M
N
C LEA L I V I N G
FEBRUARY 2022
Meet
MÈR & DANIEL
BECHARA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TATIANA DOVE
PUBLISHERS'S LETTER
PUBLICATION TEAM Publisher: Gloria Bruni Content Coordinator: Miriam Keliddar Account Executive: Crissy Moore Hall Designer: Paula Moss Dramm Contributing Photographer: Tatiana Dove ADVERTISING Contact: Gloria Bruni Email: gbruni@bestversionmedia.com Phone: 703-868-8071
FEEDBACK/IDEAS/SUBMISSIONS
Have feedback, ideas or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to www.bestversionmedia. com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas and photos to: malkellidar@bestversionmedia.com.
CONTENT SUBMISSION DEADLINE Content Due Edition December 10 ..............................................................................January January 10.................................................................................. February February 10......................................................................................March March 10................................................................................................ April April 10.....................................................................................................May May 10..................................................................................................... June June 10....................................................................................................... July July 10................................................................................................ August August 10................................................................................ September September 10..............................................................................October October 10...............................................................................November November 10..........................................................................December Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2022 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
Dear McLean Residents,
W
elcome to the inaugural issue of McLean Living Magazine. Improving our communities and the quality of our lives here in McLean is what the magazine is all about. By celebrating our lives, and the details of our community, it becomes richer and stronger. As we enter this New Year, with all the challenges and opportunities it brings, I want to talk about the Power of Love in this wonderful month. I still believe in love and you should too!! With all the social media, it’s easy for people to feel that their real life isn’t living up to all of these fantasy relationships. Don’t get me wrong, I love social media, however, let’s use it wisely with purpose instead of being used by it. It’s easy to sit by the sideline and watch the “greener” grass on the other side, the thing is the grass is greener where you water it. In our everyday relationships, our partner, our children, our parents, our siblings, our friends and last but not least our Neighbors. Let’s water our community so McLean will always have the greener grass. With all this, I am thrilled to have Daniel Bechara and his beautiful wife Mèr featured in our Cover Story. Let’s not forget Teddy, their cute and spoiled dog! If you live in McLean you know Daniel and his Salon, he is so amazing he even styles celebrities’ hair, also mine by the way, so he makes me feel like one. I have gotten to know Daniel and Mèr a little more in these past few months and they are absolutely A-MA-ZING! Set to live every day to the its fullest, so dedicated and passionate with their work, completely deserving of all the fun they have. I invite you to read their lovely story. There’s never been a time we needed stronger communities than now. As I bring you this magazine, it’s my hope that it will help strengthen our community and let you get to know your neighbors. I invite you to send me your suggestions, tell me about your upcoming garage sales, community events, social events, your sports stories etc. Also a HUGE shout out to all of our AMAZING sponsors, please stop by and thank them for McLean Living. Until next month I leave you with my favorite quote on love. I carry
your heart
Sincerely,
photography by
www.tatianadove.com
with me (I carry it in
Gloria
my heart) - E. E. Cummings
P.s.-talking about getting together, I suggest this wonderful app for arranging nearby playdates with other children your age: www.pairentapp.com/press. McLEAN LIVING | 3
EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS
THANK YOU TO OUR CHARTER SPONSORS!
FACIALS
Anita Azimi | Amazonite Spa by Anita 571-300-5058 amazonitespa.com
ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES
Iche Chiu | 360 CPA 866-550-2050 360.cpa
HAIR STYLIST
Daniel Bechara | Salon Daniel 703-893-5000 salondaniel.com
AESTHETICS & PERMANENT MAKE-UP
Paola Rojas | Synergy Beauty 703-734-0772 synergybeautytysons.com
HEATING AND AIR
Brian Anderson TemperaturePro Northern Virginia 703-828-0886 | temperaturepro.com
ACUPUNCTURIST
Dr. Sarah Alemi | Eastern Roots Wellness 571-354-6643 easternrootswellness.com
REAL ESTATE
Brian Mason | Home Sold 540-314-8745 besteverrealtor.com
EDUCATION
Jinsil Kim | C2 Education of McLean 703-288-4400 c2educate.com
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Stephanie Q. Lawrence | Vinson Hall 703-936-6501 vinsonshall.org
We would like to take a moment to thank the sponsors who made McLean Living possible by signing on to support it before this inaugural issue first went to print. They trusted our vision for the magazine as a source of local stories and community connection and they were instrumental in bringing it to your mailbox. McLean Living would not exist without their sponsorship and we encourage you to show them your support in return. We’ll be checking in with our Charter Sponsors periodically and will bring you exciting news, updates and more from the local businesses who made our community a priority and got McLean Living up and running. Watch for that in upcoming issues! 360 CPA 202-770-0600 chui@360.cpa
Eastern Roots Wellness 571-354-6643 sarahalemi@easterrootwellness.com
Synergy Beauty 703-734-0772 paola@synergybeauty.com
Trust And Guidance 703-863-7002 tessasells1@gmail.com
Amazonite Spa by Anita 571-300-5058 askspa@outlook.com
Keller Williams Realty Kingstowne Alexandria 703-562-1800 ceo@besteverrealtor.com
Tatiana dove 240-252-0314 tatiana.dove@gmail.com
Vinson Hall Retirement Community 703-536-2146 stephaniel@vinsonhall.org
Bu Soto Group LLC 703-401-9449 busotogroup@gmail.com C2 Education of McLean 703-288-4400 jimsilkim777@gmail.com
Master Auto Detailing LLC 571-244-1375 masterautodetailing1@gmail.com Salon Daniel 703-893-5000 theboss@salondaniel.com
TemperaturePro Northern Virginia 703-984-9379 brian.anderson@temperaturepro.com The Italian Oven 703-891-9117 theitalianovenMcLean@gmail.com
SYNERGY BEAUTY BEAUTY WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
THE ONE STOP PLACE FOR ALL OF YOUR BEAUTY NEEDS! Beauty With Endless Possibilities
SYNERGY BEAUTY OFFERS: • Permanent Makeup • Permanent Makeup Removal • Permanent Makeup Correction • Microblading • Waxing • Skincare/Laser
• • • • • •
Ombre Brows/Powder Brows Permanent Lip Blush Tattoo Removal Facials Permanent Makeup Classes And More
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: Monday-Friday: 10 am – 7 pm | Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
703-688-9129 www.synergybeautytysons.com @synergybeauty 4 | FEBRUARY 2022
8206 Leesburg Pk 30, Vienna, VA 22182
Recognized as one of the DC region’s best beauty bets: The Vienna salon specializes in hair extensions, keratin treatment, and offers a variety of services like color and cut, balayage, manicure/ pedicure, facial, massage and many more spa treatments Daniel Bechara has been making his clients feel pampered and beautiful since 1991.
“Best Beauty spots in town” - Vogue Magazine “Best Color Salon” - Elle Magazine
salondaniel.com | 703-893-5000 2750-D Gallows Rd, Vienna, VA 22180 @salondaniel customerservice@salondaniel.com McLEAN LIVING | 5
BUSINESS PROFILE
EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR
Four Things To Know About Taxes and Cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency has been one of the most exciting investments of the past few years. The IRS has been following the trend and updating guidance on the tax treatment of cryptocurrency. Here are four essential points to know before filing your taxes. Ownership According to the IRS, when a taxpayer owns, controls, and is in possession of a private key for a virtual currency wallet, they have 100% custody and control over all the virtual currencies in that wallet. If the taxpayer loses the private key, they lose all their funds. This concept is akin to the taxpayer holding cash, gold, or any other asset in their personal possession. When the taxpayer owns, controls, and is in possession of the private key, the virtual currency resides in the country of the taxpayer's residence. How are cryptocurrency transactions taxed? Cryptocurrency is considered a capital asset. Similar to the tax treatment of stocks, buying and selling
By Iche Chiu
cryptocurrencies might trigger capital gain or loss. The cost basis (original purchase price), sales price, and holding period will all affect the capital gain calculation. Additionally, since cryptocurrency is a kind of property, taxpayers need to report income if they receive the cryptocurrencies as service compensation. FBAR filing requirement The cryptocurrency accounts were not reportable on the Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Account. But for the taxpayer who holds virtual currencies and/or fiat currencies on centralized virtual currency exchanges operating in a jurisdiction other than the U.S., the value of virtual currencies should aggregate with fiat currencies and any other assets required for reporting under both FBAR and FATCA, if their respective reporting thresholds are met. Self-directed retirement choice The cryptocurrency can be purchased in many types of retirement accounts, especially self-directed ones. As with many other asset classes, the risk and reward are high. We encourage our clients to put a tiny portion in their portfolio, say 1-2%. If it's a bust, your retirement is not severely impacted. However, if it performs, it could provide multiple layers of benefits for tax planning. Last but not least, if you are thinking about investing in cryptocurrency, please consult with your financial adviser, accountant, and/or attorney. After all, cryptocurrencies, just like many other investments, could lose all their value. For me, I have two BTC, and I intend to hold them for a long, long time - one for my daughter (age 8) and one for my son (age 6).
Happy investing!
Clean Lines
By Miriam Keliddar
Alexander Garcia didn’t know how to drive when he arrived in the US at age 18. He was born in Copan, Honduras, and his family owned cattle, but never a car. After working for two years and saving carefully, Alex purchased his first car, realizing a childhood dream and kindling a passion for automobiles. Alex took a job cleaning cars and learning to detail for a prestigious company. Alex was enjoying a coffee during his break when a well-dressed man interrupted to ask if Alex did home visits. Alex replied he could come by on Sunday, and found himself at a beautiful home in McLean holding the keys to six luxury cars. After 12 hours of washing, brushing, and polishing, Alex decided he’d spend all his free time earning money to start his own company. In less than three months, he was detailing everything from Corollas to Ferraris. Alex has now been in the business for 16 years. He is the proud owner of Master Auto Detailing, LLC, renowned for the quality of their work and attentive customer service. Alex still loves automobiles. He views car detailing as an art form, and relishes bringing cars back to life and letting the owner experience that "new car feeling" all over again. His wife, Alison, and their two sons inspire him to continue growing and improving the business. “They are my motor!” Alex says with a grin.
Online scheduling and pro-tech tracking are just a few ways we accommodate to your need, without you ever having to adjust to ours.
TRANSPARENT
Get what you want; never something you do not need. You will receive the most informed and economical HVAC solutions possible at every stage of the process.
PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS • Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Partner | MyAdvisor360
6 | FEBRUARY 2022
Full interior & exterior detailing Exterior hand wash & wax Scratch and stain removal Headlight restoration Bug and sap removal Paint corrections Ceramic coating Touch ups
Mobile Car Wash & Detailing in: Virginia | Maryland | Washington DC
571-244-1375 | masterautodetailing1@gmail.com www.masterdetailingdmv.com
The Bu Soto Group, LLC
JAVIER BU SOTO
International Attorney FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
We strive to be different, both in what we provide and how we provide it. That is the TemperaturePro promise!
Iche Chiu, CPA MBA
1775 Tysons Blvd STE 500 Tysons, VA 22102 (866) 550-2050
• • • • • • • •
A Modern Company for a Modern World CONVENIENT
Your Trusted Business Partner
WE COME TO YOU
• Falls Church Chamber of Commerce • Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
www.360.cpa
703.214.3110 | temperaturepro.com/northern-va/
busotogroup@gmail.com
703.401.9449 Investing here and abroad. Import/Export Advice Immigration Law Advice Foreign Real Estate Investing
McLEAN LIVING | 7
A HEAD-TURNING COUPLE
By Miriam Keliddar Photography by Tatiana Dove
RESIDENT FEATURE
D
aniel Bechara started Salon Daniel in 1991, tucked away on the top floor of a small plaza in McLean. At first there were days without even one client on the books, but he diligently opened and closed at the same time each day, never knowing when a potential client might walk by. A haircut was $45. The client’s opinion was much more valuable, so Daniel made sure everyone left looking and feeling like a pampered favorite. Today at Salon Daniel, you might meet a rock star, the matriarch of the Mars family (who won’t let anyone but Daniel touch her hair), a bodybuilder-turned-actorturned-politician, or the Queen of Jordan. “All you need is one person to bring in another five people,” points out Mèr, Daniel’s wife and other half. "Everyone knows me, because I talk to everyone,” Daniel says. Daniel takes pride in building relationships. “People just melt in his hands,” Mèr says with a laugh. After years of positive word-of-mouth, he’d arrive at the salon to find six or seven clients waiting for the doors to open, every appointment filled, and two or three assistants bustling about. Their “zero-no policy” means everyone who walks in is accommodated, and if a client decides, after her appointment, to add a color and updo, the staff will make sure it happens that day. Charm and service can carry the salon only so far, however. “You can’t be a successful hairdresser unless you put in the hours,” Mèr explains. “If we get sick or take vacation, we can’t take care of our clients.”
techniques, affectionately called “The Daniel Way.” A few months ago, Daniel and Mèr returned to her alma mater, Paul Mitchell the School in Tysons, to teach a cutting class. It was a major success. Mèr started her career in beauty at age 17. She gave makeovers at MAC while taking classes at NOVA and George Mason University. She then went to work for Marriott and spent some time in banking, but her heart was always in beauty. In 2011, she toured Paul Mitchell the School and thought “Oh my God, I belong here!” She took every class offered and has worked in beauty ever since. In 2016, Mèr went in search of a higher-end salon to take the next step in her career, and met Daniel. Their friendship quickly evolved, and three years later they became engaged. Daniel says God brought Mèr to him, but Mèr counters that she doesn’t know what she did to deserve Daniel. Mèr acknowledges a significant age gap between the two (Mèr is 36, Daniel 59), but they complement each other. They love to go out dancing, are major foodies, and share a soft spot for the city of Miami. They used to visit every few months. “We’re a couple of beach bums!” Mèr says with a laugh. The pandemic has kept them closer to home, but every few months they gather friends to dance at Zikriyet in Alexandria and enjoy the seafood at Eddie V’s, their favorite local spot. Working together and sharing
interests mean Daniel and Mèr are constantly by each other’s side. “24/7, “ Mèr jokes, “I never imagined myself being with someone this much and actually
I never imagined myself being with someone this much and actually loving it.” -Mèr Bechara
loving it.” One of their favorite memories is their 2020 wedding in the Dominican Republic. The couple chose the locale after falling in love with the people and culture during a vacation in Punta Cana. The pandemic shutdowns forced them to postpone from July to October, but the celebration went off without a hitch, with 18 of their closest family and friends. A year later, they made it back to the beach with a trip to Morocco, where Mèr was born. They rented a car and toured five cities, experiencing the culture, food, and nightlife. They’ve dreamt of retiring, or better yet, opening a branch of Salon Daniel, in Morocco ever since. The salon has expanded several times, from 1200 square feet to 3600 square feet at their new location in Merrifield. Daniel dreams of expanding even further, to provide space for aspiring hairstylists to rent chairs and launch their own careers. Many of Daniel’s protégées’ have set up shop within miles of his front door. Although some might CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Daniel worked his way up from shampoo boy to styling hair in his native Lebanon. His brother, George, a club owner in Washington, DC, called to tell him the city was ripe for his talents, so Daniel packed his bags, flew around the world, and moved in with his brother. He worked at local salons and hair shows, where he met Trevor Sorbie, a British celebrity hairdresser. Daniel was inspired by Sorbie’s creativity, particularly his method of giving razor haircuts, which Daniel adapted and made his own. “It’s gorgeous how he works with his hands,” Mèr gushes. New stylists at Salon Daniel shadow Daniel for six months to learn his McLEAN LIVING | 9
RESIDENT FEATURE (CONT.)
Real Estate to Note
see it as competition, Daniel considers it a point of pride that his stylists leave to launch their own businesses, not to work for anyone else. Like other small businesses, the salon has been profoundly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Hair coloring is the foundation of their services, but many clients who used to schedule every 6 weeks, to the day, now stretch it to 12 weeks or less often, and clients working from home are skipping haircuts for shaggier styles. To adapt, Salon Daniel has had to cut down on overhead, which means fewer staff, empty stations, and carrying less inventory.
ADDRESS 1171 Chain Bridge Rd 6431 Georgetown Pike 175 Crest Ln 1139 Crest Ln 6827 Sorrel St 1011 Turkey Run Rd 612 Rivercrest Dr 8911 Georgetown Pike 7441 Dulany Dr 1306 Ballantrae 1004 Dogue Hill Ln 6622 Malta Ln 7167 Old Dominion 1332 McCay Ln 8906 Old Dominion Dr 886 Chinquapin Rd 749 Chain Bridge Rd
One of their next big ambitions is to bring Daniel’s line of haircare products to a wider audience. Experience with ingredients from around the world inspired Daniel to contact a lab in California to create products he could trust. Fran Drescher, who was a hairstylist before she became an actress and comedian, is a faithful devotee, and contacts Daniel for resupply whenever she can’t make it to McLean in time. She refuses to travel without his haircare, and has filmed Facebook videos from his chair. Daniel has lived in McLean for 36 years, and Mèr joined him in 2017. The couple live with their 2-year-old micro mini golden doodle, Teddy, who has become the mascot of Salon Daniel. He greets every client at the door, and his good behavior and charming personality have earned him tips and Christmas and birthday presents. Teddy’s gotten a little chunky from all the attention, but his rare absence sparks concern. Luckily, their neighborhood has a dog park, and the metro and several new developments are within walking distance. Agora, the restaurant at the bottom of their building, is warm and inviting when the weather isn’t cooperating. “Everything’s so convenient, I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” says Mèr. She and Daniel hope to continue beautifying McLean for a long time to come.
AREA’S PREMIERE NATURAL PAIN RELIEF CLINIC • • • •
Pain relief & sports injuries Stress management Sleep disorders Digestive issues
SERVICES INCLUDE • • • • •
Acupuncture Tui Na Massage Cupping & Gua Sha Cosmetic Acupuncture And more
www.easternrootswellness.com
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
571-354-6643 sarahalemi@easternrootswellness.com
@sarah_alemilac
Join us for
OPERA NIGHT February 16th
6:30 pm - Dinner 8:00 pm - Aria Performances Authentic homemade Italian pasta dishes and entrees
BED 8 10 4 5 8 7 5 6 7 6 5 6 6 6 7 8 5
BATHS 10/3 11/4 4 4/3 11/1 7/6 9/2 7/2 8/2 7/2 6/2 8/1 4/1 7/3 8/3 8/2 6/2
CURRENT PRICE $24,000,000 $22,000,000 $21,000,000 $15,000,000 $14,700,000 $12,000,000 $11,998,000 $10,500,000 $9,500,000 $8,500,000 $8,295,000 $8,150,000 $7,995,000 $7,950,000 $7,895,900 $7,500,000 $7,000,000
REDEFINING REAL ESTATE TESSA WILBORNE BROKER, T&G REAL ESTATE ADVISORS, INC 703-863-7002 TESSASELLS1@GMAIL.COM 1640 BORO PL 4TH FL TYSONS, VA 22102
OVER 2B SOLD OVER 485 SALES $
Sunday - Thursday: 11 am - 9 pm Friday & Saturday: 11 am - 9:30 pm @TheItalianOvenMclean
703.891.8690 | 6852 Old Dominion Drive, McLean | theitalianovenmclean.com 10 | FEBRUARY 2022
By Tessa Wilborne
Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the real estate community in the area. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in the magazine is separate from the statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.
Eastern Roots Wellness: Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic SPECIALIZING IN
REAL ESTATE
877-840-0144 | TG-ADVISORS.COM McLEAN LIVING | 11
SPORTS SECTION / Expert Contributor
Winning Gold on the Green
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
By Miriam Keliddar Golf is a difficult sport to master. Every Saxons player practices outside of the short high school season, on public courses and at country clubs. Berg says three players in particular were key to the team’s success this year. Chase Nevins, a Junior committed to Vanderbilt, Suneil Peruvemba, a Senior set to play for James Madison University next year, and Alina Ho, a sophomore, all shot par or better at Williamsburg National Golf Course. The team has always been coed, but girls have played an increasingly important role on the team in the last few years. “We’re seeing more and more girls make the team and really contribute. Some of them also play for Langley’s club team, and float back and forth,” notes Berg.
Berg has been playing golf since he was 13-years-old, swinging clubs with his parents. He grew up a military brat, and his father’s final post was at the Pentagon. The family settled in Northern Virginia, and Berg called it home for 50 years. He was teaching civics at Cooper Middle School and golfing with the former Langley High School golf coach when he learned about the need “If you’d told me 25 years ago, I’d still be coaching golf today, for a new coach. “I guess he kind of recruited me,” Berg says. After it’d be inconceivable,” said Al Berg. Not only is he coaching, rounds of applications and interviews, Berg earned the title of head this fall he coached the Langley Saxons to a record-breaking coach. When he retired from teaching 12 years ago, he moved to sixth straight State Championship. Aside from an initial losing Richmond, Virginia to be close to his daughter and season 25 years ago (in which Berg still contends grandchildren. He commutes to coach the Saxons they had a good team, “But none of us knew it.”), from August through October. “If I’m driving on 95 Langley Golf has been competitive every year. I gotta give all to coach, I don’t want to hear complaints about extra The current championship streak dates back to putting and chipping practice on the weekend,” jokes 2017. As they usually are, the initial title was the the credit to Berg. It’s difficult to find coaching prospects because toughest to win. The team had to play outstanding having such of the time commitment needed to maintain the golf on the second day of the regional tournament team’s record of excellence, but Berg isn’t ready to dedicated kids..." in order to vie for the title. In the last five seasons, leave quite yet. Langley has dominated the course, winning by a - Coach Al Berg Both coach and team look forward to another comfortable margin in every tournament. competitive season in 2022. The team actually won “We’ve gone into each season thinking we have a good chance,” two championships in 2021, because last year’s golf season was says Berg. “I gotta give all the credit to having such dedicated moved from the fall to the spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. kids, and that I haven’t messed it up. I feel like I’ve helped Navigating the pandemic has been the team’s greatest challenge them achieve their fullest potential. As long as they do that, I’m these past few seasons. “Every year I’m holding my breath the satisfied. It doesn’t matter what the talent level is as long as whole time,” that the season might be canceled, Berg confided, but they reach their potential.” Fifteen years ago, the team had four “They’ve handled it a lot better than I had ever hoped. If the team starters who’d never played competitive golf before. If asked to plays as well as they can, we have enough players coming back guess their absolute top potential after the season’s first match, next year that I think we have a shot at it.” After years of consistent Berg might have ventured they could place third in the region. In excellence, it’s a safe guess to make. the end, they did. He was immensely proud of them.
In-Person and Online K-12 Tutoring, Test Prep, and College Counseling
Get a diagnostic test followed by a 2 hour trial lesson.
$
95 NOW ONLY
12 | FEBRUARY 2022
F E B RUA RY Wed, February 9 Socrates Cafe @Dolly Madison Library Get a fresh taste of philosophy along with some good discussion and light refreshments. Registration recommended but not required. Adults. Time: 2-3:30PM | Cost: FREE librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov Fri, February 11 Old Firehouse Family Fun Bingo @Old Firehouse An evening of fun and prizes for all ages! Enjoy free popcorn and winners will take their pick of prizes! Preregistration is recommended. Time: 7-9:30PM | Cost: $15/$10 MCC district residents www.McLeancenter.org/special-events/upcoming Sat, February 12 Multigenerational Bingo BINGO for adults, teens and children. Hit BINGO and receive a prize! Space is limited. Registration is highly recommended. Time: 3-4PM | Cost: FREE librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov
Tue, February 15 Amateur Art @Dolly Madison Library Unleash your inner artist! This month, get crafty painting wooden heart frames. Registration is required. Teen-Adult. Time: 6-8PM | Cost: FREE librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov Fri, February 18 Old Firehouse Snack and Paint Night @Old Firehouse Led by a professional art teacher, you will be able to create your own masterpiece with your family while having tons of fun doing so. Preregistration is recommended. Time: 7-9PM | Cost: $5 per person www.McLeancenter.org/special-events/upcoming Sat, February 19 Mardi Gras Masks @Dolly Madison Library Laissez les bons temps rouler!! Celebrate Mardi Gras by decorating your own mask. All supplies provided. Registration is required. Teen- Adult. Time: 2:30-4:40PM | Cost: FREE Fri, February 25 Sweetheart Parent and Child Dance @McLean Community Center Children can come to MCC for a fancy “date” with their parents or guardians. Featuring light refreshments, DJ, photo booth, and crafts. Space is limited so register early! Time: 7-9PM | Cost: $25/$20 MCC district residents www.McLeancenter.org/special-events/upcoming
LEGACIES START HERE. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY! ● Tell your kid’s story with BVM Sports – the #1 place for the latest in local, college and pro sports coverage. ● Share your story with one of the most trusted names in local sports news. ● See your story published across all BVM Sports media platforms! Follow the latest in sports news with our podcast, CHALK TALK – streaming on YouTube.
C2 really knows how to tailor their teaching to suit each individual student’s needs. Every time I went to someone at C2 for help, they did their absolute best to give me additional study materials and guidance.”
SOPHIA C. - PRINCETON UNIVERSITY Interested in sharing? Go to www.BVMSports.com and click “Submit A Story”.
703.288.4400
1340 Old Chain Bridge Road, #200 McLean, VA 22101
c2educate.com C2McLean
FREE, EASY, & FAST • NO ACCOUNT NEEDED! LIKE | COMMENT | SHARE | FOLLOW
McLEAN LIVING | 13
RECIPE CORNER
A Love Potion for Valentine's Day By Gloria Bruni Valentine's Day is just around the corner. You’ve picked the perfect card, you’ve arranged your bouquet, and now it's time to settle on a romantic, mouth-watering menu. No matter what you indulge in, this amazing cocktail lends a festive air to an evening at home, and tastes pretty darn good, too! One part blackberry syrup, one part sparkling wine, with a little bit of love sprinkled in for good measure. It’s pink, it’s sparkly, it’s the perfect concoction for February. Three of my favorite things: My favorite color, my favorite fruit, et voilà, my drink of choice! Pink Blackberry Shampoo | Serves 4 A little sweet, a little bubbly, it makes for the most delicious celebratory cocktail. INGREDIENTS For the blackberry syrup 1/3 cup blackberries, plus 8 more for garnish 1/3 cup water 1/3 cup sugar For the cocktail: 1 bottle of prosecco or champagne For the garnish: 4 sprigs of thyme INSTRUCTIONS In a small saucepan, bring the blackberries, water, and sugar to a boil. Turn to low and let simmer for 10 minutes. Strain blackberries and let syrup cool. Add 2 tbsp of syrup to the bottom of each glass. Top with champagne and add a sprig of thyme and 2 blackberries for garnish!
Take Advantage of Your Neighborhood Magazine! McLEAN LIVING is all about bringing people together and fostering a closer-knit community! Check out the many ways that you can contribute to and take advantage of your monthly neighborhood magazine: Resident Features Get to know your neighbors and community one resident at a time. We enjoy featuring residents from all walks of life. Make the magazine your own by submitting nominations of families or individuals who you would like to see highlighted – could be the newest or longest-living residents on the block, your friends next-door, the hobbyist, entrepreneur, etc. Help us honor those people who make this community a great place to live, work and raise a family. Or use this feature as a way to share your own story with neighbors. See page 8 for one example of a resident feature. Social Scene What’s happening in the neighborhood? If you’re part of a book club, social group or charity organization promoting fun or service in the community, share your experiences and photos, and invite others to join you! Association Updates If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, we offer an open invitation to post information to your neighbors through this publication for free. Saving association money and putting it towards ways to improve your subdivision is important, so we create customized HOA sections, saving you time and money. Youth Classifieds Budding entrepreneurs can submit free classifieds advertising their services to the community. With parental permission, youth can grow their babysitting, lawn care, pet care and other small business services by submitting a free ad.
School and Extracurricular Activities Showcase budding athletes, artists and actors among us by submitting photos and details on your kids’ accomplishments, as well as information on school events and fundraisers your family is involved in. Share Your Photos! Do you have pictures from your latest vacation? Have you captured a nature scene or a touching moment that begs to be shared? Let us help preserve your memories! Pet Corner Share your love for your precious pet by introducing him/her to the community! Whether your friend is of the feline, canine, amphibian, avian or other species, we recognize the uniqueness of your pet and are happy to share his/her quirks, habits, favorite activities and more. Bulletin Board Celebrate life’s milestones and events! Post announcements such as engagements, weddings or anniversaries, hats off to graduates, military recognition, new baby announcements, retiree congrats, neighborhood garage sales and more. If you have a submission or feature idea, simply email Miriam Keliddar at malkeliddar@bestversionmedia.com with your name and submission info. Please note the Content Submission Deadline found on page 3. We look forward to hearing your ideas.
McLean Homeowners
Home Sold Brian Mason Will Sell Your Home for No Listing Fee!
SPECIAL OFFER Call 571.601.2810 For More Details
Top producing real estate agent in Northern Virginia Licensed in DC, MD, VA Come explore Vinson Hall Retirement Community and hear from our residents. Learn how to take control of your future and remain resilient. Call us today to schedule a tour! Vinson Hall Retirement Community is open to military officers and their families and to (GS-14 and higher) government employees from ANY federal agency.
FREE HOME VALUE
@BestEverREaltor Home Sold Brian Mason KW United 5971 Kingstowne Village Pkwy | Ste. 110, Alexandria, VA 22315 703.562.1800 | 540.314.8754
linktr.ee/BestEverRealtor 14 | FEBRUARY 2022
McLEAN LIVING | 15
February
1927
Walk In, Float Out, Because YOU Are Worth It! SERVICES: • Facial • Lashes • Hair removal • Aromatherapy body treatments • Electrolysis • Manicure and pedicure treatments
HOURS: Monday-Friday: 10-8 Saturday: 9-5 | Sunday: 10-5 Closed Tuesdays 8206 Leesburg Pike, suite 306, Vienna VA 22182 | 571-300-5058 askspa@outlook.com @Amazonite_Spa amazonitespa.com
The top tier pressure washing service Get a free quote: 812-369-3683
Before
After
@Kennedyextclean
SERVICES: • Concrete and brick cleaning • House soft washing • Deck and fence soft washing • and Concrete sealing kennedyextclean@gmail.com
Before
After
www.kennedyclean.com