SAME-SIZE REMODELING
IS RUDENESS THE NEW NORMAL?
MAHJONG MANIA January/February 2026 $4.99
70
+
Categories
Téa Ivanovic Immigrant Food
BEST REMODELER
Michael Sauri TriVistaUSA Design + Build
BEST NEW RESTAURANT BEST LIVE THEATER
Awa Sel Secka Signature Theatre
ARLINGTON
FALLS CHURCH
Toby Bantug Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream BEST ICE CREAM
MCLEAN
Timeless Elegance. Trusted Craftsmanship.
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L I V I N G DOW N TOW N
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L U X U RY H O M E D E S I G N F O R I N S P I R E D P R O F E S S I O N A L S
WINNER
celebrate what you love
Washington DC | Maryland | Virginia | Vacation Homes Everywhere 7 0 3 . 5 2 0 . 212 5 | M A N L OV E A N D C O . C O M
WINNER
A TOP VOTE GETTER
SUZANNE MANLOVE
Owner
Vol. 16, Issue 1 January/February 2026
■ FEATURES COVER STORY
34
Best of Arlington
Our annual celebration of the people, places and pastimes that make our hometown special is here! Readers and editors weigh in with their favorites. 35 46 50 56 62 66 72
Food & Drink Health Fitness & Beauty Home Kids & Pets Shopping Best of the Rest
4 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
COMMUNITY
78
Rude Awakening
You’re not imagining it. Rudeness is rising and discourse has become less than civil. We delved into why.
HOME
88
Better, Not Bigger
A careful remodel made this vintage Lyon Village home more functional without adding square footage.
ON THE COVER: Best of Arlington winners Téa Ivanovic (Immigrant Food), Toby Bantug (Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream), Michael Sauri (TriVistaUSA Design + Build) and Awa Sel Secka (Signature Theatre). Photo by Michael Ventura. Photographed at Signature Theatre.
HANNAH PARK (DRINK); COURTESY OF GOOD COMPANY DOUGHNUTS & CAFE (DOUGHNUT); J. MICHAEL WHALEN (WOMAN WITH CAT); ERICK GIBSON (LEGOS)
CONTENTS
For life. For generations. Strong communities are built on good health. At VHC Health, we’re proud to be part of the neighborhoods we serve by providing advanced medicine, preventive care, and support that reaches every generation. Because when our community thrives, we all do. Schedule an appointment today at vhchealth.org/schedule
Annandale • Arlington • Arlington North • Arlington South • Fairfax • Falls Church • Kingstowne • McLean National Landing • Old Town • Shirlington • Tysons • Vienna • West Alexandria • West Springfield
Vol. 16, Issue 1 January/February 2026
CONTENTS 128
108
■ DEPARTMENTS
18 93
10
Contributors
The area’s most expensive home sales. Plus, real-estate trends by ZIP code.
12
Around Town
97
Kick off the new year with thoughtprovoking theater, author talks, live music and an MLK Day of Service.
18
Big Picture
The game that’s taking Northern Virginia by storm.
20
Familiar Faces
When this beloved teacher and meteorologist talks about the weather, he’s not just making small talk.
24
My Life
Lessons from a career in international development and peacemaking.
Prime Numbers
Great Spaces
Need to pack multiple functions into a small room? A Murphy bed is the ultimate space-saver.
108 Restaurant Review A newcomer to the former Layalina space serves the Middle Eastern comfort food we all need right now.
128 Driving Range Virginia’s Maple Syrup Trail is filled with sweet surprises.
132 Get Away As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Philly is the place to be.
136 Back Story Long before Amazon, milkmen left deliveries on doorsteps, and this name was synonymous with local dairy.
112 Home Plate Soup season is here! Order these hale and hearty belly-warmers the next time you’re out and about.
116 Places to Eat Our dining guide includes bite-size write-ups on more than 250 area restaurants and bars.
6 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS 26
Financial Professionals
83
Look Good, Feel Good
98
Summer Camps
106 Private Schools
DEB LINDSEY (SALAD); CRISP PICS LLC (SYRUP); SUZ REDFEARN (MAHJONG)
Letter from the Publisher
8
Sound financial advice comes from personal connections. That’s why we prioritize getting to know you face to face to truly understand your goals and needs. At Evermay, we believe tailored financial strategies start with a conversation. We’re here to listen, understand your unique goals, and guide you every step of the way. Evermay Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser.
E V E R M AY W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T, L L C 3 9 0 1 FA I R FA X D R I V E , S U I T E 4 0 0 , A R L I N G T O N , VA 2 2 2 0 3 | E V E R M AY W E A LT H . C O M | 7 0 3 . 8 2 2 . 5 6 9 6
letter from the publisher
Changing of the Guard IN OUR LAST ISSUE, we bid adieu to our longtime, extraordinarily talented dining critic and Home Plate columnist, David Hagedorn. It turns out the south of France, famous for its turquoise water, stunning beaches, delicious cuisine and world-renowned wines— not to mention 300 days of sunshine each year—proved too much for David and his husband to resist. They moved to Nice in October. David first arrived in D.C. to attend Georgetown University and pursue a career in the foreign service. He graduated at the top of his class, but another path called his name. He fell in love with the hospitality business and became an acclaimed chef and restaurateur. After 25 years of success, he transitioned to writing and became a renowned food journalist. David also co-authored several cookbooks with celebrity chefs, including Todd Gray, Cathal Armstrong and Vikram Sunderam. An advocate at heart, David was a fundraiser extraordinaire. He created the Chef’s Best Benefit for Food & Friends and Chefs for Equality for the Human Rights Campaign. We will miss him and his talent, expertise, humor and insights. He made Arlington Magazine a better publication. With this issue, we welcome our new dining critic, Warren Rojas. A D.C. native, Warren holds degrees from James Madison University (Go Dukes!) and American University. His 20+ years as a journalist have progressed along two unrelated but parallel tracks—as a food writer and a congressional correspondent. His food coverage has graced the pages of Eater DC and Northern Virginia
8 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Magazine, and he’s currently writing for The Washington Post as well as Arlington Magazine. His congressional reporting has been featured in Bloomberg Law, Roll Call, CQ Magazine, Business Insider and many other outlets. Please welcome Warren. His first review for the magazine starts on page 108, and we gave it four stars. I hope you will, too. Shifting to our cover story, you will find this year’s Best of Arlington results starting on page 34. The story features reader and editor favorites in more than 70 categories, and it is organized into seven main sections, like Food & Drink and Health & Fitness. The categories cover the gamut, from burgers to brunch, live theater to local bands, new restaurants to neighborhood bars, pet sitters to pickleball courts and a whole lot more. There’s something for everyone and, because we cover Arlington, McLean and Falls Church, you will see people, places and businesses represented from all three communities. I hope you enjoy our January/February Best of Arlington issue. As always, we love hearing from you. Please send your thoughts, ideas and feedback to me at greg. hamilton@arlingtonmagazine.com. Letters to the editor should be sent to jenny.sullivan@arlingtonmagazine. com. Best wishes to you and your families for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026!
Greg Hamilton Publisher & Owner
GUIDING HIGH-END ARLINGTON & MCLEAN MOVES WITH STRATEGY, HEART, AND A DEEP LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
A LITTLE ABOUT MY WORK Hi there, I’m Gabrielle Witkin, a real estate advisor with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. I live in North Arlington, I raise my family here, and I care deeply about the experience my clients have when they decide to make a move.
I specialize in advising discerning sellers in North Arlington & McLean, helping them position their homes for exceptional outcomes through honest guidance, elevated marketing, and a strategy rooted in how high-end buyers actually think. My approach is calm, clear, and deeply local. I don’t believe in chaos or pressure — I believe in preparation, intention, and presenting a home in a way that reflects its value and the lifestyle it offers. GABRIELLEWITKIN.COM
SEE MORE OF NORTH ARLINGTON & MCLEAN THROUGH MY LENS.
■
contributors PUBLISHER & OWNER
Greg Hamilton EDITOR
Jenny Sullivan ART DIRECTOR
Laura Goode PRODUCTION MANAGER
Danny Ryan DIGITAL EDITORS
Stephanie Kanowitz, Helen Partridge WEB PRODUCER
Erin Roby DINING CRITIC
Warren Rojas COPY EDITOR
Barbara Ruben CO-FOUNDER
Steve Hull
Rossnelly Salazar
Warren Rojas
WRITERS
HOMETOWN: Born and raised in Northern Virginia. Lives on Columbia Pike in Arlington.
HOMETOWN: “I was born in D.C. and raised hell across from Motel 50 in Rosslyn until age 5, when my family moved to North Springfield. I still remember playing at the base of the Iwo Jima memorial as a kid.” Today he lives in Centreville.
PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS
about the rise of rudeness in society ART NOTES: A graduate of the Maryland
Institute College of Art, Salazar is an illustrator and comic artist. Her work has also appeared in Spider Magazine (Cricket Media), Storytime Magazine and GO Magazine. CURRENTLY WORKING ON: “Some shirt
designs for a client, featuring cars and monsters. I’m used to working on children’s books, so this has been a fun change!” GROWTH MODE: “On Saturdays I volunteer in my church’s garden. We grow and harvest produce to give to families in need. It gives me a sense of peace being there.” PLANT POWER: “At home, I own 86
succulents. The majority of them I propagated from a handful of freebies someone left in the lobby of our condo building.” ONLINE: rossnellysalazar.com,
@rossnellysalazar
IN THIS ISSUE: Debuts as our new dining
critic. Read his review on page 108. LOCAL EATS: “I still love Mario’s Pizza
(long live Lefty’s Special)! The place I miss most in Falls Church is La Caraquena. In McLean, I love the bar at Ometeo, the burger at Neutral Ground and the panoply of earthy dips, spreads and snacks at Joon.”
BLL Films, Skip Brown, Sean Davidson, Erick Gibson, Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Addison Green, Lisa Helfert, Ethan Hickerson, Cindy Kane, Kurstin Roe Photography, Tony J. Lewis, Rey Lopez, Deb Lindsey, Nova Soul Imagery, Hannah Park, Daniel Rader, Suz Redfearn, Brigitte Renee, Alex Sakes, Rossnelly Salazar, Hilary Schwab, Joseph D. Tran, Michael Ventura, J. Michael Whalen, Stephanie Williams ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Traci Ball, Kristin Murphy, Lori Reale FINANCE & CIRCULATION MANAGER
Julie Rosenbaum
HOME COOKING: “I enjoy cooking all
kinds of things—pasta, Creole dishes, deep-dish pizza, eggs—but probably feel most in my element tending to a blazing charcoal grill.” NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: “Growing
up, my father used to make arepas for breakfast. I plan to perfect my technique in 2026. I also want to develop a killer calzone recipe.” BOOZE CLUES: “My blood type is mezcal.” ONLINE: @w.a.rojas on Instagram
ARLINGTON MAGAZINE is published six times a year by Greenbrier Media LLC © 2026 Subscription price: $19.95 To subscribe, visit arlingtonmagazine.com. For advertising information: Call 703-534-0519 or visit arlingtonmagazine.com. Letters to the Editor: We want to hear from you. Please email jenny.sullivan@arlingtonmagazine.com. How to contact us: Editorial: editorial@arlingtonmagazine.com Subscriptions and Customer Service: customerservice@arlingtonmagazine.com Advertising: advertising@arlingtonmagazine.com Website: website@arlingtonmagazine.com Arlington Magazine/ArlingtonMagazine.com P.O. Box 5510, Arlington, VA 22205 Phone: 703-534-0519
10 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
COURTESY PHOTOS
IN THIS ISSUE: Illustrates our feature
Susan Anspach, Adele Chapin, Christine Koubek Flynn, Erin Gifford, Wendy A. Jordan, Nigel F. Maynard, Kim O’Connell, Suz Redfearn, Jesse Rifkin, Madelyn Rosenberg, Gwen K. Young
14th Annual McLean Chocolate Festival McLeanChocolateFestival.org Sunday, January 25 | 11am-5pm McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean Taste the specialties of area chocolatiers and enjoy fun for the whole family, including live entertainment and a children’s game room! Proceeds benefit local schools and organizations. Admission $3 (includes tote bag), Free for children 3 and under
MAJOR SPONSOR: Mars, Incorporated ADVERTISEMENT SPONSOR: Lynn Heinrichs
AROUND TOWN by Stephanie Kanowitz
Encore Stage & Studio presents Disney’s High School Musical Jr.
FEEL GOOD JAN. 9-18
Encore Stage & Studio The students of East High break through cliques and find their individuality in this rollicking tale of friendship and acceptance. $16; $13 for kids. A pre-show experience for students on Jan. 10 or 16 is an extra $9 in advance or $10 at the door (free for accompanying adults). Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington, encorestage.org
PERFORMING In Clay ARTS
THROUGH FEB. 1
THROUGH JAN. 25
Fiddler on the Roof Signature Theatre A poor Jewish milkman strives to honor tradition while confronted with a changing world and the rise of antisemitism in Czarist Russia. Iconic songs, such as “Sunrise, Sunset” and “If I Were a Rich Man,” resonate in this classic story of family, community and resilience. Tickets begin at $47. See website for show times. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org
12 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Signature Theatre On the eve of a visit from her estranged childhood friend, artist Marie-Berthe Cazin recounts her life’s story, chronicling the discovery of her pottery talents, her husband’s rise to fame by claiming her work as his own, and the upheaval of World War I in 1930s Paris. Tickets start at $47. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, sigtheatre.org JAN. 23, 7-9 P.M.
Songwriters-in-the-Round MoCA Arlington Hosted by Arlington singer-songwriter Sara
CINDY KANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Disney’s High School Musical Jr.
Hello, 2026! Grateful to my clients for trusting me throughout 2025 — and here’s to an exciting 2026. Whether buying or selling, your home is a meaningful next chapter, and I’m here to guide you with care and expertise. Let’s connect for a conversation about your next move.
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■ around town Mosaic’s annual Polar Plunge fundraiser
CHILL THRILLS JAN. 24
Mosaic Polar Plunge and thieves on the high seas aboard the Never Land, which houses a trunk filled with a magical healing substance. Tickets begin at $20. 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington, thearlingtonplayers.org
JAN. 31-FEB. 1
FEB. 19-MARCH 8
Kinky Boots
Between Riverside and Crazy
Capital One Hall Tap your toes to the Tony Award-winning musical based on the true story of two people with seemingly nothing in common—a drag queen and the heir to a failing shoe factory who join forces to save the business from bankruptcy. Performances are 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets begin at $83. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
1st Stage A former police officer and his newly paroled son struggle to keep one of New York City’s rent-stabilized apartments while grappling with old wounds, unsavory houseguests and an unsympathetic landlord. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; plus matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $55; $15 for students, educators and military service members. 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, 1ststage.org
JAN. 31-FEB. 15
Peter and The Starcatcher
FEB. 20-22
The Arlington Players A prequel to Peter Pan, this tale of adventure features Peter and his friend Molly as they overcome bands of pirates
Arlington Drafthouse The two-time Golden Globe winner and three-time Emmy winner (for his role as
Jeremy Piven
14 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
talent agent Ari Gold on the comedy series Entourage) will take the stage at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $48-$60. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, arlingtondrafthouse.com FEB. 21-22
Justin Willman: One for the Ages Tour Capital One Hall The magician behind Magic for Humans and Magic Prank Show on Netflix brings all-new and hilarious sleights to entertain audiences of all ages. Performances are 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets begin at $51.90. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, capitalonehall.com
COURTESY PHOTO
Fridrich, one half of the duo String Mamas, this event features original music and storytelling. Four local songwriters will take turns playing tunes and talking all things music and life. Free. 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, mocaarlington.org
Mosaic District Support Special Olympics Virginia’s 20,000-plus athletes by taking a frigid dip in an aboveground pool. $100 minimum donation to participate. Check-in is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Then the dunking starts. 2905 District Ave., Fairfax, polarplunge.com/mosaic
FEB. 25-28
JAN. 19, 8:30 A.M.-NOON
FEB. 14, 7:30 P.M.
The Second City: Laugh Harder Not Smarter
MLK Day of Service
Chords of Desire: Broadway and Opera Favorites
The Barns at Wolf Trap The Chicago improv troupe promises spurof-the-moment songs, audience interaction and lots of laughs. Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. Tickets begin at $63.50. 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org
Volunteer Arlington Honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by giving back to the community during this day of service. Organized activities typically include assembling care kits, ecological cleanups and food prep. Preregistration is appreciated. WashingtonLiberty High School, 1301 N. Stafford St, Arlington, volunteerarlington.org JAN. 19, NOON-3:30 P.M.
SEASONAL D.C. Road Runners New Year’s Resolutions 5K Start 2026 on the right foot. This annual 5K leaves from the Washington-Liberty High School parking deck and heads west to the Custis Trail before looping back to the school. Registration is $10; free for D.C. Road Runners members. 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington, dcroadrunners.org
FEB. 14, 7:30 P.M.
After Dark—A Valentine’s Spectacular
MLK Day March for Social Justice, Unity and Racial Healing
JAN. 1, NOON
National Chamber Ensemble Feel the love on Valentine’s Day with amorous selections from opera and Broadway musicals, featuring baritone Anton Belov and soprano Karin Paludan. $45; $25 students. Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington, nationalchamberensemble.org
Tinner Hill Monument Gather at the Tinner Hill Monument, the site of the nation’s first rural branch of the NAACP, to join a short commemorative walk spanning two or three blocks. Strollers and pets welcome. A postmarch celebration will feature guest speakers and musical performers. 510 S. Washington St., Falls Church, tinnerhill.org
The Birchmere Feeling saucy? Take your valentine to a show by burlesque artist Angie Pontani and her hubby, Brian Newman. $39.50. 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, birchmere.com FEB. 16
Valentine’s Day Tea Cherry Hill Farmhouse Learn about this historic property in
THIS WINTER AT SIGNATURE
A CHARMING NEW MUSICAL BASED ON A TRUE STORY
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 1
AN EXCITING NEW INDIE-ROCK MUSICAL BASED ON THE FILM
MARCH 3 – APRIL 12
THEE IC IICONIC ICONI CONI ONICC MUSI MUSICAL US CAL GO G GORGEOUSLY ORG RGEOUS RG OUSLY OUS LY STAGED ST GED ED IN SIGNATURE’S INTIMATE SETTING
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 25
SIGTHEATRE.ORG
703.820.9771 4200 CAMPBELL AVENUE ARLINGTON, VA 22206 ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
15
■ around town
The Little City before heading into the dining room for high tea with sandwiches, sweets and scones. $48. 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, fallschurchva.gov
MUSIC JAN. 3, 7:30 P.M.
Last Train Home The Birchmere Catch the alt-country band led by former Washington Post music critic Eric Brace. $35. 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, birchmere.com JAN. 9-FEB. 1
Passport Music Festival Creative Cauldron This 14th annual concert series features musicians from the DMV and beyond, playing genres such as Latin, jazz, blues and folk. Tickets begin at $25 or $15 for the livestream. 127 E. Broad St., Falls Church, creativecauldron.org
JAN. 18, 2 P.M.
There Arises Light in the Darkness The Alden The Barron Ryan Trio performs music originally commissioned by Chamber Music Tulsa to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. $15; $10 for seniors; $7 for McLean Community Center district residents. 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, mcleancenter.org FEB. 8, 3 P.M.
Imani Winds: Grooves and Meditations The Barns at Wolf Trap Enjoy an afternoon of contemporary, globally inspired wind quintet music. Tickets begin at $55.50. 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, wolftrap.org FEB. 21, 7:30 P.M.
Bridge Voices Little City Concerts Based on David Lang’s Pulitzer Prize-
16 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
winning choral work The Little Match Girl Passion, this concert sets a Hans Christian Anderson story to the music of Bach’s Saint Matthew’s Passion. Half of ticket sales benefit Homestretch, a nonprofit that supports families experiencing homelessness. $25; free for students and youth. Falls Church Episcopal, 115 E. Broad St., Falls Church, littlecityconcerts.org
AUTHORS & BOOKS FEB. 2, 6:30-7:45 P.M.
Author Talk: Clay Cane Arlington Central Library The New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist, radio host and political analyst will discuss his book on the history of Black Republicans and a novel about slave resistance. Free; registration recommended. 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington; library.arlingtonva.us
ART THROUGH JAN. 4
Kinship Falls Church Arts This all-media visual art exhibit explores the various bonds connecting communities, families and cultures. Free. 700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church, fallschurcharts.org
BY GEORGE!
THROUGH FEB. 24
PhotoGenesis 2
DAN CHUNG
McLean Project for the Arts Curated by MPA artistic director Nancy Sausser, this exhibit features works originating from photographic images, ideas and techniques. Free. 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, mpaart.org
Got a calendar event we should know about? Submit it to editorial@arlingtonmagazine.com
FEB. 15, 6-10 P.M.
George Washington Birthnight Supper & Ball George Washington’s Mount Vernon Break out the formalwear to celebrate our first president’s 294th birthday with a three-course dinner, live auction, entertainment and dancing. Tickets begin at $750. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, mountvernon.org
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ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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big picture ■ Story and photo by Suz Redfearn
18 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Get Your Maj On Need a break from screen time? This analog game is all the rage. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE because word on the street is that everybody who tries mahjong falls in love with mahjong. At least, that’s been the experience of Tori Rittinger, a mahjong maven who has taught more than 1,000 people how to play. In September, she opened Talk Tiles to Me, a mahjong studio in Falls Church, to satisfy surging demand for guidance and game-playing opportunities. “I’ve never had anybody get up from their first game saying, ‘This is not for me,’” declares the former advertising executive, an Arlington mom of three. Mahjong seems poised to become the next national obsession, akin to the pickleball craze that exploded in 2019. Rittinger is here for it. Apparently, so are others. Her lively upstart, housed in a former therapist’s office, was already turning a profit and getting calls from would-be buyers two months into its debut, she says. Mahjong originated in China more than 150 years ago and was brought to the U.S. by Chinese immigrants in the early 1900s. Jewish women in New York City were among the first Westerners to embrace the game, forming the National Mah Jongg League (yes, with an extra “g”) in 1937 to streamline and standardize the rules. Eighty-eight years later, the league is still going strong. Rittinger’s game parlor has a festive vibe, with beguiling wallpaper and fuchsia painted trim. Near the entrance, a glass chimpanzee head wearing a pink “MAHJ” cap sits next to a pink neon sign
proclaiming, “You deserve this.” Several large candy jars filled with colorful mahjong tiles look enticing enough to eat. Talk Tiles to Me offers private and group lessons, league play, private parties, open-play events and theme nights. Rittinger likens the game to a mashup of poker and chess. (Others have compared it to rummy.) Four players collect and jettison tiles in the hopes of forming specific patterns published annually by the National Mah Jongg League. It’s a game of both luck and skill, with many rules. The first player to form prescribed patterns with all their tiles yells “Mahjong!” and everyone rejoices. At least everyone did on a recent instructional night, when the studio’s rooms were filled with cacophonous cries of mutual encouragement. Players struggled, learned and had aha moments, with attentive instructors egging them on. After being introduced to the game by his mahjong-obsessed sister, Andrew Hamilton of Great Falls bought a set and taught his two elementary-age kids to play. Sometimes, instead of going out for date night, he and his wife stay in and play a two-person version. “It’s a very social game and also very intellectually stimulating,” Hamilton says. He met Rittinger when she visited his office in D.C. to lead an instructional session for employees. So many of mahjong’s rules and concepts apply to living a full life, Rittinger says. “Stopping to see what is right in front of you” is the main one. ■
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
19
familiar faces ■ by Jesse Rifkin | photo by Skip Brown
The Weather Man Can Ryan Miller is beloved in the classroom. You may have also seen him on TV. EVER WONDERED HOW air condi-
Meteorologist and science teacher Ryan Miller
20 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
tioning works, how Canadian wildfires affect weather patterns in the continental U.S., or just how high local sea levels are rising? Ryan Miller has the answers. And he loves to enlighten anyone who’s curious. Beyond his classroom at WashingtonLiberty High School, where he teaches environmental science, physics, astronomy and geographic information systems (GIS), you may have seen him on the air. As a meteorologist with NBC’s Storm Team4, Miller covers weather segments, mostly on weekends and holidays. He’s also filmed more than 130 installments of Science 4 Everyone, an NBC4 series of educational snippets on a range of scientific phenomena. One episode from December 2024— about why some people tolerate cold temperatures better than others—garnered 1.3 million TikTok views. (The answer, he explains, involves differing degrees of skin responsivity, the climate you grew up in, and a psychological component. Seeing others bundled up might make you feel chilly, too.) Miller’s on-air lessons aren’t always confined to a green screen studio. He heads to the beach to explain why
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■ familiar faces
Just Curious storms hit the East Coast far more often than the West Coast. He treks through the woods to demystify why mushrooms appear after it rains. He’s hit the streets of Arlington to converse with members of the county bomb squad about how explosives work. Off the clock, you might spot him hiking around Theodore Roosevelt Island, walking his dogs at Potomac Overlook or golfing at Army Navy Country Club. “My current handicap is 13,” he says sheepishly, “but I’m working to bring it down to a braggable number.” What’s funny is the Akron, Ohio, native became a media personality by accident. Miller was teaching a class at W-L in 2003 when a student asked a weather question that left him stumped. “It was related to tornado formation in southern Maryland,” he recalls. “The student was curious if wind patterns along the river contributed to more tornado reports in places like Charles County.” To determine the answer, he reached out to Doug Hill, then the chief meteorologist
We asked Miller to shed light on some timely scientific queries.
Why are we supposed to kill spotted lanternflies? “These invasive insects have voracious appetites for all things plants. Vineyard and orchard owners are terrified they will take over and cause issues for crops. Newer research shows that our native bat populations might eat them, which would be a good thing.”
Will we get any snow this winter? “This winter does not look great for snow. We’re starting to see a shift from El Niño to La Niña conditions. But there’s still a chance we could get one or two storms if the cold air and moisture off the ocean align.”
How is climate change impacting the DMV? “We’re very vulnerable, with our recent dry conditions. If the Potomac River level drops below the giant intake pipes, there’s only one day of reserve drinking water as a backup, and we could be in big trouble. It’s not just here. Elsewhere in Virginia, in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, recent drought conditions were far worse than ours, and those areas feed the Potomac.”
Have federal funding cuts to science agencies affected your job as a meteorologist? “The money that’s been cut goes into collecting data reliably, getting that data into our models to make accurate weather predictions. The National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the folks who work there are only as capable as the money that’s allocated to them.”
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22 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
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for local ABC affiliate WJLA-7. They struck up a conversation, and Hill shared that his producer had just quit. The school year was wrapping up and Miller had time to spare. The station asked him to sub in as its meteorology producer for the summer. That side hustle ended up lasting far longer than one summer. In 2004, Miller pivoted to an on-air role. In 2021, he jumped to rival station NBC4 Washington, where he remains today. Toggling between teaching and television isn’t easy, he admits, but his school and studio hours don’t overlap much. “The bonus is that I love both jobs,” he says. “I don’t mind when things get crazy.” During the pandemic, to fill a programming void for the station, Miller began hosting a daily hour-long show, Outside the Classroom, featuring athome education lessons and science experiments. Several fellow Arlington Public Schools teachers made guest appearances, including Donna McConnell, then a reading specialist for APS. She and Miller started dating and now live together in Arlington’s Bluemont neighborhood. His enthusiasm for science is contagious. Some former students, inspired by his class, have pursued college degrees and careers in scientific fields. A recent post to his approximately 4,000 Instagram followers asked former students to share classroom memories. One alumna reminisced about the time Miller challenged students to bring in songs with astronomical or meteorological terms. (His favorites are Rihanna’s Umbrella and Prince’s Purple Rain.) This year, his Environmental Systems and Societies class includes an unusual student: his 16-year-old son, Seaton. “He isn’t supposed to enroll with me,” Miller says, “but we got special permission because I’m the only teacher in the county who teaches that subject.” ■ Arlington writer Jesse Rifkin is a dueling pianist at Georgetown Piano Bar.
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ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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my life ■ by Gwen K. Young The author (below) in landmine-ravaged Malawi in 1993
Crossing Lines That Divide BEFORE I ARRIVED IN Malawi in 1993 to work with the International Rescue Committee, I thought I understood what cross-cultural work meant. I had read the books, studied the theories and rehearsed respectful greetings in Chichewa. My uncle even developed a game for the whole family to play prior to my departure titled “Where is Malawi?” But none of that prepared me
for what it would feel like to stand in a sunbaked village square, surrounded by people whose lives had been shaped by war, resilience and survival—and to try and teach them how to stay safe from landmines. Malawi sponsored more than 1 million refugees from Mozambique during Mozambique’s 15-year civil war. During that time, more than 1,000 kilometers
24 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
of the border between the two countries was embedded with landmines— in fields, near houses and on roads. The mines continued to put people on both sides of the border, especially children, at grave risk long after the war ended in 1992. Working on a landmine awareness education program in this East African nation changed me, not just emo-
COURTESY PHOTOS; MAP ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA GOODE
Through landmine education, lessons on optimism and intention
tionally, but philosophically. It cracked open what I thought I knew about collaboration, identity and the meaning of impact. It showed me that human connection doesn’t rely on fluency in language, but fluency in effort, humility and shared purpose. At first, the language barrier felt overwhelming. I didn’t speak fluent Chichewa or Portuguese, and many in the communities I worked with spoke little or no English. But something happened when we stepped into those village meetings. We used drawings, music, local translators, and sometimes nothing but eye contact and shared concern. And it worked. We found ways to communicate safety—how to identify landmines, what not to touch, how to report suspicious objects. The content was lifesaving, and the delivery through local theater was inspiring. What saved me was learning that communication is about intention more than perfection. Respect, patience and listening can go further than fluent words ever could. I was struck by the attitude of the communities. These were people who had suffered the unthinkable—displacement, death, mutilation—and yet they were not hardened. They were hopeful. Children who lived in camps still smiled when they danced. Elders who had lost loved ones still showed up to teach others what to avoid. Their resilience was not passive; it was active, gritty and deeply optimistic. It wasn’t just survival. It was a refusal to let despair define them. That changed how I think about what’s possible. In the U.S., I’d often heard the phrase “Anything is possible,” but it felt abstract. In Malawi, it became real. I watched communities with little formal infrastructure mobilize, organize and implement public safety protocols. I saw people who had every reason to give up, choosing instead to persist. And I realized that possibility isn’t just a personal mindset.
It’s collective. It’s what happens when people believe in each other, even when circumstances say they shouldn’t. This experience forced me to wrestle with my own identity, too. At times, I wanted so badly to fit in—to not be “the American,” to be more like the people I was working with. I adopted local customs, ate nsima (the thick porridge that is a Malawi staple) with my hands, learned local idioms, and tried to listen more than I spoke. But even as I integrated into the culture, I came to a powerful realization: I would always be American. And that wasn’t a bad thing. Instead of trying to erase who I was, I began to ask: What can I offer from my perspective? What can I learn from theirs? That shift—away from assimilation and toward integration—was liberating. It opened the door to real exchange. I brought my ideas and education, but I was just as much shaped by their lived experience and insight. We didn’t just teach each other; we built something together. One of the most transformative lessons I learned was about how people can work across their differences. In Malawi, I met people with beliefs, lifestyles and worldviews that were far from my own. But when we worked toward the shared goal of landmine safety, those differences didn’t divide us. They made the work richer. We misunderstood each other, but we kept going. And in that messy, honest process, I saw what community really means: not sameness, but solidarity. I came back from Malawi with a different kind of ambition. Not the kind that’s about climbing ladders or checking boxes, but the kind that’s about making change by connecting people. I continue building bridges across cultures, not because it’s easy, but because it’s the only way to drive meaningful impact in a world that’s more connected—and more divided—than ever. Philosophically, I now believe in three things: First, that communica-
tion rooted in respect can transcend language. Second, that the most powerful change is collective, not individual. And third, that identity is not a barrier to connection—it’s a foundation for it, when held with humility. Emotionally, I carry the faces and stories of the people I worked with. I remember the mother who showed up every day to help us teach others, even though she had lost a child to a landmine. I remember the boy who helped me translate not just my words, but my intentions. He showed me how to eat, bow and greet people, and also how to dance. In that way, I learned how to communicate, show partnership, show joy and allow people to sit and welcome me into dialogue. I remember feeling completely out of my depth—and then feeling completely at home. Malawi gave me more than a chance to help. It gave me a new way to think, to feel and to live. It taught me that while cultural differences are real, they are not impassable. That impact is not about saving others, but about showing up, listening and working side by side. Most importantly, that optimism isn’t naive. It’s necessary. I don’t romanticize what I saw or what I did there. The work was hard. The trauma was real. I left changed, not because I made a difference, but because they did—in me. And now, wherever I go, I carry that lesson: Anything is possible, but only if we do it together. ■ Gwen K. Young spent 11 years living on the African continent and more than 25 years focusing on humanitarian relief, international development and human rights initiatives in various African nations, working with organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Rescue Committee and the Harvard Institute for International Development. Today she is the CEO of Women Business Collaborative. She lives on Columbia Pike.
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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PROFILES
Financial Professionals
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Jose Herrera STATE FARM — Licensed to help you in VA, MD, D.C. — Passionate about explaining life Insurance options — Focus on auto, home Insurance and investment planning — Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designation since 2023
Q: What services do you provide your clients? A: We are an insurance and financial services agency,
3300 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 201 Arlington, VA 22201 youragentjose.com
26 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
HILARY SCHWAB
offering comprehensive planning to both protect and invest for our clients’ futures. We specialize in professionals with families who are building their savings. We also do a lot of work with young professionals who have recently moved to the area. We can provide both passive and active approaches to investing, depending on our customer’s risk tolerance and goals.
PROFILES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Financial Professionals
Wendroff & Associates, CPA Q: What sets Wendroff CPA apart from other accounting firms? A: We’re a future-focused CPA firm for today’s entrepreneurs, providing more than just annual tax preparation—we deliver strategic insight to help businesses grow. Our team partners with clients year-round on proactive tax planning, accounting automation, budgeting and forecasting, and fractional CFO services to build greater predictability, strengthen performance, and make informed decisions. We’re integrating emerging technologies, including AI, to make accounting more efficient and informative. But technology alone doesn’t define us—our people do. Clients value our responsiveness, collaboration and ability to turn complex financial data into actionable strategies. In addition, we’ve recently launched a podcast—The Entrepreneur’s Accountant— built for business owners who want guidance from someone who understands the realities of running a modern company. Each episode features practical, no-nonsense conversations on topics like financial management, tax planning and preparation, IRS updates, and business performance—all designed to help you make smarter financial decisions and grow more strategically. The podcast is available on Spotify and wendroffcpa.com.
Q: How does Wendroff CPA help business owners stay ahead in today’s economy?
A: In an economy defined by change, predict-
TONY J. LEWIS
Awards & Honors — Arlington Magazine, Best Accounting Firm 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 — Washingtonian Magazine, Top Financial Adviser, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 — Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Financial Professionals 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 — Arlington Magazine, Best Places to Work, 2022
ability and adaptability are essential. We help business owners forecast growth, identify efficiencies, and optimize tax opportunities before year-end. Our team also advises on accounting automation, AI integration and performance metrics that drive smarter decisions. By combining strategic accounting, innovative tools and a people-first approach, Wendroff CPA empowers entrepreneurs to navigate uncertainty, seize opportunities and build stronger, more resilient businesses.
2900 S. Quincy St., Suite 360, Arlington, VA 22206 703-553-1099 | bjwendroff@wendroffcpa.com www.wendroffcpa.com
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PROFILES
Financial Professionals
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
VLP Financial Advisors
Our team members hold the following credentials: CFP, AIF, CFA, CDFA and ADPA. We are constantly looking ahead for what we need to learn today, and what we will need for tomorrow.
satisfying for us than helping clients retire on their timeline, on their terms.
A: We are an independent, full-service
Q: What is your investment approach? A: Knowing what you’re investing in is
wealth services firm. We work with families and individuals on financial planning, investment management and retirement planning, as well as with corporate clients and their employees to create and manage retirement plans and employer education. Our team is motivated by our slogan, “Live Greater.” To us, that means having the ability to shape the destiny of your family; to live life according to your own plan and build on a solid foundation; and to confidently face anything and everything that’s next. Nothing is more
important, but even more significant is knowing what you are investing for. We help clients align their investments with their long- and short-term needs and goals by developing a customized asset allocation strategy. We help them gain the confidence to avoid the distractions of daily market ups and downs, ensuring that their buy/sell decisions are made for the right reasons and in support of their goals. We are proactive in our client communications. We have regular newsletters, videos and blog content we produce for
28 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
our clients. We also have an in-house client service team to ensure our clients can call and speak to a member of our team at any time during business hours. The advisor-client relationship is at the heart of everything we do. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment advisor. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. 8391 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 203 Vienna, VA 22182. 703-356-4360. Asset allocation is an investment strategy that will not guarantee a profit or protect you from loss.
8391 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 203 Vienna, VA 22182 703-356-4360 www.vlpfa.com
SHANNON AYRES
Q: What services does VLP Financial Advisors provide?
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D’Orazio Wealth Advisors JEREMY L. MEEK, CFP®
We evaluate decisions through two lenses: The Financial Plan: aligns every decision with your personal and professional goals The Tax Strategy: incorporates a proactive tax strategy leading to smarter financial planning
Q: How do you help your clients make the right call? A: Throughout life, we all face critical
SHANNON AYRES
financial decisions—buying a home, navigating executive compensation, paying for college, selling a business, receiving an inheritance, deciding when to retire and preparing for long-term care. These are not the times to make poor choices. Since 2004, D’Orazio Wealth Advisors has guided individuals and families through both everyday and life-changing financial decisions. From funding a car purchase to managing complex compensation packages or preparing a business for sale, our clients count on us
to provide informed guidance. What sets us apart is our ability to evaluate decision options within the context of your financial plan and tax strategy—always with an eye on your broader financial ecosystem. Our goal is simple: give you the clarity and confidence to make sound decisions when they matter most.
Q: What makes working with D’Orazio Wealth Advisors different?
We collaborate on complex questions, provide cohesive recommendations and see them through to full implementation. Along the way, we build long-lasting, personal relationships. That’s what we love most about our work—helping clients reach milestones, achieve goals and live fuller financial lives. When we help clients make the right call on life’s biggest decisions, we not only add value, we create deeply satisfying, enduring relationships.
A: We take a team-based, departmentalized approach to wealth management. Our clients don’t just work with one advisor—they engage with our entire team of professionals.
8614 Westwood Center Drive, Suite 310 Vienna, VA 22182 703-269-3100 info@dorazioadvisors.com www.dorazioadvisors.com
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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PROFILES
Financial Professionals
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
State Department Federal Credit Union
State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) is a member-owned, full-service financial institution serving nearly 90,000 members worldwide and offering a full range of financial products and services.
SDFCU’s Branch Management Team (from left): Tiffany S., Corey N., Diego H., Genieve H., and Rik H.
U.S. while living abroad. In response to the recent government shutdown, we introduced financial relief options to help ease the burden on impacted members.
A: At SDFCU, we offer safe, secure and
Q: What factors set SDFCU apart from other financial institutions?
innovative financial solutions designed to support our members wherever life takes them. Our banking services are seamless and accessible worldwide, including checking and savings accounts as well as a variety of loan products. We also provide specialized programs tailored to the unique needs of our global membership, such as our Home Leave and Transfer program, which enables members to finance a home in the
A: What sets us apart is our commitment to personalized, forward-thinking solutions for members both locally and abroad. Founded over 90 years ago to serve the Department of State community, we proudly expanded to support a diverse membership worldwide. We’re always listening, learning and adapting to create meaningful change. Examples include our Wise integration for Digital
30 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Banking, which enables international payments in multiple currencies, virtual notary services and instant digital wallet issuance for credit cards. Our team is dedicated to building solutions that meet your needs. Visit our Clarendon, Rosslyn or Alexandria branches, or connect with us online at SDFCU.org to experience the difference a credit union built around your needs can make.
Find a branch location near you at SDFCU.org/locations. 703-706-5000 sdfcu@sdfcu.org SDFCU.org
MICHAEL VENTURA
Q: How does SDFCU demonstrate its commitment to personalized and innovative solutions for its global membership?
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Spring Financial Group OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS
“We value the importance of our independent thinking and straightforward communication.”
Shahin Halali, Senior Client Associate; Bill Dunn, Managing Director - Investments, Senior PIM® Portfolio Manager; Ali Ganjian CFP®, First Vice President 2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams:
MICHAEL VENTURA
Awarded January 2025; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/23 - 3/31/24 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 11,674 wealth management teams were considered for the rating; 5,331 (45.66% of candidates) were named 2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams.
Q: How do you help your clients achieve their goals?
the information you provide to us and will be in your best interest.
A: Our mission is to deliver the
Q: What distinguishes your service? A: We follow the “Golden Rule” by being
outstanding service and advice that you deserve and desire. We aspire to be an exceptional sounding board, advocate, advisor and professional resource connector—to help provide clarity and confidence through the arc of life. Our job is to be forward-thinking to preserve your financial optionality—the hallmark of independence. We value the importance of our independent thinking and straightforward communication. All investment, tax strategies, estate planning strategies and insurance advice will be based on
proactive advisors, helping to identify and deliberate financial options along life’s path. Ali and I collaborate with our extensive and diverse professional backgrounds to serve you with comprehensive investment, retirement and legacy planning advice. Our combined experience, complimentary skills and real-time exchange of viewpoints help us overcome blind spots in our guidance. Importantly, we invest our clients’ assets as we invest our personal assets to the
extent objectives overlap.
1650 Tysons Blvd., Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102 (703) 827-7631 Bill.Dunn@wfadvisors.com Ali.Ganjian@wfadvisors.com www.SpringFinancialGrp.com
Investment and Insurance Products: • Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. PM-05222027-8593875.1.2
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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PROFILES
Financial Professionals
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
Awards/Honors: — Arlington Magazine Best Community Bank 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026
ACFCU’s Business Lending Team (from left): Kevin Sheffield and Jim Wilmot
A: At Arlington Community Federal Credit Union, our passion for empowering our members’ financial lives informs everything we do. It is our mission, every day, to find solutions for our members’ needs throughout their financial journeys and growing along with them. We are committed to providing remarkable service, supporting local businesses and offering the tools and education to empower the financial well-being of our members. When our members prosper, our community thrives.
As a member-owned financial cooperative, ACFCU invests in the products and services that support your dreams: industry-leading rates on savings accounts and loans, creative solutions for first-time borrowers and powerful digital banking services that keep you safe and connected so you can focus on what’s truly important in life.
Q: How do you serve the community beyond financial services? A: The team at ACFCU is passionate about creating positive change in our community, through volunteerism with local schools and
32 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
organizations; a wide range of free financial education programs to create financial stability for all ages; and impactful nonprofit partnerships that go way beyond just writing a check. We commit to uplifting local programs with the remarkable service our members know and love us for, because community is more than just where we serve—it’s who we are.
2130 N. Glebe Road Arlington, VA 22207-2219 703-526-0200 www.arlingtoncu.org
JOSEPH TRAN
Q: Why do community members choose ACFCU?
PROFILES
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Evermay Wealth Management, LLC
“Wealth creates possibilities. We help you live richly today, build boldly for tomorrow and shape a legacy that lasts.”
Q: How do you help clients achieve a richer life? A: At Evermay, wealth is more than
HILARY SCHWAB
numbers on a page; it is the freedom to live life on your own terms. We help clients discover what a richer life truly means to them and build thoughtful strategies that work towards bringing that vision to life. We connect all aspects of your finances—investing, retirement, taxes, estate* and philanthropy—so your wealth reflects what matters most to you. Our clients include families navigating life transitions, corporate executives managing complex compensation packages, military leaders planning their next chapters, women building financial
independence—whether starting a business, retiring or pursuing their next ambition—and attorneys with multifaceted estate and income structures. Whatever your story, our role is to turn complexity into confidence and intention.
Q: What makes the Evermay client experience exceptional? A: The Evermay experience begins with listening. We take time to understand your goals, values and relationships, then design plans that reflect what matters most. As an independent fiduciary firm, we act solely in your best interest. Our team of Certified Financial Planner™ and Chartered Financial Analyst® professionals brings decades
of expertise and a deep commitment to transparency, trust and care. In an unpredictable world with volatile markets, evolving tax laws and shifting priorities, clarity is essential. Evermay helps clients prepare, adapt and thrive with confidence, ensuring every decision supports a life well lived. *Evermay will work with your Attorney and/or Accountant as necessary. All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Investment Advisory Services are offered by Evermay Wealth Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. ©2025 Evermay Wealth Management, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
3901 Fairfax Drive, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22203 703-822-5696 www.evermaywealth.com
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MICHAEL VENTURA
Want a hot tip? Readers and editors name their favorite people, places and businesses in 73 categories, from burgers to brunch, pet sitters to pickleball courts and a whole lot more.
New Restaurant
Immigrant Food immigrantfood.com
It’s not been an easy few years for the restaurant business, yet Immigrant Food is in growth mode, having opened its fourth DMV location (the first in Virginia) in Ballston in 2024. Co-founders Peter Schechter and Téa Ivanovic credit the success of their concept to its “gastroadvocacy” mission, which celebrates America as a melting pot of rich cultures and cuisines. “We just think we are espousing something that is a proud American value,” Schechter says. The all-day cafe’s global menu drives that theme home, serving up something for everyone, from salads to samosas—and new flavors to try, like the housemade roasted banana ketchup that accompanies Filipino fried chicken. –Adele Chapin OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
COURTESY PHOTO
Bar Chinois, Bar Colline, Nettie’s Tavern, Oasis: The Listening Bar, Sorn Thai Restaurant & Bar
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Kid-Friendly Restaurant
pie-tanza pie-tanza.com
Most kids will tell you pizza is high on their list of favorite foods. They’ll be well-served at this family-friendly eatery, where discerning diners under 12 can customize their own personal, thin-crust pies made with the restaurant’s signature Neapolitan-style dough. But pizza isn’t the only option. The lengthy kids’ menu also touts meatball sandwiches, corn dogs and grilled cheese, with mini cannoli or chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Parents will like the prices (most items are under $10) and healthful sides like mandarin oranges. For reviews, look no further than the bulletin board in the back covered in crayon drawings with scribbled statements declaring “pie-tanza is the best.” –Adele Chapin OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Ballston Local, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Lost Dog Cafe, Silver Diner
Doughnuts
Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe
Charles Kachadoorian and Kate Murphy, the brother and sister founders of this congenial cafe, have their personal favorites from the tempting list of hand-rolled sweets. She’s partial to chocolate cake doughnuts, while he prefers yeast ones fried with cinnamon and powdered sugar. But they share a love for those moments when customers call on their business—whose stakeholders include retired military service members—to sweeten up events ranging from milestone celebrations (including a recent engagement photo shoot) to a regular old gloomy Monday. Says Kachadoorian: “We want to be a place where people can meet up with friends and family. We want to be a part of the morning routine.” –Madelyn Rosenberg OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, Duck Donuts, Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe 36 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
SKIP BROWN (PIE-TANZA); COURTESY OF GOOD COMPANY (DOUGHNUTS)
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RESTAURANT IN ARLINGTON
Ruthie’s All-Day OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Ambar Cafe Colline Carbonara CIRCA Lyon Hall pie-tanza Screwtop Wine Bar SER RESTAURANT IN FALLS CHURCH
Ellie Bird OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack Dogwood Tavern Harvey’s The Falls Thompson Italian
Manager Coni Petrinovich, (left) with co-owner Anastasiya Algarme
PIZZA
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
A Modo Mio Andy’s Pizza Ballston Local Colony Grill The Italian Store Lost Dog Café Old Dominion Pizza Co. pie-tanza
Charm Factor
Little Falls Café littlefallscafe.us
Don’t swing by this daytime cafe expecting a latte to go. Created to feel European in every which way, from the gingerbread millwork to the kerchief-wearing staff, the latest concept from Pupatella owners Enzo and Anastasiya Algarme is intended as a place to sit and take a load off. Espresso drinks are served in pretty porcelain tea cups with nary a paper cup in sight, and the eclectic décor will leave you wondering if you’ve teleported to the Norman countryside or somewhere high in the Swiss Alps. The kitchen’s signature crepes range from sweet to savory (try the rustic galette made with buckwheat batter, ham, Emmenthaler, Gruyere and a sunny-side-up egg). A small cocktail menu further encourages partaking in la dolce vita. Coming this winter to take the cozy factor up another notch: traditional cheese fondue. –Jenny Sullivan
38 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
ERICK GIBSON
Pupatella
READER PICK BEST APPLIANCE STORE
BARBECUE
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co. OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Ruthie’s All-Day Sloppy Mama’s BBQ Smokecraft Modern Barbecue Texas Jack’s Barbecue ICE CREAM
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
CRAFT COCKTAILS
Salt OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Ballston Local Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen SER Thompson Italian FRIED CHICKEN
Hot Lola’s OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
bb.q Chicken Bonchon Queen Mother’s Kitchen Ruthie’s All-Day
Neutral Ground chef and co-owner David Guas
Restaurant in McLean
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen neutralgroundbarandkitchen.com
Together, Simone Rathle and David Guas boast a combined 55 years of hospitality experience between them: she’s an accomplished restaurant publicist and he’s the chef, cookbook author and TV personality behind Arlington’s beloved Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery. Opening a full-service restaurant near their McLean home was a longheld dream for the husband and wife that finally came true in 2024. Rathle played a hand in Neutral Ground’s ebullient coastal design, while Guas’s approachable menu includes eats such as wood oven-roasted oysters, a bone-in pork chop with black-eyed peas and an excellent burger. On Sundays, a raucous jazz brunch with a roving cocktail cart and a live band gives a nod to the couple’s New Orleans roots. At the same time, partnerships with McLean businesses such as The Organic Butcher and Chain Bridge Cellars make the dining experience here a hometown affair. –Adele Chapin OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Aracosia McLean, J. Gilbert’s Wood Fired Steaks & Seafood, McLean Family Restaurant, Sorn Thai Restaurant & Bar
40 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
DEB LINDSEY
Lazy Mike’s Lil City Creamery Mimi’s Handmade
ArlingtQJJ WINNER Reader Pick Two-Time Winner 2026 &2024
MLS Educational Consultants
Services Available In-Person and Remote
www.mlstutors.com • 703-356-0780
Artisanal cocktails and honey-lacquered duck at Nue
Cowboy Cafe OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Ballston Local Dogwood Tavern Open Road Screwtop Wine Bar The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant Westover Beer Garden BUBBLE TEA
Chill Zone Cafe OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Bees & Tea Kung Fu Tea TeaDM
Next Generation Concept
Nue Elegantly Vietnamese nuevietnamese.com
Co-founder Tuyêt Nhi Lê named this otherworldly hideaway in Falls Church after a 1931 nude (nue, in French) painted by her great-great-uncle, artist Lê Pho. But, of course, the name is a double entendre. Every aspect of the dining experience here feels quite new—from the sexy warren of dark floral dining rooms to exquisite cocktails incorporating ingredients such as lemongrass, pandan, lychee and, in some cases, smoke and fire. “Refugees brought their cuisine to the U.S. [during the war], so most of the Vietnamese food that’s eaten in America is still from 1975,” Lê says. “There’s more to it than pho and banh mi. If you travel to Saigon today, the food scene is very international. We want to capture that newness.” They have. The kitchen, helmed by chef Daniel Lê (no relation), is forever innovating. In lieu of Thanksgiving turkey, he offered duck stuffed with truffle sticky rice and persimmons. An Asian take on street corn is tossed in chili-lime butter with prawn chips for scooping. Even classic dishes based on generations-old family recipes are bright, colorful and plated in a way that feels enchantingly fresh. –Jenny Sullivan
42 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
HANNAH PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
Thank you for your votes! Best Architect
Tripp DeFalco, AIA | NCARB www.defalcohomedesign.com
DEFALCO HOME DESIGN
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US...
BEST REMODELER We are so grateful to our wonderful Arlington community for your trust and support! HOME REMODELING
T R I V I STA USA . COM
P. 703.243.3171
1025 N. Fillmore Street 703-888-0845 IG handle: @screwtopwinebar
THANK YOU ARLINGTON Reader Pick:
BEST WINE SHOP Reader Pick:
BEST HAPPY HOUR
• Tastings Every Tuesday
• Brunch on Weekends
• Monthly Wine Club
• Full Menu for Sharing & Pairing
• Wine Pickup Parties
• Dog Friendly Patio
screwtopwinebar.com 44 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Reader Pick:
BEST RESTAURANT IN ARLINGTON Reader Pick:
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
THANK YOU ARLINGTON! We’re honored to be named among the best in Falls Church. Thank you for being such an amazing community. Your support makes this possible.
READER PICK BEST PET BOARDING
SCAN TO CONTACT US TODAY
DUDESDOGHOUSE.COM
7257 LEE HWY, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22046 (703) 857-1400 INFO@DUDESDOGHOUSE.COM
COSMETIC SURGEON
Talal Munasifi OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Frank Albino Al Damavandy James Economides Munique Maia Victoria Suh ORTHODONTIST
Iverson & Wahab Orthodontics OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Berman & Masoud Orthodontics The McLean Orthodontist Northern Virginia Orthodontics TBraces Orthodontics VCO Orthodontics ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
David Romness OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
PEDIATRICIAN
Diane Halpin OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Bassam Atiyeh Christine Baldrate Mary Ellen Gallagher Nancy Kim Hanita Oh-Tan Alison Pease
Concierge Medicine
Northern Virginia Family Practice nvafamilypractice.com
Need a same-day appointment? Not a problem at this patient-centered practice, where members pay an annual fee to receive highly personalized care with an emphasis on preventive medicine. So strong are the doctor-patient bonds that the care teams of NVFP have even been known to attend events with their patients—like the one who recently invited staff to walk with her, in support of her son, in a fundraiser for Down syndrome. NVFP also organizes popular “Walk with Your Doc” strolls, giving patients a chance to deepen connections with their primary care practitioners in person while getting their steps in. Further opportunities for facetime include complimentary classes on “age-proofing” your body and monthly online town halls with patientselected topics like holiday stress management. –Susan Anspach OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Inova 360º Concierge Medicine, MD2, One Medical, Prime-PLC, Signature by MedStar Health
46 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
ADOBE STOCK
Christopher Annunziata Anthony Avery Matthew Buchanan Steven Danaceau Ronald Paik William Petersen Kevin Sumida Clay Wellborn
DENTIST
Stephen Mabry OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Joe Cusumano Mary Gregory Manisha Grover Greg LaVecchia Melanie Love Peter Markov Michael Paesani Adam Roca Michael Rogers Jeffrey Sisel CHILD THERAPY
The Counseling Center Group OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Child & Family Associates of Greater Washington Falls Church Wellness Center Hope+Wellness Sunstone Counseling The Child & Family Practice of Washington, DC Think Happy Live Healthy
Dermatologist
Courtney Herbert
OB/GYN
KURSTIN ROE PHOTOGRAPHY
fdlderm.com
A typical dermatologist may see as many as 30 to 40 patients a day. That crunch wasn’t cutting it for Courtney Herbert who, after enjoying more time with her patients during spaced-out pandemic appointments, made the switch to a direct-pay model for her practice, FDL Dermatology, in late 2020. “I’ve just learned that time is so precious,” she says. These days, some appointments can last up to 90 minutes, particularly when folks coming in for annual skin checks also have other concerns. The office leaves room on the schedule for same-day appointments, and Herbert’s patients know how to contact her, even after hours. “They don’t have to talk to the on-call doctor, or AI, or someone offshore,” she says. “They can reach me. Anytime.” –Susan Anspach OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
William Alms, Amanda Campbell, Aaron Fuchs, Isabela Jones, Margaret Kopelman, Matthew Livingood, Michelle Rivera, Marjan Yousefi
Northern Virginia Physicians to Women OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Capital Women’s Care Healthcare for Women Inova Obstetrics and Gynecology Physicians & Midwives Reiter, Hill & Johnson of Advantia VHC Health OB/GYN
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
47
Dominion Jewelers brings your vision to life with custom pieces, expert craftsmanship, and unmatched value—since 1984. VOTED DC’S BEST FAMILY-OWNED JEWELER 2025
VOTED DC’SREADERS BEST FAMILYOWNED VOTED PICK, BEST FINEJEWELER JEWELER 2025 917 WEST BROAD STREET, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22046 | DOMINIONJEWELERS.COM | 703.237.3737
917 WEST BROAD STREET, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22046 | DOMINIONJEWELERS.COM | 703.237.3737
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS AOF SERVICE E. RI V E. Y. TH
EN RI C H . PL
Proud 6x Reader Pick
DOG WALKING DAYCARE & PET SITTING & BOARDING 703.933.1935 48 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
DOG TRAINING
FurGetMeNot.com
THANK YOU, READERS
Reader Pick Best Remodeler and Best Kitchen/Bath Designer
As we step into a new year, we’re reflecting with deep gratitude on the families who welcomed us into their homes throughout 2025. Your trust, collaboration, and vision are what make our work meaningful. Every project is a story of legacy, comfort, creativity, and connection—and we’re honored to help bring those stories to life. Here’s to a beautiful year ahead filled with inspired design, thoughtful craftsmanship, and spaces that truly feel like home. A Passion for Excellence for 35 years.
GROUP FITNESS CLASS
Orangetheory Fitness OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Burn Boot Camp Club Studio Fitness Endeavor Martial Arts Center Patriot Crossfit Pure Barre StarFit Studio YOGA
Sun & Moon Yoga Studio OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
SPA
Azure Dream Spa OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Crystal Water Massage Honey Skincare Studio Origins Thai Spa Purity Spa Med SkinSpirit
DIY Skincare
Elodie’s Naturals elodiesnaturals.com
Are you careful about what you put on your face? Looking for a moisturizer that’s customized to your age and skin type, with ingredients you can pronounce? Take a class with clean beauty entrepreneur Elodie Cally and learn how to make your own. A Paris native with a French diploma in cosmetic formulation and green chemistry, Cally hosts hands-on workshops for kids and adults, guiding participants in creating fruit scrubs, lip balms, face creams and soaps that won’t harm their skin or the planet. “French regulations demand that anything you put on your lips has to be edible,” she says, “so we use fruit extracts like apricot and blackberry. For those with sensitive skin, we can do fragrance free.” Her Arlington-based company, Elodie’s Naturals, also offers skincare products for purchase, including a bestselling collection of cleansers, serums and lotions made with antioxidant plum oil. –Jenny Sullivan
50 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
COURTESY PHOTO
Club Studio Fitness CorePower Yoga Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga MIYU Beauty & Wellbeing YogaSix
Thank You, Readers!
PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISTY KOSNIC PHOTOGRAPHY
SEVEN-TIME TOP VOTE GETTER
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026
BEST BUILDER & REMODELER
ALAIRARLINGTON.COM
Pilates
Club Pilates clubpilates.com
CYCLING STUDIO
SoulCycle OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Club Studio Fitness CycleBar GYM
Method Fitness
Club Pilates is a big name with boutique vibes. Its Clarendon studio opened last August, joining a gaggle of sister studios in the DMV, all with max class sizes of 12 and real people answering the phone. The Northern Virginia franchise has eight locations—all of them accessible to members with unlimited plans—including studios in Pentagon City, Falls Church and Tysons, with at least four more on the way. In terms of convenience, “that’s like Starbucks,” says franchise director of operations Erika Surma. Classes are clearly labeled by level so newbies can feel comfortable, and instructors weave in modern gym elements like TRX bands, all while maintaining focus on what’s at the—ahem—core of the exercise. –Susan Anspach OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Club Studio Fitness, Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga, The Pilates Loft, Praxi Pilates, RTR Pilates
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Gold’s Gym Life Time Onelife Fitness Patriot Crossfit
A core workout on a Reformer machine at Club Pilates
MANI PEDI
keen OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
COURTESY PHOTO
Hollywood Nails & Spa Nothing in Between Studio Royal Nails Arlington Yorktown Nails
52 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
T U R N Y O U R B A C K YA R D I N T O A L U X U RY S PA W I T H A P L U N G E P O O L
READER PICK BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGNER
SMALL IN SIZE, HUGE IN FEATURES. DISCOVER WHY PLUNGE POOLS ARE CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE POOL. Smaller in size, a plunge pool has built-in seating for quiet relaxation or a ‘sip and dip’ with friends. Easier to maintain, too. Groff Landscape Design specializes in high-end outdoor design and construction; your plunge pool will blend beautifully with your home’s architecture, design themes, and landscape.
GROFFLANDSCAPEDESIGN.COM
703.999.8225
LIMITED-TIME OFFER! SCHEDULE AN IN-PERSON CONSULTATION BEFORE MARCH 1 AND YOUR $175 FEE IS ON US. Scan the QR code or visit grofflandscapedesign.com/ArlingtonPromo to claim your offer, or simply call and mention this ad.
THANK YOU ARLINGTON! 5715 Langston Blvd Arlington, VA 22207 (703) 534-2800 BrayAndScarff.com
Reader Pick:
BEST APPLIANCE STORE
54 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Bray & Scarff, established in 1930, has been a trusted name in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas for more than 90 years. As the leading local, independent appliance retailer, we pride ourselves on employing factory-trained experts who provide personalized service and guidance. our commitment to excellence includes a price match guarantee and a streamlined repair process, ensuring customers receive the best value and support. With more than 20,000 kitchens installed, our in-house designers and installers work diligently to turn dream kitchens into reality.
LAUREN REARDON REALTOR
Reader Pick:
BEST REALTOR
I take such pride in being part of the incredible Arlington community. Joining my past, current, and future clients on the journey of buying and selling their home is my passion, and the reason why I am honored to be recognized as the Top Vote Getter in the Best Of Arlington Realtor category 2026. I am grateful for the support and look forward to serving the Arlington community for years to come!
703.731.2313 LAURENREARDON@REMAX.COM
Thank you for your support! Reader Pick:
BEST MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE Reader Pick:
BEST CHILD THERAPY PRACTICE
info@hope-wellness.com hope-wellness.com
We’re deeply grateful for your trust and honored to support your kids and families with care, heart, and dedication. At Hope+Wellness, we provide kind, compassionate care and evidencebased therapy and testing services to help women, men, children and teens, young adults, adults, families, and couples navigate life’s toughest questions, challenges, and transitions. Our therapists provide top, innovative mental health treatments with genuine warmth and authenticity to help support your positive growth and inspire you toward greater health, happiness, and wellbeing. Please feel free to reach out with any questions; we’re happy to help!
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
55
ARCHITECT
Tripp DeFalco OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Seth Ballard Bob Braddock Heidi FitzHarris GTM Architects Sarah Riddlemoser Peter VanderPoel LUXURY CONDO
Turnberry Tower OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
The Odyssey Pierce The Waterview TREE CARE & REMOVAL
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Davey Tree JL Tree Service RTEC Treecare SavATree PEST CONTROL
PestNow OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
American Pest Green Pest Services Home Paramount Pest Control PMSI Pest Management Services
Kitchen & Bath Design
BOWA
does this need a caption????
bowa.com
The team at BOWA thinks beyond trends to consider what makes the most sense for their clients. Need a kitchen for an avid home chef? Designers will study his movements and routines as he cooks. A bathroom for a forever home? Curbless showers might be the call for an empty-nester couple planning to age in place. “We consider not just aesthetics, but function, emotion and long-term livability,” says Lindsey Britten, design team manager for the McLean-based remodeling firm, which generated $53 million in revenue last year. With more than 35 years in the D.C. region, BOWA offers an all-in-one design-build approach, shepherding projects from plans through execution and final tweaks, to keep it seamless. “Our designers, architects and construction teams are collaborating from day one,” Britten says. –Susan Anspach OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Bowers Design Build, Case Architects & Remodelers, Heartland Design & Remodeling, ODE Design, TriVistaUSA Design + Build
56 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
NOVA SOUL IMAGERY
Bartlett Tree Experts
REAL ESTATE AGENT
Natalie Roy OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Patty Couto Megan Fass Coral Gundlach Liz Lord Trevor Moore Keri O’Sullivan Lauren Reardon Michelle Sagatov Eli Tucker Dawn Wilson REMODELER
TriVistaUSA Design + Build OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Alair Homes Arlington Atlas Moran Construction BOLT Builders BOWA Bowers Design Build Case Architects & Remodelers Design Pro Remodeling Heartland Design & Remodeling
Virginia-Made Furniture
Hardwood Artisans
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
COURTESY PHOTOS
hardwoodartisans.com
Consumer tastes have evolved over the course of Hardwood Artisans’ 50 years in the furniture business. Lately Shaker-style has been supplanted by a preference for midcentury modern. But the company’s dedication to quality endures. Its craftsmanship is ever on display at its Shirlington showroom, where buyers can peruse and customize a range of styles and finishes for tables, bedframes and case goods built by master carpenters (roughly half of whom are women) at the company’s 40,000 square-foot shop in Culpeper. Heirloom pieces with dovetail joinery are fashioned almost exclusively out of East Coast wood sourced from sustainable lumber mills, and the shop repurposes 96% of its wood waste. “We offer free shop tours during the week so people can see their pieces coming through production,” says marketing director Susan CaudleSmay, wife of CEO Curt Smay. (The company’s petite “Susan” collection, designed for smaller spaces, is named after her.) “Seeing it as it’s made often makes them fall in love with it even more.” –Jenny Sullivan
Groff Landscape Design OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Artscapes Landscape Design blue house gardens LGGI Maintenance & Landscaping Outdoor Aesthetics
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
57
Downsizing Service
Abode by JE abodebyje.com
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Jacqueline Elaine
Cocozza Organizing + Design, Shelli Ferguson, Town & Country Move Management
THANK YOU ARLINGTON!
Do You Have All Your Financial Organizing Bases Covered?
Reader Pick:
BEST DAILY MONEY MANAGER
Managing your bills, categorizing items, insurance claims, tax documents— monthly income and expenses can be stressful!
Let C. Dolan & Associates help navigate and organize your fi nancial paperwork to restore peace of mind. Christine Dolan Founder & CEO
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION TODAY.
703-868-8664 I christine@cdolanfinancial.com I cdolanfinancial.com 58 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
BRIGITTE RENEE
Busy households can be short on time and tight on space. For help wrangling the chaos, it’s nice to call on someone whose entire professional life hinges on space optimization. Enter Jacqueline Elaine, who runs her Arlington home organization business alongside a career as a United Airlines flight attendant, and who understands that certain possessions come with feelings attached. “A lot of my work, it’s therapy,” says the 31-year-old Texas native. “I have a client who’s a widow. I just hug her sometimes and let her cry when we go through things.” Another client, a growing family, called on Elaine to prep their nursery, cull and donate old baby clothes, and put age-appropriate toys on rotation as they welcomed each of their three children. “There’s emotional capacity behind it,” she says. “I try to make sure people are understanding that is also a part of the service.” –Susan Anspach
THANK YOU, ARLINGTON
Trevor Moore Vice President | Principal Serving VA, DC, MD
READER PICK BEST REALTOR
Compass Arlington 3001 Washington Blvd., Suite 400 M - 703-915-0869 trevor@theluxurycollectivedc.com theluxurycollectivedc.com
This recognition is deeply meaningful, and I owe it to the clients who invite me into their lives during one of their biggest decisions. I strive to bring a calm, informed voice to the process — one rooted in expertise, empathy, and real connection. Helping people feel seen, supported, and confident is the best part of serving this extraordinary community.
Thank You Arlington! BEAN, KINNEY & KORMAN HAS BEEN ASSISTING FAMILIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND AND D.C. FOR OVER 65 YEARS
Reader Pick Best Family Law Practice
2311 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201 703.525.4000 | beankinney.com
Michelle Bieber
Alexandra Fletcher
Lynn Hawkins
Taylor Klauza Beckelman
Christian Lapham
Jennifer McCammon
Theresa Mihalik
Daniel Perszyk
Nicole Salisbury
Jill Seiferth
60 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
CUSTOM HOMES • ADDITIONS • INTERIORS • HISTORIC PRESERVATION www.ballardmensua.com (703) 992-7580
7-TIME TOP VOTE-GETTER
Keri O’Sullivan, ABR, GRI | Real Estate Broker | NVAR Lifetime Top Producer | RE/MAX Hall of Fame | RE/MAX Allegiance 703-395-4099 | Keri@OSullivanProperties.com | www.OSullivanProperties.com | Licensed in VA & DC ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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PET BOARDING
Fur-Get Me Not OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Bark + Boarding District Dogs Dogtopia Dude’s Dog House Olde Towne Pet Resort Playful Pack Two Way Pet Services PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL
Bishop O’Connell High School OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
SUMMER DAY CAMP
Congressional Camp OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Boolean Girl Calleva Camp Griffin Camp Kids Place Camp Sarraka Educational Theatre Company Encore Stage & Studio MoCA Arlington Summer Camp
An Overlee home meet
Swim Club
Overlee Community Association overlee.org
Every day feels like summer vacation at this private, member-owned swim club just off Langston Boulevard. Surrounded by mature trees, the landscaped property is home to multiple pools, a clubhouse, a snack bar, beach volleyball and outdoor grills for socializing. But much of the club’s sporty culture revolves around its robust swim, dive and synchronized swimming programs for kids 18 and under. The screams you hear on select weeknights and Saturday mornings are parents and fans cheering on the Flying Fish during home meets. –Jenny Sullivan OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Arlington Forest Club, Chesterbrook Swim & Tennis Club, Dominion Hills Pool
62 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
COURTESY PHOTO
Episcopal High School Gonzaga College High School The Potomac School St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School The Sycamore School
SLEEPAWAY CAMP
Sandy Hill Camp OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Camp Friendship Camp Hidden Meadows Camp Tockwogh TUTORING SERVICE
MLS Educational Consultants OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Educational Connections The Est Institute Prepped Learning Tutoring Club of McLean Zee Tutoring FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
Marion Meakem Photography
Medical Director Farid Boughanem with Loki the dog, and veterinarian Allison “Sunny” House Timke with Frankie the cat
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Veterinarian
Alex Sakes Photography Cindy Kane Photography Donna Owens Photography Sarah Thayer Photography
Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic cherrydalevet.com
J. MICHAEL WHALEN
In a field known for high turnover, Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic is an anomaly. Each of the practice’s current doctors started out there after vet school and never left. The clinic’s certified acupuncturist, in-house ultrasonographer and exotics doctor lend further exceptional status (yup, you can bring in your hedgehog or boa constrictor alongside your cat or dog). Something else to wag about: The office that opened in 1972 now operates 12 hours a day, seven days a week, helping clients and their furry family members avoid emergency vet fees when the inevitable crisis occurs after 5 p.m. on a Friday. –Susan Anspach OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Arlington Animal Hospital, Ballston Animal Hospital, Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Clarendon Animal Care, McLean Animal Hospital, Northside Veterinary Clinic, Suburban Animal Hospital
PLAYGROUND
Chestnut Hills Park OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Cherry Hill Park Clemyjontri Park Fairlington Playground Lubber Run Park Rocky Run Park
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
63
PATTY COUTO
Thank you, Arlington, for voting me one of the Best Real Estate agents. I’m truly honored and grateful for your continued trust and support.
Realtor® in VA, DC & TX
PattyCHomes.com
M: 703-909-7113
O: 703-266-7277
Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 3001 Washington Blvd, Suite 400 Arlington, VA 22201 | 202.888.4211
64 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
blue house gardens llc Designing beautiful outdoor spaces for people and nature since 2008 www.bluehousegardens.com
@bluehousegardens
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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BOOKSTORE
One More Page Books OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTER:
Fonts Books & Gifts TOY STORE
Child’s Play Toys & Books OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Doodlehopper 4 Kids Kinder Haus Toys RUNNING STORE
Pacers Running PR Run & Walk Road Runner Sports GARDEN CENTER
Merrifield Garden Center OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTER:
Meadows Farms APPLIANCE STORE
ABW Appliances
Boutique in Arlington
Lemoncello Boutique lemoncellobtq.com
Imagine a very small, curated department store, and you’ll get a feel for this familyowned boutique in the Lee Heights Shops. “We try to cover a lot of bases,” says Nicole Kahle, who’s owned the business with her parents since 2016. You may well pop in for a housewarming or baby shower gift and leave with an entirely new outfit for yourself. Tucked amid the pretty shelves and table displays are enewton bracelets, NIC+ZOE dresses, Jellycat plushies and a huge array of Scout bags. Kahle stocks wares that appeal to her clientele’s sense of style, which she sums up as “traditional with a touch of trend.” –Adele Chapin
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Bray & Scarff Glebe Appliances
Covet, The Golden Fox Boutique, Le Village Marche, Trade Roots, Two the Moon, The Urban Farmhouse
66 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
COURTESY PHOTO
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
BOUTIQUE IN FALLS CHURCH
Botanologica OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Stylish Patina BOUTIQUE IN MCLEAN
Apricot Lane Boutique OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Mesmeralda’s Gifts The Preppy Pink Pony Sassanova of McLean FINE JEWELRY
Dominion Jewelers OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Ascot Diamonds Boone & Sons Jewelers Protea Diamonds Sacramento Jewelers FLORIST
Company Flowers & Gifts Too! Bricks and Minifigs owner Christian Luik
Hub for Lego Lovers
Bricks & Minifigs
ERICK GIBSON
bricksandminifigs.com/fallschurch-va
OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Botanologica Karin’s Florist Kat Flowers Twin Towers Florist FRAMING SHOP
Builders of all ages have been flocking to this colorful buy-sell-trade emporium ever since it opened in November 2024, whether they’re on the hunt for a vintage medieval castle set, the latest new Star Wars drop or that elusive missing piece they need to finish a thingamajig of their own design. The clientele ranges from Lego newbies to diehard hobbyists, including a few retirees who like to pop in and build for fun, says franchise owner Christian Luik. A back room can be reserved for birthday parties, and there’s a price point for everyone, with new and used sets ranging from $10 to $1,800, plus oodles of bins filled with loose bricks. “When I was growing up, Lego was a very solitary activity,” Luik says. “Our goal is to create a community place where people can unleash their creativity. –Jenny Sullivan
KH Art Framing OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
Art and Frame of Falls Church Framebridge Italo Frame Sterling Picture Framing
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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LunaBlu founder Hannah Moskowitz with her rescue dogs
Pet Accessories
LunaBlu
Shopping at Blossom & Buds
lunablucreates.com
68 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Consignment Shop
Blossom & Buds blossomandbuds.com
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Chances are, you’ve already seen some fashionable pups about town sporting collars, leashes, bandannas and bowties from Hannah Moskowitz’s stylish line. The options range from floral, dinosaur and food-themed prints, to custom neckwear with personalized themes, sizing or embroidery. Committed to sustainability, her operation on Columbia Pike recycles all fabric and webbing scraps and offers a “reFURbish” program that reuses existing buckles and hardware while replacing worn-out straps. Watch for new collections centering on birthday/gotcha days and breast cancer awareness, plus a luxe line that pays homage to designer brands with patterns such as “Furberry” plaid. –Jenny Sullivan
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Wesley J. Barnes and the cast of Play On! at Signature Theatre
Live Theater
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we live in, from provocative new works by emerging playwrights to fresh takes on Broadway classics. This season brings a special version of Fiddler on the Roof and a new and electrifying riff on the indie rock musical Safety Not Guaranteed. –Madelyn Rosenberg OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
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Mama Moon and The Rump Shakers perform at the 2023 festival
Music Festival
Columbia Pike Blues Festival Now heading into its 29th year, this spirited block party draws serious musical talent (D.C.’s award-winning funk-soul group Everyday Everybody was the 2025 headliner). But the annual event celebrates more than great music. It also showcases the cultural richness and diversity of life along the Pike, says Andrew Schneider, executive director of the Columbia Pike Partnership, with games, music, dancing and foods ranging from empanadas and doughnuts to kabobs. As the 15-year construction project on Columbia Pike finally reaches an end, the 2026 festival, to be held June 13, will be a big part of a celebratory “welcome back.” –Madelyn Rosenberg OTHER TOP VOTE-GETTERS:
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Beginner’s Mind, a 2024 group exhibition at Friends Artspace
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Rude
AWAKENING
Have we entered an age of incivility?
M
y husband and I recently joined another couple for dinner out in the Mosaic District. We were in a busy crosswalk when someone yelled, “Walk [expletive] faster!” It was the driver of a car waiting—apparently impatiently—for us to reach the curb so he could make a left. The memory of that incident now lives rent-free in my head. My husband was mad. One of our friends wished the driver a more peaceful night than the one he seemed to be having. The other friend was stunned. And I thought, Well, that was rude. The knot it created in my stomach reminded me of other episodes that left me feeling not so warm and fuzzy: the people we invited to our son’s bar mitzvah who
By Stephanie Kanowitz Illustrations by Rossnelly Salazar
didn’t bother to RSVP; the woman at the post office who assailed my children for laughing too loud; the store clerk who completed an entire transaction without speaking or even looking at me. I started to wonder: Are we getting ruder?
BY SOME ACCOUNTS, YES. A November 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center found nearly half of Americans reporting an overall rise in rudeness since the pandemic. Of those,
20% said that public behavior has become “a lot more rude.” Curious to know whether people living in and around Arlington shared these sentiments, Arlington Magazine in October posed the same question in an online poll. A significant majority (about 82%) of the 111 readers who responded said that civility has declined over the past five years. Nearly half said people have become “a lot more rude,” while 32% said we’ve become “a little more rude” as a society. One lone respondent said folks are more polite than they used to be. The thing about rudeness, though, is that it’s hard to define because it can be subjective. What’s offensive to one culture or individual may be perfectly ac-
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■ rude awakening
ceptable to another. What’s chivalrous to one generation may be perceived as sexist by another. Parenting decisions are often a point of contention. Westover resident Cynthia Kilmer remembers being at a neighborhood bar on a Friday night around 10 p.m. when a fellow patron with a child in tow asked her friend to lower his voice and stop cursing. “My friend was like, ‘What? Your kid shouldn’t be here,’” she says. Which was more offensive: cursing in public or bringing a kid to an adultoriented place and demanding G-rated behavior? Depends on who you ask. But some brushes with rudeness are undeniable. “We kind of know it when we see it,” says Linda McKenna Gulyn, a professor of psychology at Marymount University. Oliver Hinson recalls getting honked at while waiting for a handicapped parking spot at VHC Health. “The people behind me couldn’t get around me for a minute,” says the Madison Manor resident. “This guy, he was just blowing his horn like crazy and called me the B word.” Incidents in cars are a common flashpoint. Other participants in our survey were dismayed by what they perceive as an uptick in aggressive driving, inconsiderate parking and behaviors behind the wheel that endanger pedestrians. “Many drivers lay on their horn the moment a light turns green…as if any hesitation longer than a split second is an offense,” one respondent lamented. Timothy Welsh of Baileys Crossroads remembers asking a woman in the passenger seat of a double-parked car if she would mind moving it so he could get by. “I got all kinds of expletives, and then it’s my fault that I confronted her,” he says. “That made me a little bit angry, but it also made me feel like I’m glad I’m not like that. I’m glad I’m thoughtful.” McKenna Gulyn is not the first psychologist to observe that vehicles enable bad behavior. People in their cars
People feel like they have permission to just vomit nastiness in any kind of situation where comments are available.” think of other drivers not as humans, but as their vehicles. “I am my car, so I can cut someone off or do something even worse because it’s not you, it’s the car,” she says. “That person has been depersonalized. That person is a car.”
MANY PEOPLE INTERVIEWED for this story—including mental health professionals, everyday citizens and etiquette experts—blame the political climate for an epidemic of incivility. “I don’t think it’s Covid as much as national leadership discourse that is negative and disrespectful, which leads our youth to think it is appropriate,” one survey respondent wrote. Psychology Today describes this as a form of social learning theory, which states that we take behavioral cues from the people around us. Partisan rhetoric and attacks, distilled into sound bites and memes, have normalized a language of disrespect and contempt. (In November, the President of the United States chastised a reporter for asking a question he didn’t like by responding, “Quiet, Piggy.”) To the surprise of no one, many survey respondents described the internet as a hellscape of incivility. “The rudeness I see is not in person,” one person wrote. “It’s when [the offender] can hide behind what they say on the phone, on social media and in emails.” Falls Church resident Pamela Lessard concurs. “People feel like they have permission to just vomit nastiness in any kind of situation where comments are available,” she says. The fact that rudeness attracts attention makes it downright compelling to some. “The more you’re able to be outlandish via social media…that is what almost makes us famous now,” observes Crystal L. Bailey, founder of the Etiquette Institute of Washington. She
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teaches classes on etiquette at Arlington County public schools and hosts workshops for kids, adults and corporations. So what is it about Facebook, X, TikTok, Nextdoor and other social media platforms that brings out the worst in us? As with vehicles, the internet imparts a layer of anonymity. Some people use online pseudonyms and avatars, making it even easier to dissociate from the recipients of their ire. “That anonymity allows people to get away with being pretty awful to one another,” says Jill Weber, a McLean psychologist whose expertise includes treating individuals struggling with (among other things) emotional regulation, anger management and impulse control. Social media also fosters a tribal mentality that feeds divisiveness, she adds. “If you see 10 other people who are upset about something, you just hop on that train and everybody attacks.” Navigating the digital realm can be treacherous. In a 2021 Pew study, 41% of internet users claimed they’d been harassed online. A whole vocabulary now exists to describe various forms of rudeness on social media, including ghosting (ending communication without explanation), trolling (posting inflammatory or derogatory comments) and doxing (revealing personal information to exact revenge or make an individual feel unsafe). Even folks who use their real identity may behave differently online than they would face to face. McKenna Gulyn says that feeling of anonymity or group think can erode the sense of self that guides in-person interactions. Social psychologists refer to this phenomenon as deindividuation. “When you are online and someone says something in a chat and you don’t like it, you can say, ‘That’s stupid,’” she says. The problem is, those behaviors
are creeping into offline interactions. “I think it becomes habitual, and it gets transferred into the real world.”
SOME WOULD ARGUE that public decorum has fallen by the wayside. Participants in our survey reported entering buildings behind people who let the door close in their face. They bemoaned a lack of eye contact with store clerks and receptionists. They’ve seen customers demeaning service industry workers, and the ugly emergence of a “me first” mentality. Caryn Leslie recalls feeling frustrated and invisible when she arrived promptly for lab work at her doctor’s office, only to wait while the technicians finished gossiping about a coworker. “I’m standing there waiting for them to acknowledge me, and they’re just chatting away,” says Leslie, who lives in Douglas Park. “It was almost as though they resented that I was standing there. You don’t want to say, ‘Excuse me,’ because then they get all huffy about it. It just makes for an uncomfortable situation.” Cici Schultz, a resident of Arlington’s Overlee neighborhood, was appalled when she witnessed a man berating a teenage cashier at the grocery store for using the wrong bags. “That poor 17-year-old was thinking they were going to get fired,” she says. The apparent prevalence of such attacks jibes with research conducted by Christine Porath, a professor at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace. A 2022 survey of people in customer service jobs worldwide found 73% saying it wasn’t unusual for customers to behave badly, up from 61% a decade earlier. In a recent article for Psychology Today, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, posited that maybe people aren’t ruder than they used to be.
Blah Blah
...
Research suggests that witnessing others’ rudeness can have a negative effect on mood and cognitive performance. Perhaps the current crop of bad behavior is just more public. Nine in 10 Americans own smartphones, and they’re apt to use them to record and document unsavory human interactions. People would do well to remember that “every single person around you has a 4K-capable phone, capable of taking video, capable of live streaming to the internet,” says Reed Albers, who lives in Bristow and works in the Arlington office of the Virginia Family Law Center.
THERE’S A PRICE to pay for rudeness, even if you aren’t the aggressor or the recipient. Research published in the
Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that merely witnessing others’ rudeness can have a negative effect on mood and cognitive performance. “It definitely increases stress, or it could lower your concentration [if you are] ruminating about the interaction,” says Zack Goldman, owner of Solid Ground Psychotherapy in Arlington. Watching stressful interactions unfold also “erodes trust in people in general and leads to more of this dehumanizing cycle,” he says. What’s more, rudeness can be contagious. Researchers at Lancaster University in the U.K. have even coined a term for this phenomenon: the Principle of (Im)politeness Reciprocity. Marymount professor McKenna Gulyn describes the contagion as a form of “excitation transfer”—the notion that arousal from one stimulus makes us likelier to respond emotionally to another, unrelated one. For example: “You have an argument with your mom in the morning…and then you go to a public setting and you’re rude to the clerk,” she says. “It’s nothing to do with the clerk. It’s because you’ve taken that emotion and you’ve found another target for it. Is that target really deserving
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■ rude awakening
of that? Probably not.” (A similar term used by psychologists to describe this tendency is “displacement theory.”) Goldman contends that rudeness is rarely intentional. He considers it a stress response, not a personality trait. “People act rudely when their emotional regulation skills break down and they’re trying to gain more control or protect themselves,” he explains. “It’s almost a reaction vs. something that’s deliberate and thought out. It’s something that happens impulsively.” When it comes to social norms, there are degrees of bad behavior, says Rebecca Czarniecki, an etiquette coach and owner of Tea with Mrs. B in Falls Church. (Her company hosts tea parties and manners classes for children and adults.) Sometimes a faux pas—for example, failing to thank a party host or gift giver; blaring music with the car windows down; talking loudly in the library; disregarding a restaurant’s dress code—happens simply because that person doesn’t know better. “When someone does not have good manners, [it may be that] they’re just not aware,” she says. “It’s really no different than having to perform in front of an audience and never picking up the instrument or practicing. When I think of rudeness…it’s a loud, abrupt interruption into the dance of life.” McKenna Gulyn sees a correlation between rudeness and an overall decline in empathy—the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and relate to how they are feeling. “We need to find a way to reconnect and re-energize each other in order to restore that sense of the world is still an OK place,” she says. McLean psychologist Weber believes tangible, in-person interactions are an antidote: “Research shows that we do better when there’s actually a connection, even if it’s a small connection, even if it’s small talk. That floods our nervous systems with the good chemicals that make us feel like we belong
Even small talk floods our nervous systems with the good chemicals that make us feel like we belong and we’re a part of something.” and we’re a part of something.” According to Pete Davis, a civic advocate and filmmaker based in Falls Church, community reengagement is another step in the right direction. Join or Die, the 2023 documentary he made with his sister, Rebecca, (and based on a book by retired Harvard University professor Robert Putnam) illustrates the importance of social capital—the value that comes from social relationships, generalized reciprocity and doing something for the greater good, rather than personal gain. Technology was making us more isolated even before the pandemic, he says. In a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center, 43% of respondents nationwide said they belonged to no community organizations. Davis thinks a renewed commitment to community service could be restorative. By joining clubs, “you learn the civic skill of being a social person who can interact with other people in public,” he says. “You’re also building up a cultural sense that the public matters, that any given person in your neighborhood is part of your community and therefore you should treat them well.”
RUDENESS MAY BE a societal scourge, but stopping it requires personal effort. There’s self-awareness involved in recognizing when your state of mind makes you more prone to being rude yourself, or to taking others’
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actions personally. Arlington therapist Goldman recommends mindfulness exercises to enhance that self-awareness. Mindfulness teaches you to notice when your thoughts drift so you can bring them back under control. Taking responsibility for your own actions is another step toward civility. When you’re rude, Weber says, own it and apologize. “Tell the person on the receiving end, ‘I know this isn’t your fault,’ or ‘I’m having a really bad day.’” And if you bear witness to another person’s rudeness? Politely call that person out or let the victim in the exchange know that the aggressor’s behavior was wrong. Schultz says that after the grocery store customer yelled at the young cashier, she told the teen, “You’re doing a great job.” Arlington resident Hamilton Humes likes to give folks the benefit of the doubt. As a rule, he assumes that most impolite actions stem from cluelessness, not intentionality. Instead of confronting people who are behaving poorly, he likes to thank those who are not. “People respond more to positive feedback, and if you encourage good behavior, that crowds out bad behavior,” he says. Lastly, forge connections to flex that empathy muscle. The pandemic made a lot of interactions more transactional, Weber says. “I need this person to give me X and then I’m going to move on and get back into my orbit vs. really trying to make eye contact and connect and try to understand a little bit about their perspective. All of those things are harder if you’re not in the practice of [doing them].” Ultimately, says McKenna Gulyn, we all want the same thing. “We all want to be respected and loved and to be seen as human.” ■ Stephanie Kanowitz is a digital editor at Arlington Magazine and mom of two kids who always send thank you notes after receiving gifts.
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it’s too expensive. In reality, cosmetic dentistry is about much more than creating a beautiful smile. Many treatments not only enhance appearance but also improve function, strengthen teeth and support long-term health. It’s also more accessible than people realize, with options to fit a variety of goals and budgets. It’s not about vanity—it’s about confidence, wellness and creating a smile that looks and feels natural.
Q: What’s the most exciting advancement in cosmetic dentistry today?
A: 3D printing technology is transforming the way we design and deliver smiles. It allows us to create precise models, temporary restorations, veneers and even provisional crowns in a fraction of the time it once took—resulting in faster turnaround, greater accuracy and a truly customized fit for every patient. With 3D printing, patients can preview their new smile design before treatment even begins. When combined with digital scanning and smile design software, it’s making cosmetic dentistry more efficient, predictable and personalized than ever.
Q: How do you help patients choose the right procedures to achieve their ideal smile?
A: I start by truly listening. Every patient
200 Little Falls St., Suite 101 Falls Church, VA 22046 703-997-1962 www.novadentalstudio.com
86 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
MICHAEL VENTURA
Dr. Michael J. Paesani earned his DMD from the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency at the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach. He provides advanced, personalized, patient-focused general and cosmetic dentistry.
has their own vision—from a subtle enhancement to a complete transformation. We begin with an open conversation about their goals, concerns and how they want to feel when they look in the mirror. We then design a tailored plan—whether it’s whitening, veneers, Invisalign or a combination—based on their needs, lifestyle and budget, creating a result that feels authentic and uniquely theirs.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Look Good, Feel Good PROFILES
Jeffrey L. Brown, DDS, MBA SLEEP & TMJ THERAPY
Q: How does your unique approach to treating TMD help patients find lasting relief? A: A misaligned jaw can restrict the
airway, causing poor sleep, fatigue and jaw pain, even altering facial symmetry. Studies show that over half of TMD patients also have sleep issues, and the two conditions can exacerbate each other. At Sleep & TMJ Therapy, we focus on gentle, structural healing that most dentists aren’t trained in, restoring balance and comfort from the inside out. Instead of quick fixes like Botox, we use specialized treatments, including custom orthotics and sleep appliances that open airways, the ALF Appliance to realign cranial bones and Fotona laser for deep tissue relaxation—especially in tight head and neck muscles. Once symptoms improve, we explore lasting solutions like orthodontics or crowns to achieve long-term stability. By treating the root cause, patients enjoy better sleep, more energy and lasting relief from jaw pain and headaches. Even in cases others say can’t be helped, my patients’ before-and-after MRIs usually show real, tangible improvement.
Q: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
A: I love helping people get their lives
HILARY SCHWAB
A Georgetown Dental School graduate and Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, Dr. Brown is an international TMD speaker whose expertise in TMJ, sleep, and orthodontics offers patients a unique, integrated approach.
back. Chronic pain can change who you are, affecting your mood, your energy and your outlook on life. Every day, we see patients who’ve been in pain for years, have seen countless doctors and have almost given up hope. Helping them finally find answers and lasting relief is incredibly rewarding. Nothing beats a patient telling us they can sleep again, eat comfortably or simply get through the day without pain.
2841 Hartland Road, Suite 301 Falls Church, VA 22043 703-821-1103 office@sleepandtmjtherapy.com www.sleepandtmjtherapy.com/
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Better, Bigger A targeted remodel made this vintage Lyon Village home more functional without adding square footage. BY NIGEL F. MAYNARD | PHOTOS BY NOVA SOUL IMAGERY
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A
rlington residents Kristen and Anthony Kandah always loved the character and charm of older homes. So when the time came for them to renovate their 1920s Craftsman bungalow in Lyon Village, a major expansion was out of the question. Instead, they decided on a targeted, multiphase makeover to keep the parts that worked while improving the home’s shortcomings. The idea of renovating wasn’t even on the couple’s radar when they bought the 2,155-square-foot house in 2016. “We were very grateful to just be able to get into Lyon Village,” Kristen says. “[The house] had been redone a little bit by another builder before we bought it. It felt like a very good starter home.” Three years later, they moved to Columbus, Ohio, for work (both are in technology sales for Cisco Systems), renting out the Arlington house in their absence. The place they bought in Ohio opened their eyes to a different way of
living and a different kind of space. “[It] was a beautifully restored 19thcentury Victorian home,” Kristen says. “We got accustomed to what a very high-end renovation felt like. So when we came back to Lyon Village two years later, we felt like our home needed some sprucing up. We wanted to keep the historical aspect of it, but we also wanted to make it the best fit for our family.” Situated on a 7,500-square-foot property with mature landscaping, the house was nicely proportioned to its lot, but the interior had drawbacks. “It had a lot of dead space and was kind of boxy, and the rooms were cut off from each other,” Kristen says. “We also had kind of a useless front sitting room that we didn’t really know what to do with.” To execute the redo, the Kandahs called on Winn Design + Build, a McLean-based firm that had done a number of renovations in the neighborhood. “The first phase we did for them was a little bit more surgical in nature,”
90 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
The former front parlor (left) is now a dining room that adjoins the kitchen.
says CEO and founder Michael Winn. This included what he calls “foundational things,” such as replacing most of the electrical work, installing all-new plumbing systems and making behindthe-wall improvements, such as insulation and air sealing. “We also addressed the crawl space and finished what was a really scary little dungeon in their basement,” Winn says. The Phase 1 updates were unsexy, but sorely needed. In addition to shoring up the home’s essential systems, other changes involved spatial improvements to the first floor and the exterior. “We took down some walls to open up the floor plan,” Winn explains. “There was an awkward entry room
[just inside the front door] that wasn’t functional at all. With the locations of the doors and the stairs, it wasn’t really a usable space.” Shifting the front door over to one side allowed the design team to carve out a small foyer and convert that awkward parlor into a proper dining room. They removed a wall that had previously closed off the kitchen to create an open plan with a large island and a natural flow between the kitchen and dining areas. Recognizing the practical needs of a family with young boys (now ages 4 and 9) and a dog, they also added a mud room and a side entry to the house. On the exterior, Winn’s team re-
placed the trim, introduced new fiber cement siding (changing the facade from tan to slate blue) and fixed the rotting and sagging front porch. In the process, they traded the round Doric columns that had previously held up the porch for square, tapered columns, which are more in keeping with the home’s architectural style. Phase 1 was completed in August of 2021. Phase 2, which began in the summer of 2024, “was really about doing the upstairs and trying to get more functional bedrooms,” Kristen says. The existing second level had a primary bedroom with an en-suite bath, a second bedroom shared by the their two sons, a guest room and a tiny hall bathroom.
“I felt bad every time guests came over,” she says. “They had to share a bathroom with my two young boys.” Winn reorganized the bathrooms to create a more efficient layout, and even managed to add a third bathroom to the guest suite by repurposing a tiny closet. “We shoehorned the bathroom into this front bedroom where I think most people would say there’s no way you’re gonna get a bathroom in here,” he says. Other improvements included sprucing up the Kandahs’ detached garage with new siding and architectural detailing to match the main house. A light-filled accessory dwelling unit (ADU) above the garage contains a
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An efficiency unit above the garage serves as a guest cottage. An updated second floor bathroom with a skylight
The cladding and trim on the garage match the style of the main house.
small bathroom, sleeping quarters and a kitchenette, serving as a guest cottage for visitors. Post glow-up, the residence reads as a prettier and more functional version of its former self. But it’s not any bigger.
The Kandahs say they’re happy with their decision to maintain the proportions and character of their vintage bungalow instead of tearing it down or tacking on a massive addition, which would have resulted in less yard space. “We have a pretty good size lot,” Kristen says, “and our house is not on the whole lot, so we’ve got a nice size backyard for the kids to play. The inside of it is just as serene as it can be
92 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
for a family with two little boys. I love all the light, and I love the openness. No matter where I am downstairs, I can see where the kids are playing, inside or out.” ■ Nigel F. Maynard is a freelance writer and editor of the new magazine Design Vibes. He lives in historic Hyattsville, Maryland. Follow him on Instagram @products_ hound and @designvibesmag.
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1034 Founders Ridge Lane, McLean SALE PRICE: $4.23 MILLION
COURTESY BRIGHT MLS
October’s Most Expensive Home Sales 22201 (Arlington)
22203 (Arlington)
1416 N. Hancock St. List Price: $3.88 million Sale Price: $3.88 million Days on Market: 124 Listing Office: Compass Neighborhood: Lyon Village Year Built: 2025 Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 7/1
104 N. Galveston St. List Price: $1.32 million Sale Price: $1.3 million Days on Market: 27 Listing Office: Long & Foster Real Estate Neighborhood: Arlington Forest Year Built: 1948 Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
22202 (Arlington)
22204 (Arlington)
2322 S. Arlington Ridge Road List Price: $1.6 million Sale Price: $1.66 million Days on Market: 8 Listing Office: William G. Buck & Assoc. Neighborhood: Arlington Ridge Year Built: 1935 Bedrooms: 3 Full/Half Baths: 2/2
4019 7th St. S. List Price: $2.01 million Sale Price: $2.01 million Days on Market: 1 Listing Office: Urban Living Real Estate Neighborhood: Alcova Heights Year Built: 2025 Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
This information, courtesy of Bright MLS as of Nov. 17, 2025, includes homes sold in October 2025, excluding sales in which sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 100,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve over 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com.
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22041 (Falls Church) 3341 Mansfield Road List Price: $899,000 Sale Price: $905,000 Days on Market: 6 Listing Office: RE/MAX Distinctive Real Estate Neighborhood: Munson Hill Farm Year Built: 1959 Bedrooms: 3 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
22205 (Arlington) 5905 23rd St. N. List Price: $1.4 million Sale Price: $1.5 million Days on Market: 4 Listing Office: Weichert, Realtors Neighborhood: Parkhurst Year Built: 1942 Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
22206 (Arlington) 2508-E S. Arlington Mill Drive #5 List Price: $770,000 Sale Price: $768,000 Days on Market: 8 Listing Office: Samson Properties Neighborhood: Windgate Year Built: 1982 Bedrooms: 3 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
22207 (Arlington) 3514 N. Ohio St. List Price: $3.3 million Sale Price: $3.08 million Days on Market: 253 Listing Office: Keller Williams Realty Neighborhood: Williamsburg Village Year Built: 2025 Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 7/1
22209 (Arlington) 1781 N. Pierce St. #2201 List Price: $2.98 million Sale Price: $2.9 million Days on Market: 207
Listing Office: Corcoran McEnearney Neighborhood: Rosslyn Year Built: 2021 Bedrooms: 2 Full/Half Baths: 2/1
22213 (Arlington) 3010 N. Tacoma St. List Price: $2.75 million Sale Price: $2.85 million Days on Market: 124 Listing Office: BeaconCrest Real Estate Neighborhood: Arlington Year Built: 2025 Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 7/1
22101 (McLean)
22042 (Falls Church) 7435 Mason Lane List Price: $1.7 million Sale Price: $1.7 million Days on Market: 27 Listing Office: eXp Realty Neighborhood: None listed Year Built: 2013 Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
22043 (Falls Church) 2044 Greenwich St. List Price: $1.99 million Sale Price: $1.99 million Days on Market: 247 Listing Office: Pearson Smith Realty Neighborhood: Southampton Year Built: 2024 Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1
22044 (Falls Church)
6431 Georgetown Pike List Price: $22 million Sale Price: $22 million Days on Market: 6 Listing Office: Washington Fine Properties Neighborhood: Langley Farms Year Built: 2023 Bedrooms: 10 Full/Half Baths: 12/4
6211 Waterway Drive List Price: $2.9 million Sale Price: $2.79 million Days on Market: 17 Listing Office: Washington Fine Properties Neighborhood: Lake Barcroft Year Built: 1966 Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
22102 (McLean)
22046 (Falls Church)
1034 Founders Ridge Lane List Price: $4.8 million Sale Price: $4.23 million Days on Market: 106 Listing Office: Century 21 New Millennium Neighborhood: The Reserve Year Built: 2004 Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 7/3
1010 N. Tuckahoe St. List Price: $3 million Sale Price: $3 million Days on Market: 28 Listing Office: Samson Properties Neighborhood: Broadmont Year Built: 2025 Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1
94 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
COURTESY BRIGHT MLS
6211 Waterway Drive, Falls Church SALE PRICE: $2.79 MILLION
LOC AL .
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A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R I N V I R G I N I A
K A R E N C LO S E K ARE N .CLOSE@C21N M .COM 70 3 - 517- 947 7
5 9 0 4 WA S H I N G T O N B LV D A R LI N GTO N , VA 2220 5
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Real Estate Sales Trends 2024
2025
2024
2025
22102 Number of Homes Sold 28 37 Average Sold Price $2 Mil. $1.04 Mil. Average Days on Market 45 34 Sold Above Asking Price 6 2 Sold Below Asking Price 16 27 Sold Over $1 Million 11 10
October 2024 vs. October 2025
2024
2025
22201
22206
22041
Number of Homes Sold 36 33 Average Sold Price $517,016 $978,957 Average Days on Market 28 31 Sold Above Asking Price 9 9 Sold Below Asking Price 16 18 Sold Over $1 Million 2 12
Number of Homes Sold 17 17 Average Sold Price $577,007 $547,823 Average Days on Market 15 26 Sold Above Asking Price 3 2 Sold Below Asking Price 10 11 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold 20 17 Average Sold Price $493,845 $456,676 Average Days on Market 14 31 Sold Above Asking Price 10 6 Sold Below Asking Price 7 10 Sold Over $1 Million 1 0
22202
22207
22042
Number of Homes Sold 14 8 Average Sold Price $793,785 $949,318 Average Days on Market 19 11 Sold Above Asking Price 2 1 Sold Below Asking Price 7 4 Sold Over $1 Million 2 3
Number of Homes Sold 22 47 Average Sold Price $1.26 Mil. $1.48 Mil. Average Days on Market 23 33 Sold Above Asking Price 11 10 Sold Below Asking Price 6 28 Sold Over $1 Million 13 34
Number of Homes Sold 32 32 Average Sold Price $752,197 $655,743 Average Days on Market 11 20 Sold Above Asking Price 15 5 Sold Below Asking Price 12 15 Sold Over $1 Million 3 2
22203
22209
22043
Number of Homes Sold 23 27 Average Sold Price $683,228 $640,990 Average Days on Market 25 24 Sold Above Asking Price 10 3 Sold Below Asking Price 6 17 Sold Over $1 Million 4 2
Number of Homes Sold 20 16 Average Sold Price $948,120 $659,943 Average Days on Market 47 59 Sold Above Asking Price 3 1 Sold Below Asking Price 9 11 Sold Over $1 Million 9 3
Number of Homes Sold 19 26 Average Sold Price $950,421 $981,449 Average Days on Market 17 28 Sold Above Asking Price 5 2 Sold Below Asking Price 8 19 Sold Over $1 Million 7 14
22204
22213
22044
Number of Homes Sold 26 28 Average Sold Price $717,542 $650,739 Average Days on Market 17 40 Sold Above Asking Price 13 3 Sold Below Asking Price 9 16 Sold Over $1 Million 5 3
Number of Homes Sold 4 6 Average Sold Price $648,750 $1.16 Mil. Average Days on Market 8 41 Sold Above Asking Price 3 3 Sold Below Asking Price 0 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 2
Number of Homes Sold 13 13 Average Sold Price $494,576 $1.25 Mil. Average Days on Market 35 28 Sold Above Asking Price 2 2 Sold Below Asking Price 8 9 Sold Over $1 Million 2 6
22205
22101
22046
Number of Homes Sold 13 9 Average Sold Price $1.37 Mil. $1.19 Mil. Average Days on Market 41 14 Sold Above Asking Price 5 6 Sold Below Asking Price 6 2 Sold Over $1 Million 10 7
Number of Homes Sold 35 33 Average Sold Price $2.18 Mil. $3.08 Mil. Average Days on Market 27 36 Sold Above Asking Price 7 6 Sold Below Asking Price 18 22 Sold Over $1 Million 30 31
Number of Homes Sold 16 21 Average Sold Price $1.36 Mil. $1.15 Mil. Average Days on Market 19 16 Sold Above Asking Price 9 12 Sold Below Asking Price 6 4 Sold Over $1 Million 12 11
96 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
great spaces ■ by Wendy A. Jordan | photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Work Play Stay Once an awkward throwaway space, this narrow room now does triple duty. RACHEL AND ZACHARY Rodman thought their 1963 Arlington colonial was mostly complete after BOWA, a design-build firm based in McLean, remodeled their first and second floors in 2017. “Then came Covid,” Rachel says. “We needed home office space.” Zack, a teacher, commandeered an upstairs guest bedroom, but Rachel needed a set up for her work as an attorney. The other bedrooms in their 2,800-square-foot house were occupied by their two teenage boys. That left the dark basement, where the only available space was a narrow area measuring 26 feet by 10 feet with low ceilings. The few small hopper windows that sat high on the walls
added little light, plus they leaked. BOWA returned in 2021, partnering with designer Joe Ireland to solve what seemed like an impossible ask. Within those awkward dimensions, the Rodmans wanted not just an office, but also a guest room, game area and TV lounge. Removing the windows freed up wall space, says Jim Harris, president of BOWA’s Classic Design Build Division, and the team replaced the room’s swinging doors with space-saving pocket doors. But the biggest game changer was a custom built-in unit that houses a queen-size Murphy bed, with cabinets that double as nightstands. Designed by Ireland and fabricated by Custom Millwork Design Group
in Manassas, the unit has a collapsible walnut desktop affixed to the underside of the bed platform. When the bed is stowed, the desk can be pulled down to serve as a workstation or game table, or it can fold up neatly and sit flush against the wall unit. Amazingly, the room sleeps four. A walnut sectional sofa rests on hidden casters, allowing it to be split apart and rolled into two twin beds. Wall sconces positioned at reading height and a wall-mounted TV make the sofa a cozy hang-out spot for everyday use. Near the ceiling, Ireland installed up-facing cove lighting that “makes the room glow and feel taller.” The Rodmans are delighted. Says Rachel: “[This room] went from scary to one of our most used spaces.” ■ PROJECT CREDITS:
Contractor BOWA, bowa.com Interior Design J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture and Design, jdireland.com
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S UM M E R C A M P S
S P E C I A L A D V E RT I S I NG S E C T IO N
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Arts Adventure Camps with Creative Cauldron
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703-683-2323
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Boolean Girl STEM camps
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booleangirl.org/camps/
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Camp Strawderman
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camptalltimbers.com codeninjas.com/va-alexandria/camps
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UVA | Northern Virginia Inspire
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northern.virginia.edu/programs/internal/inspire/
403-446-3701
Washington Sailing Marina Summer Sailng Camps
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YMCA Arlington Summer Camps
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ymcadc.org/locations/ymca-arlington/programinformation/camp/ymca-arlington-summer-camp/
703-525-5420
Unplugged. Unscripted. Unforgettable. For ninety-six years, Camp Strawderman for girls has been a trusted summer home for girls ages 6–17. With deep traditions, wild-hearted joy, and space to grow up a little and laugh a lot, our camp offers an unplugged, confidence-building experience in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Learn more at campstrawderman.com 98 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
FIELD TRIPS
HORSES
WATERSPORTS
S PE C I A L A D V E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N
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Essential Information on SPECIALTIES
19 Summer Camps
SUMMER CAMPS
Our camps incorporate drama, music, movement and visual art following designated themes, including musical theater. Campers work with professional teaching artists with extensive experience in their field. Provide your children with a wonderful introduction to visual art! Projects are taught by artists and include a variety of techniques like drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and much more! We have great Art Camps taught by fantastic teachers in Painting, Drawing, Sewing, Ceramics, Fiber Arts, Jewelry, Printmaking and Arts & Crafts. We mix fine arts, games and a little silliness for a fun camp day. Girls 7+ learn computer science and engineering fundamentals through a series of unique projects and hands-on challenges. Our students learn coding, robotics, AI, engineering, teamwork, and digital citizenship. Adventure abounds at Calleva. Campers grow confidence, skills and curiosity as they explore all day in the outdoors. Canoeing, climbing, hiking, kayaking, fishing and more. It is all happening at Calleva! Pre-K- Rising Eighth Grade Campers welcome. Early and Extended Care available. Field trips. Specialty options: Adventure, History, STEAM, Sports, Cooking, French, Water fun & more! EXPERIENCE~EXPLORE~CREATE Unscripted. Unplugged. Unforgettable. Strawderman (96 years strong,) gives girls a traditional yet one-of-a-kind overnight camp experience, lifelong friendships, and the room to grow. We can't wait to meet you. Located in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Camp Tall Timbers has been serving up fun and rewarding camp experiences every summer for over 50 years. Half day and Full day options, STEM focused, Minecraft, Roblox, Robotics, 3D Printing and More! We are located on a beautiful, 40-acre campus in Falls Church, Virginia at Congressional School. Our diverse programs includeday camp, travel camps, and specialty camps which offer summers of new challenges. Encore Stage & Studio’s summer camps spark creativity and build confidence! Kids make friends, and shine onstage, backstage, and beyond—in a fun, supportive, “theatre by kids, for kids” environment! Knights of Adventure offers week-long, half day sessions with activities that promote community, joy and friendship, while keeping campers engaged and learning new skills. Ice skating, team sports, figure skating and hockey. Inspire your child’s creativity at MoCA Arlington's summer art camps! Kids 5–18 will explore 2D & 3D projects, learn fun techniques, and discover amazing contemporary artists. Full & half-day options available!
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Join us this summer in the nation’s capital! Live on campus, connect with students, and dive into your passions on stage, in the lab, or in the studio.
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Limitless Possibilities! From venturing into the great outdoors to conducting eye-opening science experiments, SummerEdge offers something fun and exciting for everyone.
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Inspire is an academic summer program for high school students. Go beyond the curriculum with exciting topics that introduce new concepts and build on existing knowledge. A vibrant summer camp where kids learn seamanship, teamwork, and confidence on the water. Daily sailing adventures learning skills create unforgettable memories and a lifelong love of sailing Summer Camp at YMCA Arlington is more than just summer fun—it’s where kids gain confidence, form meaningful friendships, and discover a place they truly belong.
Find Your Best Friend Summer Camp at YMCA Arlington is more than just summer fun—it’s where kids gain confidence, form meaningful friendships, and discover a place they truly belong. Guided by caring, trusted staff, campers explore a range of experiences including: ‣ Traditional Camp ‣ Specialty Camp ‣ Leadership Camp Scan to learn more and browse camps!
‣ Tennis & Pickleball Camp ‣ Gymnastics and so much more!
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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S UM M E R C A M P S
S P E C I A L A D V E RT I S I NG S E C T IO N
CODE YOUR SUMMER, UNLEASH THE FUN! Kids Ages 5-14
2026 Where creativity takes shape and fun is always in the making. Small camps with morning and afternoon sessions (ages 5-14), classes (teens & adults) — and terrific teachers.
Coding • Game Building • STEM • Robotics • AI Game Modding • Physical Computing • Video & Animation
LEARN MORE
Code Ninjas Alexandria 4694 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302 alexandriava@codeninjas.com (703)375-9540 www.codeninjas.com/va-alexandria
100 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
SCAN TO LEARN MORE
2025 Summer Kids Camp + Teen Classes
ARTIST-TAUGHT
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BEFORE + AFTER CARE
AGES 5 +
Want to stay up to date? Sign up for our mailing list! mocaarlington.org/subscribe
JUNE 22 — AUGUST 21 Registration opens in February. 3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 mocaarlington.org/education
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• Weekly Camp Lessons, ages 8 - 15 • Adult Weekend Lessons, Sat. & Sun. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. • Adult Weeknight Lessons • Private Lessons Questions email amy@sharethewind.com
102 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
University of Virginia Academic Summer Programming for High School Students
2026
The University of Virginia | Northern Virginia Inspire Program offers rising 10th–12th graders the chance to take their learning beyond the standard high school curriculum. This summer, students can enroll in 1–4 week in-person classes at the UVA Fairfax Campus or online classes led by UVA faculty and industry professionals. Explore new subjects, build practical skills, and connect with peers through courses in:
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104 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Marymount University Arlington, VA
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ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
105
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ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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Fattoush salad (top left) and halloumi-honey flatbread with crushed pistachios at Alshami
108 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
■
restaurant review
To
Love
Bluemont,
Basema Chouban
With
THE THING ABOUT reviewing restau-
rants for a living is that money is, in many cases, no object when it comes to taking the full measure of an establishment. But tried as I might to break the bank at family-run Alshami restaurant in Arlington’s Bluemont neighborhood, it just wasn’t happening. I dined alone. I invited friends. We made short work of spiced dips, stews and snacks during a leisurely lunch. We chatted the night away while passing around dinner platters of rotisserie meats and fragrant rice. And then, on my final visit, we broke through the seemingly impossible barrier: the check slipped past $100. Okay, it was $99.60. But after the county took its tax bite, the price finally felt properly aligned with the bounty of homestyle food owner Basema Chouban prepares for everyone who pulls up a chair at her first solo restaurant.
Alshami brings Syrian comfort food to the former Layalina space. And the price is nice. BY WARREN ROJAS | PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY
The location on Wilson Boulevard isn’t new to Chouban. She worked there back when it was the popular Layalina restaurant, although she had nothing to do with Layalina’s successor, the shortlived Ya Hala Bistro, which closed in 2024. Her return to the neighborhood is a homecoming of sorts. Touting nearly 30 years of cooking experience, the Damascus native declines to reveal too much about her core recipes—“It’s a secret,” she says when I attempt to pry the particulars of the chicken shawarma marinade out of her. But she does offer some tidbits,
leaning on her daughter, Eya, to translate as needed. Alshami (whose name means “the Syrian”) focuses on organic ingredients. The food is all halal. “And I make everything with love.” Though it shares the same address as its predecessors, Alshami, which opened last summer, looks much different these days. Gone are the ornate tapestries, Arabic art and smoldering hookah pipes that punctuated an evening at Layalina. Guests are now welcomed into a minimalist space dominated by three-dimensional white tile walls, black pleather chairs and a mod-
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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■ restaurant review
Lamb fatteh with fried pita
est stage that’s home to four fez caps and an electric guitar, presumably for live performances. The adjoining bar is still there, but boozehounds will have to busy themselves elsewhere. Alshami is alcohol free. The menu features many familiar Middle Eastern staples—crunchy kibbeh; stuffed grape leaves; silken hum-
ALSHAMI 5216 Wilson Blvd., Arlington 703-373-0291 alshamiva.com
HOURS Tuesday through Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PARK ING In addition to the half-dozen spaces in front of the restaurant, there is free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.
P RIC E S Appetizers: $8 to $11 Salads and sandwiches: $6 to $18 Entrees: $18 to $25 Desserts: $6 to $10
Hummus topped with beef shawarma
mus; tender lamb, beef and chicken dishes; and, of course, pickled vegetables galore. Chouban describes the cheese tucked inside her cigar-shaped rolls of fried phyllo dough as “Syrian” and leaves it at that. The filling is melty, seasoned with herbs and has just a touch of sourness, making for a more interesting mouthful than plain mozzarella sticks. The cheese rolls are served as a standalone dish, but they make fast friends with many of the house dips. Baba ghanouj delivers on its promise of smoky eggplant. The tender nightshade stars in this chunky spread ringed with tangy yogurt sauce and bolstered by pomegranate seeds that add a pop of fruity sweetness. Creamy hummus gets a boost from a long pour of fragrant olive oil. I recommend adding some chew with an optional topping of beef shawarma. The marinated rotisserie meat proves a perfect complement to the dip’s nuttiness. While it’s listed as a side, the garlicky housemade toum is an essential part of the dining experience at Alshami. The airy whipped sauce has a terrific tang that balances out its hefty dose of allium. I smeared it on everything, using
110 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
any available scraps to mop the serving bowl clean. Two perfect toum delivery vehicles are the za’atar pizza (warm flatbread studded with salt, oregano and toasted sesame seeds) and the halloumi-honey pizza (easily foldable crust blanketed by salty cheese and drizzled with sticky-sweet honey). Alshami’s atmosphere feels easygoing, and the dining room’s dozen or so tables can be shuffled around to accommodate groups of different sizes. During one of my visits, a neighboring party of eight retirees talked, laughed and shared myriad plates at an unhurried pace, lingering for more than two hours. A five-top that looked to be an extended Middle Eastern family (mom, dad, kids and grandma) also seemed quite comfortable, the elders catching up over hummus and protein-laced rice dishes while the kids joked between themselves and snuck peeks at their smartphones when they thought no one was looking. The restaurant enjoys a steady stream of carryout customers, too, from sleepy tot-toting dads happy to shuttle home a hot meal, to an appreciative 20-something couple who couldn’t
WHAT TO DRINK Alshami is an alcohol-free establishment. It does offer one non-alcoholic beer ($7). Other cold drinks include canned sodas ($3), iced tea ($4) and sparkling water ($5), as well as house-made smoothies ($9) spun from mango, strawberry, fruit cocktail or a fun and refreshing lemon-mint. The list of hot beverages includes Americanstyle drip coffee ($4), cardamom-laced Arabic coffee ($6) and a frothy pistachio coffee ($7), as well as hot tea ($4).
thank the staff enough for whipping up a large order on the fly. (Sounded like some famished relatives had rolled into town unexpectedly.) Chouban and her crew seem to take it all in stride. She, more often than not, stays put in the kitchen, leaving the front of the house duties to younger staff who tag-team waiting tables, running out food orders and serving takeout customers. Not everything on the menu dazzled me. I’ve had better falafel (Alshami’s is drier than I prefer). Of the desserts, the flaky, syrup-drenched kunafeh filled with sweet cheese was more appealing than the honey-kissed baklava. But much of the homey fare left me
Lemon-mint smoothie
hungry for more. The fattoush salad topped with chicken shawarma blew me away. While the well-spiced, spitroasted bird certainly brought its “A” game, the supporting players really took this dish and ran with it. Fresh lettuce provided foundational crunch. Fried pita chips, sliced radishes and cucumber introduced a symphony of textures from bite to bite. Red onion, sumac and sweet-tart pomegranate vinaigrette flooded the zone with earthiness and acid. Chouban’s lamb fatteh is another study in delicious contrasts. White rice layered with tender lamb is enveloped by a tongue-teasing cloud of yogurt swirled with tahini. The nest of
crispy bits on top looks like fried onion straws, but a server confirms they are actually fried pita strips that the kitchen crew juliennes by hand. “Isn’t that crazy?” he says. Crazy good, maybe. Between the steamy grains, succulent lamb, tangy yogurt, crunchy garnish and a scattering of surprise pomegranate seeds, my mouth never quite knew what to expect. So I kept digging in to figure it out—until the bowl was bare. Shukran, Mama Chouban. ■ Warren Rojas is always searching for his next amazing meal. Send your diningrelated tips, gripes and quandaries to warren.rojas@arlingtonmagazine.com.
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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home plate ■ by Jenny Sullivan
SOUP DE POISSON at Café Colline (Lee Heights Shops) The basis for chef Brendan L’Etoile’s Marseille-style stew ($16) is a rich fish stock made with ginger, garlic, fennel, tomatoes, orange peel, brandy and pastis. Puréed with potatoes into a piping hot bisque, it’s served with a sprinkle of paprika, saffron aioli, shredded Gruyere and toast for dunking. cafecollineva.com
AVGOLÉMONO
POZOLE
CLAM CHOWDER
at Our Mom Eugenia (Shirlington and Mosaic)
at Tortas y Tacos la Chiquita (Columbia Pike)
at The Falls (Falls Church)
This lemony chicken-and-rice soup with eggs, a Greek staple, is indeed good for the soul. Chef Eugenia Hobson’s bright and satisfying version ($10) carries forth her grandmother’s recipe from the island of Zakynthos. ourmomeugenia.com
Recovering from a late night with a little too much merriment? Some swear by this smoky Mexican pork and hominy stew ($16) as the ultimate hangover cure. Kick it up with some fiery salsa roja if you really need to sweat out the toxins. tortasytacoslachiquitadmv.com
112 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Chef Miljohn Dimaano’s gluten-free rendition of this hearty New England classic ($14) blends russet potatoes and leeks with little neck clams, crispy bacon and cream for a silken finish. A splash of chili oil “adds a subtle, nutty depth of flavor,” he says. thefallsva.com
COURTESY PHOTOS (SOUP DE POISSON, AVGOLÉMONO, CHOWDER); ADOBE STOCK (POZOLE)
Soup's On
Nothing beats winter’s chill like a steaming bowl of brothy sustenance. Ride out the colder months with these comforting soups and stews.
What’s Cooking? Robert Maher, a Manhattan native and graduate of the French Culinary Institute, is owner and executive chef of Maison Cheryl in Clarendon. We caught up with him to ask what’s on the horizon (and on the menu) for 2026. GUMBO at Bayou Bakery (Courthouse) For a taste of the Big Easy, nothing beats chef David Guas’ gumbo with chicken and sausage ($7-$10). “I learned everything I know about gumbo from my Aunt Boo in Abbeville, Louisiana,” says the NOLA native. “She taught me how to read the roux for color and flavor. The holy trinity—celery, bell pepper, onion—cooks in the roux. As she says, ‘Your roux should look like the bayou after a heavy rain.’” bayoubakeryva.com
Q: Got any dining trend forecasts for the new year? I think we’ll see more sweet-savory combinations (think rosemary shortbread, miso desserts) and a return to nostalgia—new takes on some of the flavors we grew up with. Q: Such as? At Maison Cheryl, I’m making ice creams with Golden Grahams and Fruity Pebbles. I want to put a cereal milk cake on the menu. On the savory side, we’re doing red bliss mashed potatoes and an elevated take on deviled eggs. These flavors are comforting memories for people. It hits that part of your brain, like you’re feeding your inner child. Q: So will you resurrect those layered Jell-O molds from the ’70s? If I could make those work, I would do it in a second. They always look so pretty. I’m a French-trained chef. Aspic is part of the program. But no one ever eats them.
PHO
REY LOPEZ (GUMBO); COURTESY PHOTOS (PHO, MAHER)
at Pho 75 (Rosslyn) To experience the restorative properties of this traditional Vietnamese soup, hit the cash-only Rosslyn café that’s been serving it since 1985. The classic version is a clear, aromatic broth with undertones of umami (thanks to fish sauce), packed with steak, rice noodles, green onions and cilantro. Customize a bowl ($12) to your liking with sides of bean sprouts, herbs, jalapeño slices, lime wedges and chili paste. pho75noodle.com
Q: Any beverage forecasts? I think you’ll start to see more adaptogenic teas and botanical spritzes on menus. Alcohol consumption is down. Not as many people are ordering second drinks. Some aren’t drinking at all. It’s a health-conscious time in America. Q: Are you seeing that in Arlington? Absolutely. We have a swordfish Milanese on the menu that you can order fried or grilled. I’d say 80% of the time people order it grilled. Q: Any trends you’re ready to bid adieu? I feel like we’ve moved to an over-
decorated world that doesn’t taste good enough. I’ve heard of chefs making dishes just for Instagram. I’d like to see a return to more rustic, soulful preparations—things like stews and French provincial dishes that really just taste great and provide value. Inflation has hit us hard. People are going out to eat less often. When you do go out, you want to enjoy what you’re eating. Q: What do you eat when you’re off the clock? I live above Circa in Clarendon, so I go there a lot. If I’m cooking at home, my guilty pleasure is Korean Buldak noodles, which are kind of like instant ramen. I jazz them up with whatever veggies I’ve got— maybe corn or spinach—leftover steak, seaweed snacks and a little cream or yogurt. The other day I made eggplant parm with a Calabrian chili tomato sauce. I also love spaghetti squash with butter. Q: Favorite local takeout spots? Two that I really enjoy in Arlington are Nam-Viet and Mala Tang. Q: Can you share some fun facts about yourself? I’m a chess nerd. I used to be an antiques dealer, which was fun, but I wasn’t good at it. I still have two storage units filled with silver spoons. Before I moved to Arlington, I had this 7-foot plastic Superman I was trying to sell up in New York. It was the dumbest purchase of my life. It clogged up my living room forever. I finally sold it on eBay.
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
113
■ home plate
Sweet Success
The art of the croissant at Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Bakery owner Caroline Yi
Say Cheese!
Alpine raclette
114 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Ever had raclette? For this time-honored Swiss comfort food, wheels of Alpine cheese are melted to perfection and ceremoniously scraped over crusty bread, potatoes, seasonal vegetables and meats. Treat yourself to a plateful during Cheesetique's RacletteFest, which will be saucing things up Feb. 23 through March 8. The fun kicks off with an après-ski themed party on Feb. 22 from 4-7 p.m. at the cheese shop in Del Ray. cheesetique.com
MARJANNE SUAREZ (PASTRY, YI); ADOBE STOCK (RACLETTE)
It’s not often that folks will cross a river for a croissant, but Caroline Yi had a loyal following of Virginians making that pilgrimage after she opened her first Sunday Morning Bakehouse in Bethesda’s Pike & Rose development in 2017. Happily, the commute just got shorter. In September, Yi opened a second location of her bakery in the luxe Heming building (1796 Chain Bridge Road) in Tysons, where the enticements include a fairytale assortment of French pastries, brioche doughnuts, macarons and layer cakes, plus a café menu featuring all-day breakfast sandwiches, quiche, granola bowls and artisanal sourdough toasts. House-made syrups find their way into barista drinks featuring La Colombe coffee, and weekends bring cocktails such as Aperol spritzes and chai martinis. Forgoing culinary school, Yi learned her craft on the job. She started out as “the biscuit bitch” (her words) at D.C.’s now-shuttered A Baked Joint, then headed to New York City to learn lamination—the tricky technique behind her cult-status croissants—at Supermoon Bakehouse on the Lower East Side. “With hand lamination, you need the butter to stay as cold as possible to get those flaky layers,” she says. “I would ice my hands until they were numb so I wouldn’t melt the butter in the dough.” Playful and ever on-trend, Yi and her staff like to keep things interesting with limited and seasonal offerings. (Recent sell-outs have included pumpkin-pie croissants and Dubai chocolate doughnuts.) “We like to hop on crazes and be a part of pop culture in that way,” says the entrepreneur. “I’m Korean, and sweet red bean is a big Asian flavor. We might try something with that next.” As the Hanukkah sufganiyot and Christmas peppermint mochas give way to thoughts of Valentine’s Day, watch for heart-shaped treat boxes and romantic desserts for two, available for preorder. sundaymorningbakehouse.com
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Daydrift Books & Café
E AT ARLINGTON 1983 Chinese Cuisine
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-512-3089, 1983chinese cuisine.com. A destination for dim sum and other traditional Cantonese dishes. R L D G V $$
A Modo Mio Pizzeria
5555 Langston Blvd., 703-532-0990, amodomio pizza.com. Dig into authentic Neapolitan pies, house-made gnocchi, lasagna, spaghetti del mare and cannoli. o L D V $$
Aladdin Sweets & Tandoor
5169 Langston Blvd., 703-533-0077, aladdin arlington.com. Chef Shiuli Rashid and her husband, Harun, prepare family recipes from their native Bangladesh. L D $$
Al-Shami Restaurant
5216 Wilson Blvd., 703-373-0291, alshamiva. com. Dig into falafel, shawarma and other Syrian delights. Closed Mondays. L D G V $$
Ambar Clarendon
2901 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-9663, ambarrestau rant.com. Feast on Balkan specialties such as stuffed cabbage, mushroom pilav and rotisserie meats. O R L D G V $$
Andy’s Pizza
901 N. Pollard St. (entrance on Fairfax Drive), 703-552-4037, eatandyspizza.com. Andy Brown’s award-winning thin-crust pies fall somewhere between Neapolitan and New York-style. L D V $
Angolino Pizza
3125 Wilson Blvd., 703-760-3210, pizzaforpizza lovers.com. When it’s late and you need a slice, this Clarendon eatery hits the spot. L D V A $
5046 Langston Blvd., 703-531-1498, arlingtonka bobva.com. Authentic Afghan fare includes kebabs, shawarma and lamb shank with rice. L D $$
Astro Beer Hall
4001 Campbell Ave., 703-664-0744, astrobeer hall.com. Jet to this space-themed brewpub for fried chicken, burgers, doughnuts and a retro basement billiards hall called 1969. o B R L D A $$
Bakeshop
1025 N. Fillmore St., 571-970-6460, bakeshop va.com. A tiny storefront whipping up cupcakes, cookies, icebox pies and vegan treats. B V $
Ballston Local
900 N. Glebe Road, 703-852-1260, ballstonlocal. com. Pair your local brew with a plate of poutine or a New York-style pizza. L D V $$
Banditos Tacos & Tequila
1301 S. Joyce St., 571-257-7622, banditostnt.com. Mexican street food, tequila, mezcal and sugar-skull décor keep the party going. o L D G V $$
sourced, certified Angus beef and cage-free, antibiotic-free chicken. L D $$
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
1515 N. Courthouse Road, 703-243-2410, bayou bakeryva.com. Chef David Guas’ New Orleans-inspired menu includes beignets and gumbo. Breakfast all day on weekends. O C B R L D G V $
Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique
576 23rd St. S., 571-257-5873, beautycham pagneandsugar.com. Find sweets, small plates, wine and bubbly at this woman-owned bistro and market. Closed Mondays. L D $$
Bethesda Bagels
1851 N. Moore St., 703-312-1133, bethesdabagels. com. The popular DMV chain has an outpost in Rosslyn. Eat a sandwich! O L V $
BGR the Burger Joint
3129 Langston Blvd., 703-812-4705, bgrtheburger joint.com. Top your dry-aged beef, veggie or turkey burger with add-ons like grilled jalapeño, pineapple or fried egg. C L D V $
Bangkok 54
2919 Columbia Pike, 703-521-4070, bangkok54res taurant.com. A favorite for Thai curries, grilled meats, stir-fry, noodles and soups. L D V $$
Bar Bao
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-600-0500, barbao-va. com. Find trendy dishes reminiscent of Chinese and Taiwanese street food, plus sake, soju and Asian fusion cocktails. L D V $$
Bar Chinois
244 19th Court S., 703-416-6769, barchinoisnl. com. Chinese small plates meet French-inspired cocktails and wine. O D G V $$$
Bar Colline
269 19th Court S., 703-567-4792, barcolline. com. French bistro fare, wine happy hours and Parisian-style sidewalk seating await. O L D G V $$$
Barley Mac
1600 Wilson Blvd., 703-372-9486, barleymacva. com. Upscale tavern fare, plus more than 100 kinds of whiskey and bourbon. R L D A G V $$
Basic Burger
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-248-9333, basicburger. com. The homegrown eatery cooks with locally
116 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
KEY: Price designations are based on the approximate cost per person for a meal with one drink, tax and tip. $ $$ $$$ $$$$ o
c B R L D A G V
s
under $20 $21-$35 $36-$70 $71 or more Outdoor Dining Children’s Menu Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner After Hours/Late Night Gluten-Free Vegetarian Best of Arlington 2025 or 2026 Winner
COURTESY PHOTO
places to
Arlington Kabob
■ places to eat Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co. s
Call Your Mother Deli
Bird’s Eye Thai
Capital Doner
4401 Wilson Blvd., 703-276-3032; 4251 Campbell Ave., 703-933-2867, eatbigbuns.com. Satisfy all your cravings with creative burgers, shakes, beer and booze. B L D $$
1671 Crystal Drive, 571-867-9983, callyourmother deli.com. The self-described “Jew-ish” deli serves its signature bagels, schmears and latkes from a kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. B R L $
Cowboy Café s
4792 Langston Blvd., 703-243-8010, thecowboy cafe.com. Cool your heels and fill up on sandwiches, burgers, brisket and chili mac. An outdoor beer garden features a mural by Arlington artist MasPaz. Live music on weekends. O C R L D V $$
1731 Wilson Blvd., capitaldoner.com. Try Turkish doner kebab, halal meats and house-made sauces in wraps, platters and rice bowls. B L D A $
Crush Pizza + Wine
3865 Wilson Blvd., 703-721-3905, carbonarava. com. House-made pastas, eggplant parm, chicken cacciatore and the spirit of Sinatra sing at this oldworld-meets-modern Italian trattoria. L D V $$$
Crystal City Sports Pub
2310 Columbia Pike, 703-920-6103; 539 23rd St. S., 703-920-2700; 5050 Langston Blvd., 703-5940280; bobandedithsdiner.com. Founded in 1969, the 24-hour eatery whips up pancakes, eggs, meatloaf, and pie à la mode. C B L D A V $
Caribbean Grill
Crystal Thai
BOE
4000 Campbell Ave., 703-931-0777, greatameri canrestaurants.com/carlyle. A longstanding favorite for fusion fare, happy hour and Sunday brunch. O C R L D G V $$$
1651 Crystal Drive, birdseyethai.com. Order up a round of tiki drinks and khao soi noodles from this outdoor kiosk in National Landing. O L D $$
Bluefish Bistro Sushi & Kitchen
950 S. George Mason Drive, 703-270-0102, blue fishbistro.com. Try specialty rolls with names like Green Dragon and King Kong. Closed Tuesdays. L D G V $$
Bob & Edith’s Diner
2854 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-0130, theboexperi ence.com. Take a ride on the mechanical bull, then reward yourself with a fried chicken biscuit and a Bucking Bronco (a smokey riff on a whiskey sour). The rooftop tiki bar lives on in this former Whitlow’s space. O R D A $$
Bollywood Bistro Express
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 571-3121071, bollywoodbistroexpress.com. Build your own bowl with fillers such as chicken tikka, paneer, chana masala and pickled onions. L D V $$
Bonsai Sushi at Crystal City
553 23rd St. S., 703-553-7723, crystalbonsai sushirestaurant.com. A go-to for sushi, sashimi, yakisoba, tempura, teriyaki. Closed Mondays. L D $$
Bostan Uyghur Cuisine
3911 Langston Blvd., 703-522-3010, bostanuyghur. com. The Uyghur Chinese dishes include kebabs, lagmen (hand-pulled noodles), manta (dumplings) and honey cake. L D $$
Brass Rabbit Public House
1210 N. Garfield St., 703-746-9977, brassrabbit pub.com. Pair lettuce wraps and crab BLTs with craft cocktails like the El Conejo, featuring tequila, carrot juice, ginger, lime and cilantro. O R L D V A $$
Bronson Bierhall
4100 Fairfax Drive, 703-528-1110, bronsonbier hall.com. Find German and regional beers, sausages, schnitzel and cornhole in this 6,000-squarefoot ode to Munich. O L D A $$
Bubbie’s Plant Burgers
1721 Crystal Drive, bubbiesburgers.com. Grab a plant-based or kosher burger, a fried green tomato sandwich or a plate of avocado fries at this outdoor kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. O L D V $
Buena Vida
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-888-1528, buenavida gastrolounge.com. Savor the flavors of Mexico and head to the rooftop for drinks. O R L D $$
Burger Billy’s Joint
3800 Langston Blvd., 703-512-0102, burgerbillys joint.com. Order smashburgers made from locally sourced Angus beef (or plant-based), as well as hot dogs, wings and fries. L D V $
Busboys and Poets
4251 S. Campbell Ave., 703-379-9757, busboys andpoets.com. Known for its poetry slams, onsite bookstore and social justice programming, the café offers an eclectic menu with something for everyone. O C B R L D G V $$
Café Colline
4536 Langston Blvd., 703-567-6615, cafecolline va.com. The cozy French bistro in the Lee Heights Shops satisfies with paté maison, duck confit and chocolate pots de creme. O R L D $$
Café Sazón
4704 Columbia Pike, 703-566-1686, cafesazon. com. A homey Bolivian café specializing in dishes such as silpancho and empanadas. B L D V $$
Carbonara s
5183 Langston Blvd., 703-241-8947. Cuban preparations such as jerk-style pork, fried plantains and black bean soup are mainstays. C L D G V $
Carlyle
CarPool Beer and Billiards
1601 Crystal Drive, crushpizzaandwine.com. New York-style pizza, wines by the glass and patio crushers for the win. O L D V $$ 529 23rd St. S., 703-521-8215, ccsportspub.com. Open 365 days a year, it’s a sure bet for game viewing, trivia and poker nights, beers, bar snacks and buffet spreads. C B R L D A G V $$ 4819 First St. N., 703-522-1311, crystalthai. com. A neighborhood fave for traditional Thai curries, grilled meats and house specialties like roast duck. L D V $$
Dama Restaurant & Cafe
1503 Columbia Pike, 703-920-3559, damapas try.com. The Ethiopian family-owned business includes a breakfast café, market and dining room. B L D V $$
900 N. Glebe Road, 703-516-7665, gocarpool.com. Sample pub grub and an extensive beer list, including “house” suds brewed at sister bar the Board Room. D A $
Darna
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant
Daydrift Books & Café
Charga Grill
Delhi Dhaba Indian Restaurant
Chiko
Detour Coffee
Chill Zone Café s
District Dumplings
2500 Columbia Pike, 703-746-9644, celtichouse va.com. Pints complement favorites like corned beef and traditional Irish breakfast at this beloved pub on the Pike. C R L D A $$ 5151 Langston Blvd., 703-988-6063; 3203 Columbia Pike, 703-574-5050; chargagrill.com. How do you like your chicken? Choose Peruvian, jerk, Tandoori or Pakistani charga or sajii. L D $$ 4040 Campbell Ave., 571-312-0774, mychiko. com. Fan favorites at this Chinese-Korean joint include cumin lamb stir-fry and double-fried chicken wings. C L D G V $$ 2442 N. Harrison St., 703-270-9466, chillzonecafe. com. Pop in for bubble tea and smoothies, Vietnamese tacos, noodle dishes and a special keto menu. B R L D G V $$
Circa at Clarendon s
3010 Clarendon Blvd., 703-522-3010, circabis tros.com. Bistro fare ranges from salads and small plates to steak frites and wild mushroom pizza. Sit outside if you can. O R L D A G V $$$
Colada Shop
2811 Clarendon Blvd., 571-771-8400; 244 19th Court S., 703-631-5320; coladashop.com. Hit this colorful Caribbean coffee cafe and bar for beachy vibes, tropical drinks and Cuban-inspired eats. C B R L D V $$
Colony Grill
2800 Clarendon Blvd., 703-682-8300, colonygrill. com. The Stamford, Connecticut-based pizza chain specializes in ultra-thin-crust “bar pies” with a spicy, pepper-infused hot oil topping. L D G V $$
Copperwood Tavern
4021 Campbell Ave., 703-522-8010, copperwood tavern.com. This rustic saloon serves up steaks and chops, draft beers and 30 small-batch whiskeys. O R L D $$$
Cornerstone
2900 Columbia Pike, 703-512-2056, pikecorner stone.com. The menu is heavy on apps and shareables, plus salads, burgers and rib-sticking entrees. C O R D A $
Corso Italian
4024 Campbell Ave., 703-933-8787, corsoitalian. com. Enjoy fresh pastas, porchetta and veal chop Milanese at this Italian trattoria by Cheesetique “cheese lady” Jill Erber. O r L D V $$$
118 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
946 N. Jackson St., 703-988-2373, darnava.com. Snack on mezze and flatbreads at this cocktail and hookah bar. D A V $$ 1550 Crystal Drive, 703-271-0709, daydriftva.com. Tuck into an open-faced sandwich or macro bowl, or sip a latte and peruse the shelves for your next read. B R L G V $$ 2424 Wilson Blvd., 703-524-0008, delhidhaba.com. The best bargain is the “mix and match” platter, which includes tandoori, seafood, a curry dish and a choice of rice or naan. O L D G V $$ 946 N. Jackson St., 703-988-2378, detourcoffee co.com. This comfy cafe has a college vibe and serves up locally roasted coffee, light bites and weekend brunch. O B R L V $ 923 S. Glebe Road, 571-518-9764, districtdump lings.com. When you’re hungry for Asian-style dumplings, sandwiches and wraps. L D $$
District Taco
5723 Langston Blvd., 703-237-1204; 1500 Wilson Blvd., 571-290-6854; districttaco.com. A local favorite for tacos and gargantuan burritos. C B L D G V $
Don Tito
3165 Wilson Blvd., 703-566-3113, dontitova.com. The sports bar specializes in tacos, tequila and beer, with a rooftop bar. O R L D $$
Dudley’s Sport and Ale
2766 S. Arlington Mill Drive, 571-312-2304, dudleyssportandale.com. A supersize sports bar with a roof deck, a ballpark-inspired beer list and weekend brunch. O C R L D A $$
Earl’s Sandwiches
2605 Wilson Blvd., 703-647-9191, earlsinarling ton.com. Made-to-order sandwiches use prime ingredients, like fresh roasted turkey. O B L D G V $
East West Cafe
3101 Wilson Blvd., 571-800-9954, ewcafe.com. Go for espresso drinks, brunch (try the Turkish breakfast spread), sandwiches, beer and wine. B L D $
El Mercat Bar de Tapas
1301 S. Joyce St., 703-567-4369, elmercatbarde tapas.com. Chef George Rodrigues brings Spanish small plates and five kinds of proper paella to Westpost. R D G V $$$
El Paso Café
4235 N. Pershing Drive, 703-243-9811, elpaso cafeva.com. Big portions, big margaritas and bighearted service. C L D G V $$
El Pike Restobar
4111 Columbia Pike, 703-521-3010, elpikeresto
bar.com. Bolivian dishes satisfy at this no-frills institution. Try salteñas stuffed with chicken or with beef, olives and hard-boiled egg. L D $
italiano.com. Go for pasta and chianti at this trattoria co-owned by Freddie’s Beach Bar proprietor Freddie Lutz. L D V $$
El Pollo Rico
Fettoosh
El Rey
Fire Works
Four Sisters Grill
3035 Clarendon Blvd., 703-243-9020, foursisters grill.com. A go-to for banh mi sandwiches, papaya salad, spring rolls and noodle dishes. O L D $$
3207 Columbia Pike, 703-663-4777. Dig into beef birria tortas, shrimp tacos and pupusas at this homey spin-off of the Taqueria La Ceibita food truck by Nevi Paredes and his daughter, Yorktown alum Elizabeth Marquez. L D $
Freddie’s Beach Bar
Falafel Inc.
Galaxy Hut
Guajillo
1727 Wilson Blvd., 703-807-0840, guajillo mexican.com. Authentic Mexican dishes such as carne asada, mole poblano and churros are favorites. O C L D G V $$
Guapo’s Restaurant
4028 Campbell Ave., 703-671-1701, guaposres taurant.com. Expect hearty portions of all the TexMex standbys—quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos and burritos. O C R L D G V $$
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
1119 N. Hudson St., 571-527-0445, gyu-kaku.com. Marinated meats, veggies and seafood are cooked on tabletop grills. L D $$
Gyu San
4300 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-7373, gyusan.com. Japanese barbecue, sushi, soba noodles and saki. L D G $$$
Hal & Al’s BBQ
672 N. Glebe Road, 703-243-3000; 1350 S. Eads St., 703-894-1002; gocodough.com. The family-
Hanabi Ramen
Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe s
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-400-8884, halandals bbq.com. There’s no pork on the menu at this halal ’cue joint. Go for beef brisket, turkey sausage or beef “Dino” ribs rubbed with Old Bay. L D $$ 3024 Wilson Blvd., 703-351-1275, hanabiramen
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519 23rd St., 703-486-0519, federicoristorante
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-888-1920, greenpigbistro. com. An Arlington fave for Southern-influenced food, craft cocktails, happy hour and brunch. R L D G V $$$
5157 Langston Blvd., 703-973-2432, gharerkhabar. com. Translated as “home’s food,” this intimate, artfilled café serves Bangladeshi fare by chef Nasima Shreen. L D $$
IN I
Federico Ristorante Italiano
Gharer Khabar
RT
1641 Crystal Drive, fatfishrolls.com. Grab poke bowls, sushi and bento boxes from this budgetfriendly kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park. OLDG$
IN I
Fat Fish
2711 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-8646, galaxyhut.com. Pair craft beers with vegan bar foods like “fricken” sandwiches and smothered tots. L D A G V $$
RT
1631 Crystal Drive, 500 23rd St. S., falafelinc.org. Fill a pita or bowl with falafel, pickled veggies and your choice of sauces. The eatery donates a portion of its sales to feed refugees. O L D V $
555 23rd St. S., Arlington, 703-685-0555, fred diesbeachbar.com. Freddie Lutz’s “gay, straightfriendly” hangout is always a party, with flashy drinks, drag bingo and brunch. O R D A V $$
Green Pig Bistro
S
Eli’s Taqueria
4213 Fairfax Drive, 703-465-8888, firstdownsports bar.com. Three cheers for draft beers and 50 kinds of wings. L D A V $$
MICHELADA
2447 N. Harrison St., 703-300-9467, elevation burger.com. Organic, grass-fed beef is ground on the premises, fries are cooked in olive oil and the shakes are made with fresh-scooped ice cream. OLDV$
First Down Sports Bar & Grill s
4121 Wilson Blvd., 571-216-2999, graziegrazie.com. Give thanks for Italian subs like the 8+1 (Genoa salami, hot capicola, prosciutto and sharp provolone), plus pizzas, salads and cannoli. L D $
S
Elevation Burger
2350 Clarendon Blvd., 703-527-8700, fireworks pizza.com. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas and more than 30 craft beers on tap. O C L D A G V $$
Grazie Grazie
MARGARITA R O C K
4201 Wilson Blvd., 571-312-5530, elreyva.com. Down tacos, margs and draft brews with colorful surroundings, inside and out. Visit The Filling Station next door for live music. O L D A $$
5100 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-7710, fettoosh restaurant.com. Pita sandwiches and kebabs keep the kitchen fired up at this bargain-priced Lebanese and Moroccan restaurant. C R L D G V $
BLOODY MARY
932 N. Kenmore St., 703-522-3220, elpollorico. com. A local institution, this rotisserie chicken mecca gained even more street cred after a visit from the late Anthony Bourdain. L D V $
owned eatery is revered for its doughnuts, Intelligentsia coffee and cafe fare. B L V $$
320 23RD ST S STE 250 ARLINGT ARLINGTON, GTO GT TON, VA V 22 22202 2202 320 23RD ST S STE 250 ARLINGTON, VA 22202
(703) 412 9211 (703) 412 9211
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■ places to eat usa.com. Slurp multiple variations of the namesake soup. L D $$
Haute Dogs
2910 N. Sycamore St., 703-548-3891, hautedogs andfries.com. Cookout fare goes gourmet with hot dog toppings ranging from banh mi with sriracha mayo to a buffalo dog with blue cheese. L D $
Hawkers Asian Street Food
4201 Wilson Blvd., 703-828-8287, eathawkers. com. Dig into Asian street foods, sake, whiskey and zero-proof quaffs. G V L D $$
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe s
2150 N. Culpeper St., 703-527-8394, heidelberg bakery.com. A longstanding favorite for pastries, cakes, pretzels, bratwurst and German potato salad. Closed Mondays. B L $
Highline RxR
2010-A Crystal Drive, 703-413-2337, highlinerxr. com. Bar snacks, draft beers, cocktails and comedy nights bring the fun. O L D A $$
Hot Lola’s s
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 1501 Wilson Blvd. (Rosslyn), hotlolas.com. It’s all about Kevin Tien’s Nashville-meets-Sichuan hot chicken sandwiches. L D $
Hyde Social
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-647-9342, hyde-social. com. Sports fans unite for pub fare, drinks and trash talk. R L D A G V $$
Idido’s Coffee & Social House
1107 S. Walter Reed Drive, 703-253-1576, ididos socialhouse.com. Devotees go for the pastries, sandwiches and Ethiopian coffee. B L V $
Immigrant Food s
Inca Social
Taqueria Xochi
Ireland’s Four Courts
King of Koshary
1776 Wilson Blvd., 703-488-7640, incasocial.com. Empanadas, saltados, ceviche, sushi and pisco sours round out the menu at this Peruvian cousin to the original in Dunn Loring. R L D G V $$ 2051 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-3600, irelandsfour courts.com. Stop in for a pint and an EPL game over an order of fish and chips. C R L D A $$
Istanbul Grill
4617 Wilson Blvd., 571-970-5828, istanbulgrill virginia.com. Feast on Turkish meze and kebabs at this homey spot in Bluemont. L D V $$
The Italian Store s
3123 Langston Blvd., 703-528-6266; 5837 Washington Blvd., 571-341-1080; italianstore.com. A favorite for pizzas, sandwiches, prepared entrées, espresso and gelato. O L D G V $
Jon’s Joint
250 N. Glebe Road, 202-384-4954. Order halal smashburgers topped with cheese, grilled onions and pickled jalapeños. L D $
Kabob Palace
2315 S. Eads St., 703-486-3535, kabobpalaceusa. com. Open 24 hours, this Crystal City storefront serves grilled halal meats, pillowy naan and savory sides. L D A G V $$
Kaldi’s Social House
3100 10th St. N.; 3639 S. Glebe Road; 571-2131502, kaldissocialhouse.net. The National Landing location serves a creative dinner menu in addition to espresso drinks and brunch. B R L D G V $$
Kanji Izakaya
4301 Fairfax Drive, 703-512-0017, kanjiarlington. com. Dive into teriyaki, ramen, yakitori, hibachi dishes and sushi. L D G $$
Khun Yai Thai
2509 N. Harrison St., 703-536-1643, khunyaithai va.com. The family-owned restaurant serves “homestyle Thai” cuisine with grandma’s recipes. L D G V $$
5515 Wilson Blvd., 571-317-7925, kingofkoshary. com. Sample the hearty namesake dish, grilled branzino, beef kofta, roasted chicken or any of the tagines from this Egyptian kitchen. L D G $$
Kusshi
1201 S. Joyce St., 571-777-1998, kusshisushi. com. Feast your way through shishito peppers, sushi, oysters and mochi. O L D G V $$$
L.A. Bar & Grill
2530 Columbia Pike, 703-685-1560, labargrill.com. Regulars flock to this dive bar on the Pike (L.A. stands for Lower Arlington) for cold brews and pub fare. D A $$
La Coop Coffee
4807 First St. N., 571-257-7972, lacoopcoffee. com. Stop in for single-origin Guatemalan coffee, house-made horchata, breakfast sammies, empanadas and ice cream. B L $
La Côte D’Or Café
6876 Langston Blvd., 703-538-3033, lcd6876va. com. This little French bistro serves standards like crepes and steak frites. O R L D G V $$$
Lantern Restaurant and Bar
320 23rd St., S., 571-800-6137, lanternrestaurant andbar.com. Try crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce, orange chicken or beef with broccoli from the comfort of a private karaoke room. L D G V $$
La Posada
320 23rd St., S., 703-412-9211, laposadarestaurant. com. Say “olé” to flautas, poblano beef ribs, shrimp saltado, agua fresca and horchata. C L D V $$
Lapu Lapu
1417 S. Fern St., 703-567-4014, lapulapubreak fast.com. Filipino breakfast sandwiches stuffed with everything from chorizo to ribeye are served
120 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
on pan de sal buns from sister bakery Gwenie’s Pastries. B R L D V $
Lebanese Taverna
5900 Washington Blvd., 703-241-8681; 1101 S. Joyce St., Pentagon Row, 703-415-8681; lebanese taverna.com. A hometown favorite for shawarma, kebabs, flatbreads and more. O C L D G V $$
The Liberty Tavern
3195 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-9360, thelibertytavern. com. This Clarendon anchor offers a spirited bar and creative cuisine fueled by two wood-burning ovens. O C R L D A G V $$$
Livin’ the Pie Life
2166 N. Glebe Road, 571-431-7727, livinthepielife. com. The wildly popular pie shop and bakery started as an Arlington farmers market stand. B L V $$
Locket
1900 Fort Myer Drive, 703-682-8233, locket rosslyn.com. Tucked inside the Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key, this all-day restaurant hits the spot with raw bar, steakhouse-style favorites and brunch. C B R L D G V $$$
Lost Dog Café
5876 Washington Blvd., 703-237-1552, lostdogcafe.com. Known for its pizzas, subs and beer selection, this deli/café supports pet adoption through the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. L D G V $$
Lucky Danger
1101 S. Joyce St., Unit B27, luckydanger.co. Chefs Tim Ma and Andrew Chiou put a fresh spin on Chinese American takeout with dishes such as duck fried rice and lo mein. L D V $$
Lyon Hall s
3100 N. Washington Blvd., 703-741-7636, lyonhall arlington.com. The European-style brasserie turns out French, German and Alsatian-inspired plates,
COURTESY PHTOO
4245 N. Fairfax Drive, 703-203-0337, immigrant food.com. Global dishes from this “gastroadvocacy” kitchen range from Salvadoran pupusas to Filipino fried chicken. O R L D G V $$
from charcuterie and sausages to moules frites. O C R L D A V $$$
com. Order a Guinness and some fish and chips at this friendly watering hole. O R L D A $$
Mae’s Market and Café
Meda Coffee & Kitchen
1450 S. Eads St., maesmarketandcafe.com. Scratch-made baked goods, salads, sandwiches, espresso drinks, cheese and wine. o B R L D V $$
Maison Cheryl
2900 Wilson Blvd., 703-664-0509, maisoncheryl.com. Seared duck breast, ratatouille and strawberry crepe cake are among the offerings at this French American bistro. R L D V $$$
Makers Union
1450 S. Eads St., 703-419-3504, makersunionpub. com. Pop in for comfort food, cocktails and live music several nights a week. R L D G V $$
Mala Tang
3434 Washington Blvd., 703-243-2381, mala-tang. com. A fragrant eatery specializing in Sichuan hot pot, dry pot and Chinese street foods. O L D G V $$
Mario’s Pizza House
3322 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-0222, mariospizza housemenu.com. Open into the wee hours, it’s been cooking up subs, wings and pizza since 1957. O C B L D A $
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
4017 Campbell Ave., 571-431-6530, masons lobster.com. Order lobster rolls your way (dressed in melted butter or mayo). L D $$
Maya Bistro
5649 Langston Blvd., 703-533-7800, bistromaya. com. The family-owned restaurant serves Turkish and Mediterranean comfort food. L D V $$
McNamara’s Pub & Restaurant
567 23rd St. S., 703-302-3760, mcnamaraspub.
5037 Columbia Pike, 571-312-0599, medacoffee kitchen.com. Find coffee, baked goods and traditional Ethiopian dishes like kitfo and tibs. C B L D G V $$
Me Jana 2300 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-4440, mejanarestau rant.com. Named for an old Lebanese folk ballad, this Middle Eastern eatery offers prime peoplewatching in Clarendon. O C L D G V $$
Mele Bistro 1723 Wilson Blvd., 703-522-0284, melebistro.com. The farm-to-table Mediterranean kitchen cooks with fresh, organic, free-range, regionally sourced, nonGMO ingredients. O R L D G V $$
Metro 29 Diner 4711 Langston Blvd., 703-528-2464, metro29. com. Classic diner fare includes triple-decker sandwiches, mile-high desserts, burgers and breakfast. CBRLDV$
Mexicali Blues 2933 Wilson Blvd., 703-812-9352, mexicali-blues. com. This colorful landmark dishes out Salvadoran and Mexican chow. O C R L D G V $$
Mister Days Sport Rock Café
Mussel Bar & Grille 800 N. Glebe Road, 703-841-2337, musselbar. com. Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s menu centers on mussels, frites, wood-fired pizza and more than 100 Belgian and craft beers. O L D $$
Nam-Viet 1127 N. Hudson St., 703-522-7110, namvietva.com. The venerable restaurant in what was once Arlington’s “Little Saigon” neighborhood specializes in flavors of Vietnam’s Can Tho region. O L D V $$
Nettie’s Tavern 2854 Wilson Blvd., 571-867-9132, nettiestavern. com. Italy meets Appalachia in bites such as pepperoni rolls, venison meatballs and tiramisu French toast. Sip a Nettie’s Tea made with moonshine, crushed lemon and mint syrup. O R L D A V $$
Nighthawk Pizza 1201 S. Joyce St., nighthawkpizza.com. Visit this Westpost brewpub and sports bar for personal pizzas (both thick and thin crust), beer and smashburgers. L D V $$
NiHao 1550 Crystal Drive, 703-512-4109, nihaoarlington. com. Sichuan small plates by chef Peter Chang include walnut shrimp, spicy dry-fried eggplant, and pork ribs with fries. O L D G V $$
Northside Social Coffee & Wine
1101 N. Highland St., 703-986-3335, misterdays usa.com. Happy hour deals and bar munchies provide fuel for game-watching. R D A $
3211 Wilson Blvd., 703-465-0145, northsidesocial va.com. The two-story coffee and wine bar with a big patio is always busy...which tells you something. O B L D V $$
Mpanadas
Oasis: The Listening Bar
2602 Columbia Pike, 571-312-0182, mpanadas usa.com. Try barbecue pork and cheeseburger empanadas, birthday cake paletas and java chip macaroons. B L D $
2940 Clarendon Blvd., 703-512-3068, oasisthe listeningbar.com. From the owners of Sisters Thai, a sushi, cocktail and vinyl record bar with a surfer vibe. L D $$
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121
■ places to eat Ocean Shack
2163 N. Glebe Road, 703-488-7161, oceanshack arlington.com. Dig into a seafood boil, a fried oyster basket or an order of fish tacos and pretend you’re at the beach. R L D A $$
Oh K-Dog
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 703-5673376, ohkdog.com. Try a fried Korean rice dog with add-ins like sweet potato, cheddar or squid ink. L D $
Old Dominion Pizza Co.
4514 Langston Blvd., 703-718-6372, olddominion pizza.com. Order thin crust or “grandma style” pies named after local high school mascots. L D G $
Open Road
1201 Wilson Blvd., 703-248-0760, openroadgrill. com. A solid pick for burgers and beers or a proper entrée and a craft cocktail. O L D $$
Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen
1101 S. Joyce St., 703-567-7295, origincoffeeco. com. The industrial-chic coffee shop roasts its own beans and serves all-day breakfast, snacks and dinner plates. O B R L D V $$
O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub
3207 Washington Blvd., 703-812-0939, osullivans irishpub.com. You’ll find owner and County Kerry native Karen O’Sullivan behind the bar, pouring pints and cracking jokes. L D A $$
Our Mom Eugenia
4044 Campbell Ave., 571-970-0468, ourmom eugenia.com. This family-owned spot is beloved for its legit Greek fare, from saganaki to souvlaki. O L D $$ 2931 S. Glebe Road, 703-888-2890, padaekdc. com. Chef Seng Luangrath’s celebrated kitchen turns out Lao, Thai and Burmese fare—satay, curries and noodle dishes. O L D G V $$
Palette 22
4053 Campbell Ave., 703-746-9007, palette22.com. The Shirlington gallery-café specializes in international small plates and is a hoppin’ brunch spot. O R L D V $$
Peking Pavilion
2912 N. Sycamore St., 703-237-6868, peking pavilionva.com. Reliable standbys include moo shu pork and beef with broccoli. L D $$
Peruvian Brothers
1450 S. Eads St., 703-625-6473, peruvianbroth ers.com. Dig into chicharron sandwiches, saltados, empanadas, rotisserie chicken and power bowls. LDV$
Peter Chang Arlington
2503-E N. Harrison St., 703-538-6688, peterchang arlington.com. The former Chinese Embassy chef brings his fiery and flavorful Sichuan cooking to the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. C L D $$
Pho 75 s
1721 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-7355, pho75.res taurantwebexpert.com. The piping-hot Vietnamese soup at this local institution is all about fresh ingredients. O L D V $
Pho & Banh Mi Eatery Café
3000 Washington Blvd., 703-489-8212, eatery cafeva.com. Fill up on banh mi (with tofu, grilled chicken or pork), steaming bowls of pho and poke bowls. L D G V $
PhoWheels
1731 Crystal Drive, phowheelsdc.com. The popular food truck serving Vietnamese pho and banh mi has a kiosk at Water Park. O L D G $
Pi BBQ and Bar
420 23rd St. S. 629-899-1318, pibbqbar.peblla. com. Enjoy traditional Korean barbecue, grilled at your table, with all the banchan. L D A $$$
Pie-tanza s
2503-B N. Harrison St., 703-237-0200, pie-tanza. com. Enjoy pizza (including gluten-free options), calzones, lasagna, subs and salads. C L D G V $$
Neko Panchi at Upside on Moore
Pines of Florence
Rasa
Pink Saffron
Ravenna Pizza
Poppyseed Rye
Ravi Kabob House
2109 N. Pollard St., 703-566-0456, pinesofflor encearlingtonva.com. The classics include linguine with pesto, veal parm and chicken cacciatore, plus housemade pizza and subs. L D V $$ 1201 S. Joyce St., 571-867-9090, thepinksaffron. com. Minted lamb, tandoori chicken, veggie korma and other Indian favorites. L D G V $$ 818 N. Quincy St., poppyseedrye.com. Pick up sandwiches, biscuits, salads, flower bouquets and gift items (beer and wine, too). O r L D G V $
Pupatella s
5104 Wilson Blvd.; 1621 S. Walter Reed Drive, 571-312-7230, pupatella.com. Enzo and Anastasiya Algarme’s authentic Neapolitan pies are considered among D.C.’s best. O L D V $$
Quarterdeck
1200 Fort Myer Drive, 703-528-2722, quarterdeck arlington.com. This beloved shack has served up steamed crabs for 40 years. O C L D V $$
Queen Mother’s Kitchen
1601 Crystal Drive, 703-997-8474, queenmother cooks.com. Grab a fried chicken sandwich and a side of duck fat fries. O L D $
Quincy Hall
4001 Fairfax Drive, 703-567-4098, quincyhallbar. com. Go for pints, meatballs and New York-style pizza at this spacious beer hall in Ballston. L D $
Quinn’s on the Corner
1776 Wilson Blvd., 703-640-3566, quinnsonthe corner.com. Irish and Belgian favorites such as mussels, steak frites, and bangers and mash, plus draft beers and a big whiskey list. B R L D A $$
Ragtime
1345 N. Courthouse Road, 703-243-4003, ragtime restaurant.com. Taste the Big Easy in offerings such as jambalaya, catfish, spiced shrimp and oysters. Sundays bring a waffle and omelet bar. O R L D A V $$
122 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
2200 Crystal Drive, 703-888-0925, rasagrill.com. Build a bowl with options like basmati rice, chicken tikka, lamb, pickled vegetables, lentils, chutneys and yogurt sauces. O L D G V $ 1500 Wilson Blvd., 571-520-2086, ravennapizza. com. Pop in for Roman-style pizzas, focaccia sandwiches and gelato. L D V $ 350 N. Glebe Road, 703-522-6666; 250 N. Glebe Road, 703-816-0222. Curries, kebabs and delectably spiced veggies keep this strip-mall café plenty busy. C L D V $$
The Renegade
3100 Clarendon Blvd., 703-468-4652, renegadeva. com. Is it a coffee shop, restaurant, bar or live music venue? All of the above—with snacks ranging from lambchop lollipops to lo mein. B L D A $$
Rhodeside Grill
1836 Wilson Blvd., 703-243-0145, rhodeside grill.com. Find chops, meatloaf, burgers and po’boys accompanied by every kind of hot sauce imaginable. O C R L D A V $$
Rien Tong Asian Bistro
3131 Wilson Blvd., 703-243-8388, rientong.com. The large menu includes Thai and Chinese standards, plus sushi. L D V $$
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co. s
3471 Washington Blvd., 703-528-9663, rocklands. com. Owner John Snedden has been slow-cooking barbecue at this Arlington favorite since 1990. OCLDGV$
Roggenart Bakery, Bistro & Café
4401 Wilson Blvd., 703-721-3182, roggenart.com. Stop in for breakfast, coffee, pastries and sandwiches on house-baked bread. B R L D V $$
Rooftop Recess
2424 Wilson Blvd., 757-807-2233, rooftoprecess. com. Grab a seat on the roof deck to enjoy seasonal fare and refreshing cocktails O C R L D V $$
COURTESY PHOTO
Padaek
Ruffino’s Spaghetti House
4763 Langston Blvd., 703-528-2242, ruffino spaghetti.com. Fill up on classics such as veal Parmigiana and chicken piccata. C L D V $$
RusUz
1000 N. Randolph St., 571-312-4086, rusuz.com. The family-run bistro serves hearty Russian and Uzbek dishes such as borscht, beef stroganoff and plov—a rice pilaf with lamb. L D $$
Ruthie’s All-Day s
3411 Fifth St. S., 703-888-2841, ruthiesallday. com. Chef Matt Hill’s acclaimed “meat and three” serves up wood-smoked proteins with creative sides. Breakfast (with house-made biscuits) offered daily. O B R L D G V $$
Ryu Izakaya
3030 Columbia Pike, 703-399-9052, ryuizakayava. com. A spot on the Pike for sushi, sake and yakitori. L D G $$
Sabores Tapas Bar
2401 Columbia Pike, 571-970-1253, saboresva. com. Dine on ceviche, lomo saltado and classic gambas al ajillo at this tapas bar on the Pike. R L D G V $$
Saigon Noodles & Grill
bar” and Italian cocktails. Closed Sundays. O L D V $$$
Silver Diner
4400 Wilson Blvd., 703-812-8600, silverdiner. com. The kitchen cooks with organic ingredients, many of which are sourced from local suppliers. Low-calorie and gluten-free menu choices are available. O C B R L D A G V $$ 1731 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-1800, thesimplegreek. com. Find gyros, spanakopita, dolmades and other Greek favorites at this café and catering operation in Colonial Village. O C B L D V $
Simply Banh Mi
801 N. Quincy St., simplybahnmi.com. In addition to its namesake sandwich, the cult-status takeout that originated in Georgetown serves pho and build-yourown rice and vermicelli noodle bowls. L D $
Skydome
300 Army Navy Drive, 703-416-3862. Savor craft cocktails, Mediterranean dishes and views of the D.C. skyline in this revolving hotel restaurant. Closed Sunday and Monday. D G V $$$
Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque
5731 Langston Blvd., 703-269-2718, sloppyma mas.com. Joe and Mandy Neuman’s barbecue joint offers wood-smoked meats galore, plus pimento cheese, hearty sides and banana pudding for dessert. O B R L D V $$
Sakaki Izakaya
Smokecraft Modern Barbecue
Salt s
1201 Wilson Blvd., 703-875-0491, saltrosslyn.com. The speakeasy-style cocktail bar serves cheese plates and carpaccio alongside sazeracs, old-fashioneds and nouveau craft cocktails. D $$
The Salt Line
4040 Wilson Blvd., 703-566-2075, thesaltline. com. Hit this seafood-centric oyster bar for clam chowder, lobster rolls, stuffies, smashburgers and fun cocktails. c O R D $$$
Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub
2800 S. Randolph St., 703-379-0122, samuel becketts.com. A modern Irish pub serving Emerald Isle recipes. O C R L D A G V $$
Santé
1250 S. Hayes St. (inside the Ritz-Carlton), 703412-2762, meetatsante.com. Tuck into an elegant plate of shrimp saganaki, whole roasted branzino or lamb “osso bucco.” B R L D G V $$$
Sawatdee Thai Restaurant
1051 N. Highland St., 571-312-8791, smokecraft bbq.com. Every menu item is kissed by smoke, from ribs, crabcakes and spaghetti squash to the chocolate cherry bread pudding. O L D G V $$
Snouts & Stouts
2709 S. Oakland St., 571-317-2239, snouts nstouts.com. Grab a beer and some pulled-pork pretzel bites with beer cheese while your pup runs around this indoor dog park and bar. L D $
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
1135 N. Highland St., 703-527-5666, spicekraft va.com. This contemporary concept by restaurateurs Anthony Sankar and Premnath Durairaj gives Indian classics a modern spin. O L D $$
Spider Kelly’s
3181 Wilson Blvd., 703-312-8888, spiderkellys.com. The “come as you are” bar offers a sizable beer list, creative cocktails, salads, burgers, snacks and breakfast at all hours. C D A G V $$
Stellina Pizzeria
Screwtop Wine Bar and Cheese Shop
Supreme Hot Pot
Seamore’s
Surreal
Seoulspice
2117 Crystal Drive, surrealpark.com. Playful dishes range from a foot-long Boomdog to scallops with celery root mezcal “clouds.” O B L D $$
SushiJip
3000 Washington Blvd., 703-243-7799, sushijip. com. A neighborhood spot for sushi, poke bowls, hibachi and ramen. Closed Mondays. L D G V $$
SER
Sushi Rock
Sfoglina Pasta House
1100 Wilson Blvd., sfoglinapasta.com/rosslyn. Fabio Trabocchi’s urbane trattoria serves housemade pasta (you can watch it being made), a “mozzarella
26ars! ye
2301 Columbia Pike, 571-666-1801, supremehot potva.com. This Pike eatery specializes in Szechuan hot pot, skewered meats and a few Cajun seafood dishes. D G $$
1735 N. Lynn St., 703-419-5868, seoulspice.com. Korean fast-casual comfort food, anyone? L D G V $ 1110 N. Glebe Road, 703-746-9822, serrestau rant.com. Traditional Spanish and Basque dishes in a colorful, friendly space with outstanding service. O R L D V $$$
3471 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 703-528-9663 rocklands.com
6035 Wilson Blvd., 703-300-9655, soulthaikitchen andbar.com. Find curries, noodle dishes and other Thai classics. L D G V $
2250 Clarendon Blvd., 703-243-8181, sawatdeeva. com. Craving pad thai or pad prik king? This is the place. L D V $$
2815 Clarendon Blvd., 703-721-3384, seamores. com. Dine on sustainably sourced seafood, from clams and mussels to arctic char and yellowfin tuna. Brunch on weekends. O R L D G V $$$
Tis the season for watching your fav sporting events on TV. Let us cater your next get-together!
Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar
2800 S. Randolph St., 703-962-7884, stellina pizzeria.com. Pay a visit for Neapolitan pies, fried artichokes and a deli counter with house-made pastas, sauces and dolci to take home. O R L D $$
1025 N. Fillmore St., 703-888-0845, screwtop winebar.com. The congenial wine bar and bottle shop offers tastings, wine classes, and small plates for sharing and pairing. O C R L D G V $$
Reader Pick:
BEST BARBEQUE
The Simple Greek
1800 Wilson Blvd., 703-566-5940, saigonnoodles grill.com. Traditional Vietnamese pho, banh mi and noodle dishes round out the offerings at this restaurant and takeout. L D $$ 3227 Washington Blvd., 703-718-4931, sakaki-izakaya.com. Try mini “sushi burgers,” Wagyu fried rice and the dazzling Egg on Egg (king salmon, quail egg, ikura and wasabi soy in a smoking bowl). Closed Tuesdays. L D A G $$
YOUR HOMETOWN BARBEQUE SINCE 1990.
1900 Clarendon Blvd., 571-312-8027, sushirockva. com. Play a little air guitar while sampling sushi rolls and beverages named after your favorite bands, from Zeppelin to Ozzy to Oasis. D A G V $$
Sushi-Zen Japanese Restaurant s
2457 N. Harrison St., 703-534-6000, sushizen. com. An amicable, light-filled neighborhood stop for sushi, donburi, tempura and udon. C L D V $$
Serving award-winning, fresh and healthy Japanese cuisine & a full assortment of sushi for over 29 years.
ORDER NOW!
703-534-6000 www.sushizen.com
ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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■ places to eat Sweet Leaf
2200 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-5100; 800 N. Glebe Road, 703-522-5000; 650 N. Quincy St., 703527-0807; sweetleafcafe.com. Build your own sandwiches and salads. O C B L D $$
Taco Bamba
4000 Wilson Blvd., 571-777-1477; 4041 Campbell Ave., 571-257-3030; tacobamba.com. Taco options range from classic carnitas to cheffy creations like the El Rico Pollo, stuffed with chicken, green chili, aji Amarillo aioli and crispy potato. B L D V $
Taco Rock
1501 Wilson Blvd., 571-775-1800, thetacorock. com. This rock-themed watering hole keeps the Micheladas flowing alongside tacos on housemade blue-corn tortillas. B L D V $$
Taqueria el Poblano
2503-A N. Harrison St., 703-237-8250, taqueria poblano.com. Fresh guacamole, fish tacos, margaritas and mole verde transport patrons to the Yucatan. C L D G V $$
Taqueria Xochi
1450 S. Eads St., 571-444-6722, taqueriaxochi. com. Beef birria tacos, crispy stuffed mulitas and other Mexican street foods. D A V $$
Tatte Bakery and Café
2805 Clarendon Blvd., 571-312-8691; 269 19th Court S., 571-357-1470; tattebakery.com. Breakfast sandwiches, tartines, panini, grain bowls, coffee and pastries. O B R L D G V $
Ted’s Bulletin & Sidekick Bakery
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-848-7580, tedsbulletin. com. Retro comfort food and all-day breakfast with an adjoining bakery. C B R L D G V $$
Texas Jack’s Barbecue
2761 Washington Blvd., 703-875-0477, txjacks.com. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork, plus sides like raw carrot salad and smashed cucumbers. O L D A $$
T.H.A.I. in Shirlington
4209 Campbell Ave., 703-931-3203, thaiinshirling ton.com. Pretty dishes include lemongrass salmon with black sticky rice. O L D G V $$$
Thai Noy
5880 Washington Blvd., 703-534-7474, thainoy.com. Shimmering tapestries and golden Buddhas are the backdrop in this destination for Thai noodles, curries and rice dishes. L D $$
Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, 703-685-7040, thaisquarerestaurant.com. Enjoy options ranging from crispy squid with basil and roasted duck curry to pig knuckle stew. O L D G V $$
Tiger Dumplings
3225 Washington Blvd., 571-970-4512, tiger dumplings.com. There are dumplings, of course, plus five-spice beef, roast duck and vegan options like tofu skin with peanuts. L D G V $$
Timber Pizza
4238 Wilson Blvd. (Ballston Quarter), 703-5676463, timberpizza.com. Popular pies include the Green Monster (pesto, feta, zucchini, kale) and the Worthy (chicken, barbecue sauce, red onions, apples and cilantro). L D V $$
TNR Cafe
2049 Wilson Blvd., 571-217-0766, tnrcafe.com. When you have a hankering for Peking duck, moo shu chicken, Szechuan beef or bubble tea. L D G V $$
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream s
5849-A Washington Blvd., 703-536-7000; 510 14th St. S.; tobysicecream.com. Stop in for cups, cones, floats and sundaes. Coffee, pastries and bagels available in the morning. B L D V $
Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita
2911 Columbia Pike, 571-970-2824; 3811 Fairfax Drive, 703-512-4137; tortasytacoslachiquitadmv. com. The beloved eatery that started as a food truck does tacos, alambres, huarache platters, flautas and pozole right. B L D A $
Trade Roots
5852 Washington Blvd., 571-335-4274, fairtrade roots.com. The Westover gift shop and cafe serves
fair-trade coffee, tea, pastries, salads, organic wine and snackable small plates. O B L $
Troy’s Italian Kitchen
2710 Washington Blvd., 703-528-2828, troysitalian kitchen.com. Palak and Neel Vaidya’s mom-andpop serves pizza, pasta and calzones, including a lengthy vegan menu with options like “chicken” tikka masala pizza. L D G V $
True Food Kitchen
Wonder
1771 N. Pierce St.,wonder.com. Find fast-casual menus by star chefs like Bobby Flay and Marcus Samuelsson at this Rosslyn food hall. L D G V $$
Yayla Bistro
2201 N. Westmoreland St., 703-533-5600, yayla bistro.com. A cozy little spot for Turkish small plates, flatbreads and seafood. Pita wraps available for lunch only. O C L D $$
4238 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-0930, truefoodkitchen.com. Emphasizing “anti-inflammatory” fare, the menu will convince you that healthy tastes good. O L D G V $$
Yume Sushi
Tupelo Honey Café
Yunnan by Potomac
Upside on Moore
Yu Noodles
1616 N. Troy St., 703-253-8140, tupelohoneycafe. com. The Southern fusion menu includes dishes like roasted snapper with sweet potato and farro. C R L D $$ 1700 N. Moore St., upsideonmoore.com. This food hall above the Rosslyn metro includes DMV concepts Ghostburger, Stellina Pizzeria, Little Tiger Dumplings and Neko Panchi sushi. L D G V $$
Urban Tandoor
801 N. Quincy St., 703-567-1432, utandoorva.com. Sate your appetite with Indian and Nepalese fare, from tandoori lamb to Himalayan momos. Lunch buffet daily. L D V $$
Variedades Catrachas Restaurant
3709 Columbia Pike, 703-888-0906, variedades catrachas.com. This homey Honduran eatery is open almost round the clock. B L D A G V $
Wagamama
2950 Clarendon Blvd., 571-901-9242, waga mama.us. Feast on ramen, teppanyaki, rice bowls, bao buns, boba tea and sake cocktails. O L D G V $$
Water Bar
1601 Crystal Drive, nlwaterbar.com. This sleek oyster bar overlooking National Landing’s Water Park serves sharable plates, snacks and proper cocktails. O L D G V $$
Weenie Beenie
2680 Shirlington Road, 703-671-6661, weenie beenie.net. The hot dog stand founded in 1954 is still serving half smokes, bologna-and-egg sandwiches and pancakes. B L D $
Westover Market & Beer Garden
5863 N. Washington Blvd., 703-536-5040, westo vermarketbeergarden.com. It’s a hive for burgers, draft microbrews and live music. O C L D A $$
Westover Taco
5849 Washington Blvd., 703-297-3030, westover taco.com. Tacos, guac, margs and beer keep things casual at this neighborhood hangout. L D V A $
Westville
2800 Clarendon Blvd., 703-646-7226, westvillenyc. com. The veg-forward concept out of New York City emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and buildyour-own dishes, plus cocktails. O B L D G V $$
Whino
4238 Wilson Blvd., 571-290-3958, whinova.com. Part restaurant/bar and part art gallery, this vibey spot features cocktails, shareable plates, brunch, and “low brow” art exhibits. R L D A $$
William Jeffrey’s Tavern
2301 Columbia Pike, 703-746-6333, william jeffreystavern.com. The pub on the Pike features Prohibition-era wall murals and mixes a mean martini. O C R L D A G V $$
Wilson Hardware
2915 Wilson Blvd., 703-527-4200, wilson hardwareva.com. Hit the pretty patio or roof deck for boozy slushies and small plates. O R L D A G V $$$
Wiseguy Pizza
1735 N. Lynn St., 703-358-8880; 710 12th St. S., 703-334-9885, wiseguypizza.com. The Sicilian and New York-style pies range from classic pepperoni to Korean chicken with cabbage. L D G V $
124 January/February 2026 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
2121 N. Westmoreland St., 703-269-5064, yume sushiva.com. Sushi, omakase and a sake bar with craft cocktails in a stylish setting. L D V G $$$ 721 15th St., S., 571-699-3935, yunnanby potomac.com. Try mixian rice noodles in chicken bone broth, xiaochi (small plates) and multiple kinds of bao buns. O R L D $$ 1515 Wilson Blvd., 703-718-4928, yunoodles arlington.com. Noodles, dumplings, rice dishes and dim sum round out the offerings. L D $
FALLS CHURCH 2941 Restaurant
2941 Fairview Park Drive, 703-270-1500, 2941. com. French chef Bertrand Chemel’s airy sanctuary offers beautifully composed seasonal dishes and expert wine pairings. C L D V $$$$
Al Jazeera
3813-D S. George Mason Drive, 703-379-2733. The top seller at this Yemeni cafe is oven-roasted lamb with yellow rice. L D $$
Anthony’s Restaurant
3000 Annandale Road, 703-532-0100, anthonys restaurantva.com. The family-owned diner serves standbys like spaghetti, pizza, gyros and subs, plus breakfast on weekends. R L D V $$
B Side
8298 Glass Alley (Mosaic), 703-676-3550, bsidecuts.com. Nathan Anda’s charcuterie, smashburgers and beef-fat fries steal the show at this cozy bar. L D $$
Badd Pizza
346 W. Broad St., 703-237-2233, baddpizza.com. Order a Buffalo-style “cup-and-char” pepperoni pie and a Lost Rhino “baddbeer” IPA. L D $$
Bakeshop
100 E. Fairfax St., 703-533-0002, bakeshopva.com. See Arlington listing. B V $
Balqees Restaurant
5820 Seminary Road, 703-379-0188, balqeesres taurant.com. Lebanese and Yemeni specialties include lamb in saffron rice, saltah (a vegetarian stew) and saffron cake with crème anglaise. O L D V $$
Bamian
5634 Leesburg Pike, 703-820-7880, bamianres taurant.com. Try Afghan standards like palau (lamb with saffron rice) and aushak (scallion dumplings with yogurt, meat sauce and mint). C L D V $$
Caboose Commons
2918 Eskridge Road (Mosaic), 703-663-8833, caboosebrewing.com. The microbrewery has a hopping patio, house brews and creative eats, from fried pickles to plant-based buddha bowls. O L D V A $$
Café Kindred
450 N. Washington St., 571-327-2215, cafe kindred.com. Pop in for a yogurt parfait, avocado toast, grilled eggplant sandwich, or an espresso fizz. B R L V $$
Cafe Zevian
700 W. Broad St.,703-712-7012, cafezevian.com. Savor Turkish, Greek and Lebanese influences in mezze, grilled seafood, doner kebab and baklava. O B R L D G V $$
Casa Mariachi
133 E. Annandale Road, casamariachirestaurante.
com. All the Tex-Mex favorites—tacos, burritos, fajitas, saltado, guac and margs. B L D $$
Celebrity Delly s
7263-A Arlington Blvd., 703-573-9002, celebrity deliva.com. Matzo-ball soup, massive corned beef sandwiches and tuna melts satisfy at this New York-style deli founded in 1975. Brunch served all day Saturday and Sunday. C B L D G V $
Chasin’ Tails
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9596, chasintailsss. com. The Viet-Cajun menu includes crawfish boils, char-broiled kimchi oysters and scallop crudo with citrus vinaigrette. L D $$
Chay Restaurant
6531 Columbia Pike, 571-378-1771, chayrestau rant.com. Worth the trip for vegetarian hot pot, spring rolls, noodles and other plant-based Vietnamese specialties. L D G V $
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
130 N. Washington St., 703-532-9283, clareand dons.com. Go coastal with fish tacos, margs and live outdoor music. O C L D A G V $$
beef, chicken, salmon and tofu, plus sushi, bubble tea and cheesecake smoothies. L D $$
rie serving both sweet and savory renditions of the beloved French pancakes. O B R L V $$
Godfrey’s Bakery & Café
Little Saigon Restaurant
421 W. Broad St., 571-378-1144, godfreysbakery cafe.com. Pop in for pastries, grazing boards, Roman-style pizza and coffee drinks. B R L D V $$
GrillMarX Steakhouse and Raw Bar
510 S. Washington St., 240-261-7762, gmxfalls church.com. Splurge on prime rib or boneless ribeye with all the sides, plus desserts such as classic cheesecake or a hot fudge sundae. L D G $$$$
Haandi Indian Cuisine
1222 W. Broad St., 703-533-3501, haandi.com. The perfumed kebabs, curries and biryani incorporate northern and southern Indian flavors. L D V G $$
Harvey’s
513 W. Broad St., 540-268-6100, harveysva.com. Chef Thomas Harvey’s homey café does roasted chicken, cheesesteaks, banana splits and other comfort fare with flair. O C B R L D V $$
Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ
2920 District Ave., 703-962-3002, coladashop. com. See Arlington listing. O B R L D V $$
8298 Glass Alley, 703-676-3550, hifitexmexbbq. com. Smoked meats, tacos, wings and tequila drinks shine at this spin-off of the original in Del Ray. R D $$
District Dumplings
Hong Kong Palace
Colada Shop
2985 District Ave. (Mosaic), 703-884-7080, districtdumplings.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
District Taco
5275-C Leesburg Pike, 571-699-0660, district taco.com. See Arlington listing. C B L D G V $
Dogwood Tavern
132 W. Broad St., 703-237-8333, dogwoodtav ern.com. The menu has something for everyone, from jambalaya and burgers to coconut-curry salmon. O C R L D A V $$
Dolan Uyghur
6387 Seven Corners Center, 703-532-0940, hong kongpalacedelivery.com. This kitchen caters to both ex-pat and American tastes with an enormous menu of options. C L D $$
Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant
6286 Arlington Blvd., 703-237-1388. Two words: dim sum. L D A V $$
Honoo Ramen Bar
165 W. Falls Station Blvd., 571-866-6540, honoo ramenbar.com. Ramen, skewers, sushi and small plates round out the menu. O L D G $$
400 S. Maple Ave., 833-693-6526, dolanuyghur. com. Order noodles, kebabs and Uyghur and Dolan specialties such as steamed dumplings stuffed with pumpkin and peppers. O B R L D G V $$
Huong Viet
Dominion Wine & Beer
Ireland’s Four Provinces
107 Rowell Court, 703-533-3030, dominionwine andbeer.com. Pairings come easy when a café shares its space with a wine and beer shop. Order up a plate of sliders, a cheese board or Dragon shrimp. O R L D V $$
Duangrat’s
5878 Leesburg Pike, 703-820-5775, duangrats. com. A revered destination for enchanting Thai cuisine since 1987. O R L D V $$
El Tio Tex-Mex Grill
7630 Lee Highway, 703-204-0233, eltiogrill.com. Take the family out for fajitas, enchiladas, lomo saltado, combo plates and margaritas. O L D $$
Elephant Jumps Thai Restaurant
8110-A Arlington Blvd., 703-942-6600, elephant jumps.com. Creative and comforting Thai food in an intimate strip-mall storefront. L D G V $$
Elevation Burger
442 S. Washington St., 703-237-4343, elevation burger.com. See Arlington listing. O L D V $
Ellie Bird s
125 Founders Ave., 703-454-8894, elliebirdva. com. Discover the wonders of chef Yuan Tang’s seasonal, globally-inspired cooking at this awardwinning Little City gem. c o R D G V $$$
The Falls Restaurant & Bar
370 W. Broad St., 703-237-8227, thefallsva.com. Dig into crabcakes, brisket, packed salads, pork schnitzel and, during weekend brunch, unlimited small plates. O R L D G V $$$
Fava Pot
7393 Lee Highway, 703-204-0609, favapot.com. The Egyptian eats include stewed fava beans with yogurt and lamb shanks with okra. And oh the bread! B L D G V $$
Flame Japanese Hibachi
6379 Seven Corners Center, 571-480-5161, flamejapanesehibachi.com. Get fired up for grilled
6785 Wilson Blvd., 703-538-7110. Spring rolls, roasted quail and shaky beef are faves at this cash-only Eden Center eatery. C L D G V $$ 105 W. Broad St., 703-534-8999, 4psva.com. A tavern in the heart of Falls Church City serving pub food and Irish specialties to the tune of occasional Irish music sessions. O C B R L D $$
Jinya Ramen Bar
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic), 571-327-2256, jinyaramenbar.com. Embellish your tonkotsu or umami-miso broth with more than a dozen toppings and add-ins. O L D A g V $$
JV’s Restaurant
6666 Arlington Blvd., 703-241-9504, jvsrestaurant. com. A dive bar (the best kind) known for its live music, cold beer and home-cooked meatloaf, lasagna and chili. L D A V $$
Koi Koi Sushi & Roll
450 W. Broad St., 703-237-0101, koikoisushi. com. The sushi is fresh and the vibe is fun. Teriyaki, tempura and bento boxes round out the menu. O L D $$
Lantern House Viet Bistro
1067 West Broad St., 703-268-2878, lantern houseva.com. Head out for pho, noodles and banh mi at this family-owned Vietnamese eatery. L D G V $$
Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen
7049 Leesburg Pike, 703-532-5299, lazymikes deli.com. A Falls Church institution churning out homemade ice cream, packed deli sandwiches and breakfast faves. O C B R L D G V $
La Tingeria
626 S. Washington St., 571-316-6715. A popular food truck in Arlington since 2012, David Peña’s concept also has a brick-and-mortar location where the queso birria tacos are a must. Open Wednesday-Sunday. L D $
Little Falls Cafe s
106 Little Falls St., @littlefallscafe. From the founders of Pupatella pizzeria, a charming crepe-
6218-B Wilson Blvd., 703-536-2633, littlesaigon restaurant.us. Authentic Vietnamese in comfortable setting with captivating retro photo collages on the walls. O L D $$
Loving Hut
2842 Rogers Drive, 703-942-5622; lovinghut fallschurch.com. The vegan eats include rice vermicelli with barbecued soy protein and clay pot rice with vegan “ham.” L D G V $$
MacMillan Whisky Room
2920 District Ave. (Mosaic), 240-994-3905, themacmillan.com. Contemplate more than 200 kinds of spirits lining the bar and a menu of U.K. and American pub standards. O R L D $$
Mark’s Duck House
6184-A Arlington Blvd., 703-532-2125. Though named for its specialty—Peking duck—it also offers tantalizing options such as short ribs, roasted pork and dim sum. R L D A V $$
Meaza Restaurant
5700 Columbia Pike, 703-820-2870, meazares taurant.com. Well-seasoned legumes and marinated beef served with spongy injera bread are signatures in this vivid Ethiopian banquet hall. O C L D G V $$
Met Khao
6395 Seven Corners Center, 703-533-9480, padaekdc.com. Chef Seng Luangrath has transformed the former Padaek space into a fast-casual eatery serving Thai and Laotian fare. L D G V $
Miu Kee
6653 Arlington Blvd., 703-237-8884. Open late, this strip-mall hideaway offers Cantonese, Sichuan and Hunan dishes. L D A $$
Mom & Pop
2909 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 703-9920050, dolcezzagelato.com. The little glass cafe serves light fare, snacks, gelato, coffee, beer and wine. O B R L D A $$
MQR Cafe
6343 Columbia Pike, 571-378-1012, mqrcafe. com. Find cardamom lattes, kunafa French toast, harissa burgers and chicken shawarma sandwiches at this halal café and coffee shop. BRLDGV$
Naja Mediterranean
2911 District Ave., 571-430-3650, najamediter ranean.com. Enjoy shawarma, falafel and other Lebanese favorites in the former Kirby Club space. O C LD V $$
Nhu Lan Sandwich
6763 Wilson Blvd., 703-532-9009, nhulancafe. com. This tiny Vietnamese deli at Eden Center is a favorite for banh mi sandwiches. L D V $
Northside Social Falls Church s
205 Park Ave., 703-992-8650, northsidesocial va.com. Come by in the morning for breakfast and a latte. Return in the evening for wine and a plate of charcuterie, or a full dinner. O B L D V $$
Nue s
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9599, nuevietnamese. com. The Viet-modern menu (think coconut-curry risotto, crispy whole fish and dazzling cocktails) has a stunning space to match. R L D G v $$$
Open Road
8100 Lee Highway, 571-395-4400, openroadmerri field.com. See Arlington listing. O C R L D $$
The Original Pancake House
7395-M Lee Highway, 703-698-6292, ophrestau rants.com. Answer those breakfast cravings with pancakes, crepes, waffles, French toast and more. C B R GV $
Our Mom Eugenia
2985 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 434-3394019, ourmomeugenia.com. See Arlington listing. O L D $$
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■ places to eat Panjshir Restaurant
114 E. Fairfax St., 703-536-4566, panjshirrestau rant.com. Carnivores go for the kebabs, but the vegetarian chalows elevate pumpkin, eggplant and spinach to new levels. O L D V $$
Peking Gourmet Inn
6029 Leesburg Pike, 703-671-8088, pekinggour met.com. It’s all about the crispy Peking duck at this famed institution, a destination for presidents, ambassadors and celebrities for more than three decades. C L D G V $$
Pho 88
232 W. Broad St., 703-533-8233, pho88va.com. Vietnamese pho is the main attraction, but the menu also includes other noodle and rice dishes. Closed Tuesdays. L D $$
Pho Ga Vang
6767 Wilson Blvd., 571-375-8281, phogavang. com. Slurp more than 12 kinds of pho, plus other Vietnamese homestyle dishes at this Eden Center café. L D G $$
Plaka Grill
1216 W. Broad St., 703-639-0161, plakagrill.com. Pop in for super satisfying Greek eats—dolmas, souvlaki, moussaka, spanakopita and roasted chicken. C L D V $$
Pop-Up District
6763 Wilson Blvd., pop-updistrict.com. Hit this Asian food hall inside the Eden Center for Thai street food, Korean bulgogi bowls, Hong Kong egg tarts, matcha drinks and late-night cocktails. L D G V A $
Bar Bao
Preservation Biscuit
Pupuseria La Familiar
308 S. Washington St., 703-995-2528, pupuseria lafamiliar.com. Salvadoran pupusas, fried yucca, chicharron, carne asada and horchata. L D $$
Puzukan Tan
8114 Arlington Blvd., 571-395-4727, puzukantan. com. From brothers Sam and Kibum Kim comes this Korean barbecue destination featuring dryaged meats, banchan and ramen. O L D $$$
Raaga Restaurant
5872 Leesburg Pike, 703-998-7000, raagarestau rant.com. Go out for chicken tikka, lamb rogan josh, toothsome samosas and cardamom-infused desserts. O L D G V $$
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters
230 W. Broad St., 571-314-1711, rarebirdcoffee. com. This charming Little City café roasts its own beans and makes an artful latte. The cafe space features rotating exhibits by local artists. L D $
Rasa
2905 District Ave. (Mosaic), 571-378-0670, rasa. co. See Arlington listing. L D G V $
Rice Paper/Taste of Vietnam
6775 Wilson Blvd., 703-538-3888, ricepapertasteofvietnam.com. Settle into one of the mod booths in this Eden Center mainstay for a combo platter of pork, seafood and ground beef with ricepaper wraps and fresh herbs. L D G V $$
Roll Play
944 W. Broad St., 571-777-9983, rollplaygrill. com. Grab Viet street foods such as banh mi, pho and build-your-own rice paper rolls from this fastcasual sibling of Nue and Chasin’ Tails. L D G V $$
Semicolon Cafe
103 Founders Ave., 703-995-0970, semicoloncafe. com. Treat yourself to an egg or bulgogi sandwich on brioche and Korean shaved ice in flavors such as matcha with cheesecake or black sesame. B L $
Seoul Prime Korean Steakhouse
106 Founders Ave., 703-563-1168, seoulprime. com. The temptations here include galbi-jjim risotto with braised short ribs, Korean wheat noodles, soju cocktails and prime cuts of beef cooked on a tabletop grill. R D $$$
SeoulSpice
Taco Rock
Settle Down Easy Brewing
Taco Zocalo
156 W. Falls Station Blvd., seoulspice.com. See Arlington listing. L D G V $ 2822 Fallfax Drive, 703-573-2011, settledowneasy brewing.com. Pair a pint from the rotating beer list with tacos from neighboring El Tio Tex-Mex Grill. Live music, trivia contests and open mic nights are also part of the fun. Closed Mondays. O L D $
Sfizi Café
800 W. Broad St., 703-533-1191, sfizi.com. A family-owned trattoria, deli and wine shop serving classic Italian fare—pasta, pizza, parm. L D $$
Side Chick
125 Founders Ave., Falls Church, sidechickva.com. Ellie Bird chef Yuan Tang has a side hustle specializing in fried chicken and creative sides for carryout. D $$
Silver Diner
8150 Porter Road, 703-204-0812, silverdiner.com. See Arlington listing. C B R L D A G V $$
Sisters Thai
2985 District Ave. (Mosaic), 703-280-0429, sistersthai.com. The menu is traditionally Thai, but the vibe feels like you’re dining in your cool friend’s eclectic living room. L D G V $$
Solace Outpost s
444 W. Broad St., 571-378-1469, solaceoutpost. com. This Little City microbrewery serves housebrewed suds, plus fried chicken, five kinds of fries and wood-fired pizza. D A V $$
Spacebar
709 W. Broad St., 703-992-0777, spcbr.com. This diminutive and funky bar, a sister to Galaxy Hut in Arlington, offers 24 craft beers on tap and 18 variations on the grilled cheese sandwich. D A V $$
Sweetwater Tavern
3066 Gatehouse Plaza, 703-645-8100, great americanrestaurants.com. A modern alehouse serving seafood, chicken, ribs, microbrews and growlers to go. C L D G $$$
Taco Bamba s
2190 Pimmit Drive, 703-639-0505, tacobamba. com. Tacos range from traditional carne asada to the vegan “Iron Mike,” stuffed with cauliflower, salsa ma and mole verde. B L D $
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1116 W. Broad St., 703-760-3141, thetacorock. com. See Arlington listing. o B L D V $$ 6343 Columbia Pike, 571-376-3859, zocalotaco. com. Chow down on tacos, chimichangas, quesadillas and burrito bowls. O L D $
Takumi Sushi
310-B S. Washington St., 703-241-1128, takumi va.com. The sushi and sashimi in this snug little izakaya go beyond basic. Think tuna nigiri with Italian black truffle, or salmon with mango purée. Closed Sundays and Mondays. L D V $$
Tatte Bakery and Café
1001 W. Broad St., 703-270-9922, tattebakery. com. See Arlington listing.
Ted’s Bulletin
2911 District Ave. (Mosaic District), 571-830-6680, tedsbulletinmerrifield.com. See Arlington listing. C B R L D $$
Thompson Italian
124 N. Washington St., 703-269-0893, thompson italian.com. Gabe and Katherine Thompson’s celebrated kitchen turns out house-made pastas, inspiring small plates and some of the best desserts around. O C D $$$
Trio Grill
8100 Lee Highway, 703-992-9200, triomerrifield. com. Treat yourself to steaks, seafood, raw bar, craft cocktails and live piano music in this handsome hideaway in Merrifield. O D $$$
True Food Kitchen s
2910 District Ave. (Mosaic), 571-326-1616, truefoodkitchen.com. See Arlington listing. O C R L D $$$
MCLEAN Agora Tysons
7911 Westpark Drive, 703-663-8737, agoratysons. com. The Dupont Circle mezze restaurant brings its Turkish, Greek and Lebanese small plates to a second outpost in Tysons. It’s a hoppin’ spot for bottomless brunch. R L D G V $$$
Amoo’s Restaurant
6271 Old Dominion Drive, 703-448-8500, amoos restaurant.com. The flavorful kebabs and stews
COURTESY PHOTO
102 E. Fairfax St., 571-378-1757, preservation biscuit.com. Order the signature carb with housemade jams, or as a sandwich with fillers ranging from fried chicken to guac and egg. O C B L V $
are crowd pleasers at this hospitable Persian establishment. O C L D G V $$
rant.com. A McLean fixture since 1980, it’s a go-to for kebabs, baklava and Turkish coffee. L D V $$
Andy’s Pizza
The Kitchen Collective
2001 International Drive, 3rd floor food court, Tysons, 703-775-2212, eatandyspizza.com. See Arlington listing. L D V $
Aracosia
1381 Beverly Road, 703-269-3820, aracosia mclean.com. Fall in love with Afghan specialties such as braised lamb shank and roasted eggplant with saffron rice. O L D V $$
ArTeA
8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite L160, 571-378-0209, tkcfoodhall.com. The takeout-only “virtual food hall” has pizza, kebabs, acai bowls, cookies and much more, amassing multiple food concepts under one umbrella. C L D G V $$
Lebanese Taverna
1840 International Drive, 703-847-5244, lebanesetaverna.com. See Arlington listing. O C L D G V $$
6635 Old Dominion Drive, 703-469-9898, artea mclean.com. Stop in for bubble tea, artisanal openface sandwiches, pretty desserts or a “high tea dinner” with cocktails. Closed Mondays. R L D $$
Lost Dog Café
Badd Pizza
8201 Greensboro Drive, 571-378-1672, lunahall group.com. Dumplings, sushi, bubble tea, Korean fried chicken and fluffy cloud cakes round out the choices at this pan-Asian food hall. B L D G V $
6263 Old Dominion Drive, 703-356-2233, badd pizza.com. See Falls Church listing. L D $$
Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co. s
1340 Chain Bridge Road, 571-456-1640, eatbig buns.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Café Tatti French Bistro
6627 Old Dominion Drive, 703-790-5164, cafe tatti.com. Open since 1981, this romantic little bistro whips up classic French and continental fare. Closed Sundays. L D G V $$$
Call Your Mother Lil’ Deli
6216 Old Dominion Drive, 571-395-9097, callyour motherdeli.com. See Arlington listing. o b R L V $
Capri Ristorante Italiano
6825-K Redmond Drive, 703-288-4601, capri mcleanva.com. Known for tried-and-true dishes like spaghetti carbonara and veal Marsala. O C L D G V $$$
Circa
1675 Silver Hill Drive, 571-419-6272, circabistros. com. See Arlington listing. O L D V $$$
Él Bebe
8354 Broad St., 571-378-0171, el-bebe.com. Spice things up with tamales, tacos, street corn, mole and tequila-based cocktails. C O L D V $$
El Tio Tex-Mex Grill
1433 Center St., 703-790-1910, eltiogrill.com. See Falls Church listing. L D $$
Esaan Tumbar
1307 Old Chain Bridge Road, 703-288-3901, esaanmclean.com. This tiny, trendy haunt specializes in northern Thai dishes—papaya salad, larb, nam tok. A good bet for those who like heat. L D $$
Fahrenheit Asian
1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., 703-646-8968, fahren heitasian.com. A destination for Sichuan noodles, dumplings, mapo tofu and cocktails such as an Asian pear mojito. Closed Sundays. L D V $$
Founding Farmers
1800 Tysons Blvd., wearefoundingfarmers.com. The spacious farm-to-table restaurant features Virginia-sourced dishes and drinks, plus grab-and-go breakfast items. B R L D $$$
Han Palace
7900 Westpark Drive, 571-378-0162, hanpalace dimsum.com. Pay a visit to this all-day dim-sum emporium for made-to-order buns, dumplings, crepes, roast duck and noodles. L D $$
J. Gilbert’s
6930 Old Dominion Drive, 703-893-1034, jgil berts.com. Everything you’d expect in a steakhouse and lots of it—prime cuts of beef, lobster, wedge salad, steak-cut fries and cheesecake. C R L D G V $$$
Joon/MayBar
8045 Leesburg Pike, 571-378-1390, eatjoon.com. Savor refined Persian dishes such as lamb-pistachio meatballs with pomegranate glaze and duck with sour-cherry rice. Hit the casual bar area for more affordably priced small plates, sandwiches and clever cocktails. O L D G V $$$$
Kazan Restaurant
6813 Redmond Drive, 703-734-1960, kazanrestau
1690-A Anderson Road, 703-356-5678, lostdog cafe.com. See Arlington listing. L D $$
Luna Hall
Maman Joon
1408 Chain Bridge Road, 571-342-4838, maman joonkitchen.com. Find dolmeh, falafel, lamb shank and kebabs (plus a built-in Z Burger with shakes in 75 flavors) at this Persian eatery. L D V $$
Masala Indian Cuisine
go and fruity drinks at this Caribbean-infused cafe. O R L D $$
Pulcinella Italian Kitchen
1310 Chain Bridge Road, 703-893-7777, pulcinellarestaurant.com. A stop for classic spaghetti and meatballs, linguine and clams and wood-fired pizza since 1985. L D $$
Randy’s Prime Seafood & Steaks
8051 Leesburg Pike (Tysons), 703-552-5110, randysprime.com. Treat yourself to prime cuts, duck-fat fries, seafood towers and massive slabs of chocolate cake. L D G $$$$
Rocco’s Italian
1357 Chain Bridge Road, 703-821-3736, roccos italian.com. The Juliano family makes everything in-house from family recipes, including minestrone, pizza, calzones, subs, pasta and cannoli. O C L D G $$
Roots Café
8100 Old Dominion Drive, 703-712-7850, roots mclean.com. A pretty daytime spot for sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks and pastries. BLGV$
Silver Diner
8101 Fletcher St., 703-821-5666, silverdiner.com. See Arlington listing. C B R L D A G V $$
1394 Chain Bridge Road,703-462-9699, masa lava.com. A specialty here are “momos,” Nepalese dumplings with meat or vegetable fillings. The menu also includes tandoori biryani and Indian curries. L D V $$
Simply Fresh
McLean Family Restaurant
Sisters Thai
1321 Chain Bridge Road, 703-356-9883, themcleanfamilyrestaurant.com. Pancakes, gyros and big plates of lasagna hit the spot. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m. daily. C B L D V $$
Miyagi Restaurant
6719 Curran St., 703-893-0116. The diminutive sushi bar gets high marks for its friendly service and fresh maki and nigiri. L D $$
Modan
1788 Chain Bridge Road, 703-743-6600, modan restaurant.com. Special occasion? Splurge on a 15-course omakase experience, Wagyu beef or caviar service at this Japanese izakaya helmed by executive chef Micheole “Chico” Dator, formerly of Nobu DC. D G $$$$
Mylo’s Grill
6238 Old Dominion Drive, 703-533-5880, mylos grill.com. Enjoy spanakopita, souvlaki and American classics like burgers and cheesesteaks. Friday is prime-rib night. O R L D $$
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen s
6641 Old Dominion Drive, 703-992-9095, neutral groundbarandkitchen.com. Chef David Guas is serving up whole branzino, fried quail, bone-in pork chops and “social hour” specials in a beautiful new space. Weekend brunch brings a roving cocktail cart. O r D G V $$$
Ometeo
1640 Capital One Drive N., 703-748-7170, ometeo texmex.com. An upscale “texmexeria” with Mexican renditions of duck, venison, beef and a wide variety of sea creatures, from the owners of The Salt Line. O L D G $$$
Pasa-Thai Restaurant
6811 Elm St., 703-821-1869, simplyfreshva. com. A local favorite for pulled pork, chicken and brisket, Greek diner fare, family-style takeout meals and breakfast. O C B L D G V $ 7735 Capital One Tower Road, sistersthai.com. See Falls Church listing. L D G V $$
Sorn Thai Restaurant & Bar
6224 Old Dominion Drive, 703-564-0630, sorn thaiva.com. Taste the rainbow in dishes such as pineapple fried rice, Khao Soi noodles and grilled lobster with curry sauce. O R L D G V $$
Starr Hill Biergarten
1805 Capital One Drive, starrhill.com. Anchoring The Perch, an 11-story-high sky park, this indoor-outdoor beer garden offers more than 20 brews on tap and bar snacks. O C L D V $
Stellina Pizzeria
1610 Capital One Drive, stellinapizzeria.com. See Arlington listing. R d V $$
Sunday Morning Bakehouse
1796 Chain Bridge Road, 571-378-0148, sunday morningbakehouse.com. A bright café serving artisanal house-made pastries, all-day breakfast, savory sourdough toasts, coffee and weekend cocktails. B R L V $$
Sushi Umi
7599 Colshire Drive, 571-378-0903, sushiumiva. com. In addition to sushi, contemplate menu items such as whole broiled unagi with a house omelet, Wagyu beef served over fried rice, and colorful chirashi bowls. Closed Sundays. L D $$
Tachibana
6715 Lowell Ave., 703-847-1771, tachibana.us. Stellar sushi, teriyaki and tempura notwithstanding, the chef’s specials here include options such as miso-marinated black cod and scallop donburi with salmon roe. C L D $$
1315 Old Chain Bridge Road, 703-442-0090, pasa thaimclean.com. Tuck into a classic Bangkok curry, or a chef’s special such as spicy fried rockfish with chili-basil-garlic sauce. O L D $$
Timber Pizza
Patsy’s American
1500 Cornerside Blvd., 703-546-2465, umai tysonsva.com. Blending Japanese and Thai flavors, the kitchen serves 10 types of ramen and six versions of curry rice, plus Asian-inspired cocktails and a dozen kinds of sake. L D G V $$
8051 Leesburg Pike (Tysons), 703-552-5100, pat sysamerican.com. The menu features greatesthits from other Great American Restaurants. O C R L D A G V $$
Peter Chang McLean
6715 Lowell Ave., 571-405-6686, peterchang mclean.com. See Arlington listing. L D G V $$
Pikoteo
6811 Elm St., 703-891-0123, pikoteo-usa.com. Escape to warmer climes with ceviche, arepas, mofon-
8100 Old Dominion Drive, 703-564-0023, timber pizza.com. See Arlington listing. L D V $$
Umai Ramen and Donburi
Wren
1825 Capitol One Drive S., wrentysons.com. Helmed by chef Yo Matsuzaki, this sleek restaurants is known for creative Japanese American fare, stupendous cocktails and sweeping skyline views. O D G V $$$
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driving range ■ by Erin Gifford
Eagle’s Sugar Camp
In Search of Sweetness T
ucked into the Allegheny Mountains along the West Virginia border, Virginia’s Highland County is home to 10 working sugar camps where the sap from sugar maple trees is collected and boiled into liquid gold. The camps operate seasonally, relying on the freeze-thaw rhythm of late winter to coax the sap from the trees. Since 1959, visitors have flocked to the annual Highland County Maple Festival to witness the “opening of the trees,” to see how sap becomes syrup and to celebrate a way of life that hasn’t changed much in generations. March marks the festival’s 66th year, when upwards of 60,000 visitors are expected in the town of Monterey and the surround-
ing area. The 2026 festival is scheduled for March 14-15 and March 21-22. As I began planning a visit in 2025, I realized there was far too much going on for just one day, so my son Max and I made a weekend of it. We drove down from Ashburn, visiting five sugar camps on Saturday, overnighting in Staunton (lodging in Highland County is limited) and continuing our sticky-sweet adventure on Sunday.
THE MOMENT WE turned off Interstate 81 in Mount Crawford and headed west, leaving the tractor trailers behind, I felt a sense of calm. The road meandered through misty valleys, past red barns and rolling ridges. The farther we
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drove, the more the noise of modern life faded away. Highland County is a place where cell service wanes and conversation comes easy. On festival weekends, the air carries a faint sweetness. That sweetness, of course, comes from the county’s sugar maple trees. In late winter, warm days (above freezing) and cold nights create pressure inside the trees, causing sap to flow. Producers drill small holes and insert taps to channel the watery sap— which is nearly clear—into buckets or plastic tubing. To turn it into syrup, the sap is boiled for hours until most of the water evaporates, leaving behind pure maple sweetness.
SKY PICS LLC (SUGAR CAMP); LAURA HONAKER PHOTOGRAPHY (MAPLE SYRUP)
Sample Virginia’s maple sugar heritage in Highland County
A maple syrup tasting at Laurel Fork Sapsuckers
It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. Flavor depends on many factors, from the heat source used to boil the sap to the time in the season when it’s collected. Early-season syrup tends to be lighter and milder, while later batches are darker and richer. “Winter can be pretty slow here. The festival opens up the spring season for us. There’s an energy in the air,” says Chris Swecker, executive director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a way of life that is just not around anymore, the small-town, community-oriented festival.” Arriving in Monterey around 10 a.m. on opening day, we made a beeline for
a fundraiser at Highland Elementary School, where volunteers flipped pancakes by the dozens while lines of hungry supporters snaked down the hallways. The smell of sizzling batter and warm syrup made the hourlong wait feel like a prelude to something special. Festival map in one hand, fork in the other, we sketched a plan to visit every sugar camp. Most of the 10 working camps open their doors only during the festival’s two weekends each year. Some are sleek and modern; others are rustic, still simmering sap over wood fires in century-old pans. We started by heading to Claire’s Cakes & Café on West Main Street for maple lattes. On one wall, a wooden
hutch reserved for the “Mug Club” held cups marked with the first names of their owners: Margie, Susan, Lucia. Regulars simply grab their mug whenever they stop in for a cuppa.
OUR FIRST SYRUP-TASTING stop was Mill Gap Farms, where gleaming stainless steel evaporators boiled maple sap. The guide explained that Mill Gap is Virginia’s only producer of certified organic maple syrup. In addition to bottling its own syrup, the farm also produces flasks of Farm Stand maple syrup, a label created to help smaller farms bring syrup to market. From there, it was a short drive to Duff’s Sugar House at Fair Lawn Farm
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driving range made from the sap of maple and birch trees. We then ventured to Southernmost Maple in Bolar, complete with a barbecue truck and, blessedly, indoor restrooms. Our last stop, the Sugar Tree Country Store in McDowell, was alive with outdoor vendors selling kettle corn and maple doughnuts. By 8 a.m. on Sunday, we were back on the trail, first to Tonoloway Farm in McDowell, Highland County’s only producer of black walnut syrup, a darker, more robust cousin of maple. Then came Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard in Blue Grass, where plastic tubing zigzagged among the trees, collecting precious maple sap. Inside, volunteers sold hot dogs and snacks to grateful guests. At Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard in Monterey, we stepped into living history. Operated by the same family for six generations, the small, steamy sugar house radiates heat and nostalgia. The syrup here carries a faint smokiness from the wood fire. A taste of the past is preserved in every pour.
in Monterey, run by Tim and Terry Duff, who celebrated their 20th year welcoming festival visitors in 2025. By early afternoon, the full-size flasks were sold out, but I was able to snag a petite souvenir bottle. Unlike most camps, Duff’s proudly keeps things old school. Wood fires crackle beneath open pans just as they did in the 19th century. There’s a reason for this allegiance to tradition. “If one of the camps doesn’t continue doing it the old way, in another generation or two it’ll just be something you have to read about,” Tim Duff says. Duff’s process is hands-on and intentionally slow. “We get the kids and parents involved. They actually feed the fires. They skim the syrup for us. We have a very, very interactive sugar house,” he explains. Last year, Duff’s produced about 50 gallons of syrup, each imbued with fla-
vor only patience can create. “We don’t want to do fast cooking. We want our syrup to linger, which allows the sugars to fully develop their flavors,” he says. “There’s more depth of flavor in a pancooked syrup.” By lunchtime, we were fully immersed in Highland County’s maple magic. At Back Creek Farms in Monterey, a taco truck parked out front lured hungry visitors. Inside, a sweet haze hung in the air. Samples of a dozen syrups lined a metal tray—each slightly different, depending on when the trees were tapped and how long the sap simmered. The adjacent shop offered bottles of syrup, cookbooks and four-packs of maple stout. Before the day ended, we visited Townsend Draft Goods in Monterey, a new shop devoted to balancing “spirit and health.” That’s where I discovered Sap! maple soda, a sparkling beverage
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Hightown blends innovation with tradition. The sugar camp sits behind a snack shack famed for its maple BLTs, a sweet-savory pileup of crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato with a drizzle of maple syrup. After the first bite, I understood the hype. Behind the shack, a wooded interpretive trail offered glimpses of the now-familiar plastic tubing crisscrossing the trees like translucent veins. “Our goal is to educate people. It is very important to us that when you come to our sugar house you learn something and you have a new appreciation for maple syrup and how it’s made,” says Missy Moyers-Jarrells, a third-generation producer and events manager for the sugar camp. Laurel Fork Sapsuckers makes about 300 gallons of syrup annually, including a handful of infused syrups—elderberry, cinnamon, vanilla, cinnamon-vanilla (which tastes remarkably like French toast), and even wild blueberry. “Every July, my mom and I go out and pick blueberries [on the farm] to
ALAMY
LAUREL FORK SAPSUCKERS in
Boiling sap into syrup at Duff’s Sugar House
If You Go
Maple-pecan scones at The Curly Maple
Where to Eat, Drink & Stay Each March, this western patch of the commonwealth springs alive for the Highland County Maple Festival (highlandcounty.org/maple-festival). Lodging in this rural part of the Allegheny Mountains is limited, so plan ahead.
Maple doughnuts at Mill Gap Farms
CRISP PICS LLC (DOUGHNUTS); COURTESY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (SUGAR WATER); COURTESY OF THE CURLY MAPLE (SCONES)
Book early at the Monterey Inn (mon tereyinnva.com), a beautifully restored 1905 Victorian with just five guest rooms in downtown Monterey. Each room offers a plush bed, luxe bathrobes, and inviting views. Guests are treated to a daily breakfast. Think stuffed French toast and hearty frittatas.
Sugar water (raw sap) straight from the tree
freeze and use for pies,” Moyers-Jarrells says. The blueberry syrup was an experiment that became an instant hit. The farm has since added bourbon barrel-aged syrup and maple vinegar to its lineup. “It’s trial and error,” she says, already dreaming up a hibiscus-infused maple syrup. We made one last stop at Eagle’s Sugar Camp in Doe Hill, home to a small outdoor hut serving warm maple doughnuts. Outside, metal pails clung to tree trunks, quietly filling with sap. Back in Monterey and McDowell, the festival buzzed with small-town energy. Grassy lawns overflowed with more than 100 regional artisans and crafters, their booths offering everything from hand-knit scarves to maple cotton candy. At The Highland Center in Monterey, twangy bluegrass music filled the air. “We have a rural charm and hospitality,” says the Chamber’s Swecker. “If people can take that away with them, then that’s a win. The real measure of success is if everybody’s having a good
time, and you just see the smiles on people’s faces.” By Sunday afternoon, my son and I had sampled and stocked up on enough maple syrup to last the year. But beyond the sugar rush, the experience also provided a glimpse into the soul of Highland County. Home to about 2,300 residents, it is Virginia’s smallest county by population, though its heart feels remarkably large. As we motored north along the interstate, back toward the familiar hum of suburban life, I found myself reflecting on what makes the place so special. Highland County isn’t just about maple syrup. It’s about preserving tradition, supporting local makers and celebrating the simple rewards of hard work and community. ■ Ashburn-based travel writer Erin Gifford enjoys spending her free time on the hiking trails, often turning her outdoor adventures into stories that encourage others to get out and explore.
If the inn is full, make your base 45 miles southeast in Staunton at Hotel 24 South (hotel24south.com). Opened in 1924 and restored in 2005, this 124room landmark pairs vintage elegance with modern comforts. Expect pillow-top mattresses, a well-equipped fitness center and a heated indoor pool, along with a relaxed lounge serving casual bites and handcrafted cocktails. For breakfast or a light lunch, Claire’s Cakes & Café (clairescakeco.com) on Main Street in Monterey satisfies with signature breakfast sandwiches and housemade quiche. Across the street, The Curly Maple (facebook.com/thecurlymaple) wins fans with maple lattes and warm pastries. High’s Restaurant (highsrestaurant monterey.com) a hometown favorite since 1934, serves comfort fare such as fried trout and country fried steak. The Highlander (highlandermonterey. com) is another reliable spot for lunch or dinner, with favorites such as pizza, subs and fried chicken. Cap off the day at Big Fish Cider Co. (bigfishcider.com), where crisp hard ciders are made from local apples. Try the Allegheny Gold, a sparkling semidry cider that captures the sweet heritage of Highland County.
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get away ■ by Christine Koubek Flynn
Philly It Up
On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, Philadelphia has trained thousands of “Phambassadors”— locals eager to share their civic pride, culture, history and neighborhoods—to create one giant welcoming committee. The city is hosting a yearlong semiquincentennial
A Philly “Phambassador”
celebration that includes 52 weeks of illuminating “firsts.” Each Saturday “First-ival” in 2026 (visitphilly.com/52-weeks-of-firsts) will commemorate a groundbreaking event that took root in the City of Brotherly Love, with observances throughout town. January and February activations will honor milestones such as the Mummers Parade (established in
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1901, this rowdy folk parade is the longest-running event of its kind in the U.S.); America’s first professional basketball league, founded in 1898; the 1775 formation of the nation’s first abolitionist society (through which activists laid the groundwork for a national movement to end slavery); and the establishment of the nation’s first medical school in 1765.
COURTESY PHOTO
Firsting With Pride
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Philadelphia is the place to be.
Catch the spirit: Philly’s mascots and icons share their patriotism and civic pride.
COURTESY PHOTO (MASCOTS); JASON VARNEY (BAR); DOUGLAS LYLE THOMPSON (EXTERIOR); GOLDENBERG PHOTOGRAPHY (BEDROOM)
Fishtown’s captivating Hotel Anna & Bel
Discover lesser-known facts about the Declaration of Independence at the Museum of the American Revolution (amrev museum.org), where a new exhibit called “The Declaration’s Journey” is a centerpiece of Philadelphia’s 2026 semiquincentennial happenings. On view through January 3, 2027, this multimedia experience features more than 120 historic artifacts, documents, artworks and videos illustrating the Declaration’s enduring influence, both in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, the National Constitution Center (constitutioncenter. org), the nation’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution, will unveil two new galleries in 2026. America’s Founding Gallery, slated to open in February, tells the story of the early struggles for American independence. The Separation of Powers Gallery, debuting in May, will delve into the government’s three branches and the balance our forefathers sought to establish between the federal government and states’ rights. An original copy of the U.S. Constitution—one of only 14 surviving copies—and a rare first printing of the 17 constitutional amendments will also be on display throughout 2026. See visitphilly.com/2026-philadel phia for a full rundown of events, attractions and hotel packages.
Stay Classy
Hotel Anna & Bel opened in August 2024 in Philly’s artsy Fishtown neighborhood, its name a nod to the property’s female-focused history, as well as its location at the intersection of Susquehanna Avenue and Belgrade Street. The brick building, which in the late 1800s served as the communal Penn Home for Indigent Widows and Single Women, is now a hip hotel with 50 unique guest rooms, including studios and one- and two-bedroom suites. Each room has its own character, thanks to custom wood bed frames, nightstands and bespoke bathroom tiles, combined with creature comforts such as eco-friendly mattresses, luxe linens, Frette terry towels, Nespresso machines and electric kettles. Select suites have kitchenettes tucked inside locally crafted built-in cabinetry. Interior-facing guest rooms open onto a wrap-around balcony overlooking a pool and courtyard reminiscent of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Elements from the past, preserved during the restoration, lend interest to the architecture in the form of exposed brick walls, decorative fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings and an original window seat on the grand staircase landing. Bastia, the hotel’s Mediterranean café and restaurant, features Sardinian- and Corsican-inspired cuisine. The storzapretti (ricotta dumplings with guanciale) are a guest favorite. Relax by the fire in the inviting lobby lounge, or warm up after a day of exploring in the fitness center’s infrared sauna. A heated outdoor plunge pool is open from late spring through the fall. Rates begin at $300 per night. Hotel Anna & Bel, 1401 E. Susquehanna Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 267- 682-8253, annaandbel.com ArlingtonMagazine.com ■ January/February 2026
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■ get away
Mobile Access
Works by legendary sculptor Alexander Calder inspire curiosity and contemplation at Philadelphia’s new Calder Gardens. Opened in September 2025 on 1.8 city acres, this quiet sanctuary immerses visitors in a confluence of architecture, art and nature. Gardens and meadows conceived by famed Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf form the backdrop for large-scale installations by the museum’s modernist namesake, a third-generation artist and sculptor who spent his formative years in Philly. The museum building itself—a gently curved structure with a shimmering metal-clad north facade and an understated wood south facade—is reminiscent of the bohemian home in Roxbury, Connecticut, where Calder spent much of his adult life. Works on display, both indoors and outdoors, range from towering forms made of painted sheet metal to rarely seen masterpieces such as a suspended mobile called Black Widow (1948). Another mobile, 29 feuilles blanches (1960), is on public view for the first time. In a deliberate break from gallery tradition, Calder’s pieces are presented without text, allowing viewers to
derive their own interpretations and meanings from what they see. “Calder Gardens embodies a kind of ‘no-design’ architecture, allowing the works of art to express their diversity and ambiguity,” says museum designer Jacques Herzog, a partner with the international architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. “It’s a place where you can sit, wander and observe, whether it’s nature or art, with the ease one has when one sits under a tree.” Self-guided audio walks narrated by noted cultural figures are in the works for 2026, as are sound- and
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movement-based performances, film screenings, readings and horticulturefocused initiatives. Visit the gift shop for books, illustrated playing cards, prints, apparel and other artsy mementos. The museum and gardens are open Thursday through Monday. Admission is $18 for visitors ages 19-64; $16 for seniors 65 and up: $5 for college students (with valid ID) and teens; free for kids 12 and under. Calder Gardens 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-278-7250, caldergardens.org
COURTESY PHOTOS
Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens
the B n i s ai
Evelyn Loeb • The Flower Bloom Studio, Arlington
NVAL 2025
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Gold Sponsors
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Northern Virginia Alliance League (NVAL) Thanks Our 2025 Holiday Luncheon Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
AND Accounting Solutions, LLC. • Anonymous • Laura K. Biederman, Esq., RLAH Real Estate • Jennifer Boeke Caterini • Corcoran McEnearney • Fernanda Fisher • Kimberly and John Heckler • Audrey and Joab Lesesne • Robert and Mary-Anne Liles • Logan Sausage Company • The Midsters Podcast • Monkees of Fairfax • Janet and Timothy Mountz • Linda Murphy, Realtor, Corcoran McEnearney • Northside Veterinary Clinic • Daphne Papamichael • Tina Papamichael • Paul’s Best Lawn Service, Inc. • Lola C. Reinsch and Jennifer A. Pierce— Reinsch Pierce Family Foundation • Hee Sun Rotondo • Schaufeld Family Foundation • Nancy E. Snell • Shawn Taylor • Varity Homes • Whittington Design Studios, LLC. • Barb and John Young
Bronze Sponsors
Anonymous • Joan McNeal Baize • Kelly Baker • Bartlett Tree Experts, Inc. • Brian Bonnet • BOWA • Nancy and Howard Carpenter • Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic • Betsy Clarke Cooke • Becca Davis • Isabel J. Davis • Joseph G. Davis • Megan L. Hudson • LCM Design—Laura Cappel McGinnis • Helen Lydon • Ellie and Kerry Mack • Kathleen and Jack McMackin • Meany & Oliver Cos. • Briana Mittleman • Chris and Ashley Morgan • The Pendergast Family • Sushi-Zen
Friends of NVAL
Janice Burch • CPTerry & Associates, LLC | Accounting and Bookkeeping Specialists • Eagle Cleaners • Suzanne Griesmer • Jennifer Irvin • Bettie Joy • Cindy Matlack • Manning, Murray and Barnett, PC • Sarah and Cary Moore • Lorraine Barclay Nordlinger, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty • P3Hired • Preston’s Pharmacy • Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Rakowski • ReFrame Wealth • Sher, Cummings and Ellis • Anne Marie and John Strabo • Universal Title—Arlington Team • Linda Vandenburg
NVAL
Northern Virginia Alliance League
NVAL is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of women committed to improving the community through raising funds for local organizations. All proceeds from this year’s efforts benefit Meals on Wheels Arlington.
CELEBRATING $ 1 MILLION IN GIVING
back story ■ by Kim O’Connell | Illustration by Addison Green
Milk Money A local dairy tried to keep prices low during the Great Depression. ON ITS FIRST day in business in 1931, Hazel’s Dairy in Falls Church sold a measly 13 quarts of milk—not the most promising beginning. Many households relied on other local farms for dairy products, including those owned by the Reeves and Marcey families. But the competition didn’t stop entrepreneur William Andrew Hazel from opening his business near Sleepy Hollow Road with his sons, Thomas and Richard. To market their Grade A milk, cream and other products delivered in clear glass bottles, the Hazels placed a series of ads in local newspapers, touting that they could deliver to “All Arlington Homes.” One ad featured the company’s
distinctive delivery trucks, called The Silver Fleet. Another depicted America’s most famous geyser alongside the headline, “As Dependable as Old Faithful.” Within a couple of years, they acquired two more dairy companies. In 1936, amid the Great Depression, Hazel’s Dairy defied a Virginia Milk Commission regulation designed to maintain fair pricing. The rule required dairies to sell milk at 14 cents a quart— two cents more than the price Hazel’s had charged for five years straight. William Hazel defended his position in an open letter in The Northern Virginia Sun before thanking his customers. “Your support is most encouraging
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to us in our fight for the right to operate our business and sell our product at a price which we consider most equitable,” he wrote, “and at the same time allows us to make a living.” In October 1937, some 400 Arlingtonians showed up to witness a contentious meeting with the dairy commission at the Arlington County courthouse. Hazel pled his case but was unable to sway officials and was forced to raise his prices. Four years later, following a milk union labor dispute involving many local dairies, the Hazels sold their operation to another company. But the Hazel family name continued to impact the local economy. Decades later, a descendant, John T. “Til” Hazel, made a name for himself not in dairy products, but as a real estate developer and advocate of building projects including George Mason University’s Arlington campus—where today you can buy a 14-ounce bottle of milk at the Mason Square Café for $4.10. ■
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