelle Mullen has a knack for matching horses and riders and she helped me find him through Emil Spadone who imports a lot of horses from Europe. We were looking for a young horse that we could train for me to show. We looked at a lot of horses before finding him and he was worth the wait! What drew you to him? Oh gosh, with Marco it was love at first sight. He was so sweet like a big puppy dog. So cute. We tried him at a huge competition called Capital Challenge— it’s a large and busy horse show—he just trucked around in a ring of craziness and was calm, cool and
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collected. We knew he had a great brain and a great heart. What made you want to start riding? When I was 8 we visited with family friends who had a farm with horses in Purcellville. They went hunting with the Middleburg Hunt that weekend and we were able to watch - from then on, I was hooked! I have always loved animals but I was fascinated by horses after seeing the Hunt and would have done anything to ride. The tradition, formality and beauty of it all was so exciting to me as an 8 year old! I pleaded, and my parents finally relented, and I finally saved enough money to buy my first pony (with a little help!) when I was 10. I had to work to pay for board and I was happy to go every day after school to clean stalls and feed him. I eventually ended up fox hunting myself with that same pony with Deep Run Hunt Club right outside of Richmond. What do you do professionally? I am a contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton. I currently work on the Millennial Talent Team, which strategizes to attract and retain millennial talent in the workforce. What are your favorite events for showing Marco? I try to support our local shows. Some of my favorites are: The Loudoun Benefit Horse Show Middleburg Classic Horse Show The Warrenton Horse & Pony Show The Upperville Colt & Horse Show How does riding affect your day to day life? My riding habit is time consuming and sometimes adds to the chaos of life as a working mother of three, but it also provides lots of happiness and serenity. With a busy schedule, I have to be very structured and disciplined to get my riding in, but, amid the craziness, it brings me a sense of peace and fulfillment. Riding is my happy place and a part of my life that I would not be whole without. I am also lucky to have a very supportive husband!
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The
Greenhouse Bistro Situated in the bustling area of Tyson’s Corner, Greenhouse Bistro has been offering patrons a rich and dynamic experience since opening in 2016.
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This hip and vibrant restaurant has something for everyone. In the lounge, you will find a space bursting with colorful tiles, lush fabrics, beautiful portraits, and internationally inspired flair. A wide variety of teas are offered, making this a one of a kind tea lounge. Adjacent to this space, the open kitchen and fresh herb wall, set the backdrop for farmhouse tables and a spacious dining environment. The garden cultivated on the wall space enables Greenhouse to offer fresh ingredients grown on site. The central dining area hosts a plethora of tables arranged for small group gatherings. The natural looking tables and comfortable bench seating, combined with the wood beams and crisp lighting fixtures in the ceiling, create a warm and inviting feel.
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ADVENTURES W I N T E R
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PRIMETIME FOR A S P E L U N K I N G - C E N T E R E D VA C A Y
TEXT BY ERIC J. WALLACE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA MONTE
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UNDERGROUND
As winter sets in, caves offer surprisingly balmy adventures. With interior temperatures hovering in the mid50s, a subterranean visit provides hours of active outdoor fun sans the extreme cold. From leisurely walking tours to rigorous guided explorations through wild caverns, the following resources will help you take advantage of the upper Shenandoah Valley’s unparalleled spelunking opportunities.
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Friendship & Family First:
Chef Daniel Wilcox Stevens
Chef Daniel Wilcox Stevens says that family, friendship and paying repect to heritage and autonomy are the ingredients for a successful and independent restaurant like Mokomandy in Sterling, a favorite among Northern Virginians. “I don’t know [of any other] relationship between owners and chef that is as familial as mine is with the Kims,” says Stevens of their friendship and work relationship. In fact, the friendship between MokoMandy Owner Thaddeus Kim and Chef Daniel Wilcox Stevens began many years ago when Stevens met Kim who was attending law school with Stevens’ brother. Early on, Stevens consulted for Mokomandy and was brought as a full time chef in December of 2009. The name Mokomandy and the Cajun and Korean foods served there are inspired by Kim’s family heritage. His father Yong Ki Kim, otherwise known as Y2K, is of American Korean descent, and his mother Miranda is from Louisiana. Moko symbolizes modern Korean while the “Mandy” aspect of the restaurant’s name comes from Kim’s mother Miranda, or Mandy. While Mokomandy does serve dishes inspired by Kim’s parents, the restaurant does not fuse the two traditions but instead serves
family style dishes of the two heritages as accompanying one another. Stevens emphasizes, “At no point were [the owners] tempted to put kimchee in jambalaya but [rather]serve the two side by side. We keep the two inherently separate and do not fuse the two.” Likewise, Steven’s upbringing and family heritage influence his creativity as a chef. “I spent summers with my grandfather in Cape Cod and he picked up cooking as a hobby. He didn’t know how to cook all that well beforehand. After the fact, he got into James Beard, all the classics. A lot of people may grow up cooking and baking with family but my grandfather got me cooking directly from a cookbook--using the cookbook as a starting point and then taking risks, recognizing that the juiciest part is the challenge. When you’re trying something you’ve never done before you’ve got to use your wits to pull it off.” When we are cooking Korean or Cajun dishes, we have to cognizant of the fact that this is somebody’s culture. Likewise, with the influence of Steven’s family and Thaddeus’ work as a lawyer, logic and fairness come into play for Mokomandy.
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“A little bit of deductive reasoning, a little bit of trial and error. Humility gives you the best odds. It’s always a discussion. Everything we do here is legal, ethical and fair. Thaddeus, as a practicing attorney can decipher the legalities. Ethics—we take all of the information and have a thorough discussion. We always ask, is this the right thing to do? And fair is, do both perspectives feel like they are getting an even and fair shake out of things? It’s not coming from the ether, it comes from a lot of understanding and good discussion.”
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