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Our Love Local Issue: Loudoun’s Small Business Award Winners F E B R UA RY 2 02 4

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Local Business Heroes Our theme this month is Love Local. We'd like to think that as a community publication, we love local each month, but we've chosen this particular issue to shine the light a bit more directly. Certainly we feel lucky and thankful for the support our local advertising partners and readers have given us over the past five years, and it brings to mind the idea of community and what community means. As of this writing and having watched teenagers stare at their telephones for hours on end during the holidays, you can't help but notice that our communities have morphed into something much larger and abstract. Shared experience isn't just what happens to the neighbor next door, but if we really dig down, the community that REALLY matters is directly and tangibly next to us. Without the people building businesses, supporting those in need, developing solutions for those we interact with everyday, what is humanity? Does empathy and the common good exist anymore? So, to that end, for the third year in February, we celebrate the annual small business award winners from the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. We feel, as a fellow small business in Loudoun County, it is part of our mission to bring attention to these businesses as they exemplify all that we celebrate in the pages of our magazine each month: high quality of service and community involvement. These commitments were not acquired by chance, but often forged in a crucible of life experience that wasn't always kind. We believe their perseverance as well as their exceptional service to their customers and the community are worth a shout out. Often those who have the biggest hurdles to success are also the biggest givers as they want others to overcome the struggles they have seen. We hope you’ll use this roster (as well as reach out to our exceptional advertising partners) as just one roadmap to explore a host of local businesses that add to our community’s quality of life. There's plenty to see and do in Loudoun this month as well, so we hope you'll also take in some of our newest additions to the arts and cultural scene. Get up, get out, (get off the phones) and go Love Local!

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February 2024 PUBLISHER

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inside the issue FE B RUA RY 2 0 2 4 | LOV E LO CA L

20 30

Featured

20 24 30 46 10

Local Musician Farris Hallaj Releases First Album Good Shepherd Alliance Helps Loudoun See the Homeless Women Rock Small Business Awards

Women Business Owners Took All but Two Top Honors from the Loudoun Chamber

Delivering ‘Wow!’

StageCoach’s Monthly Magic Show Does it in Spades

24 On the Cover

Departments

Leah Fallon, Ferri Riar, Shannon Curvey, Christine Gacharná, Chris Suarez, Angela Mitchell, and Melissa Hinton are among those small business owners honored as Loudoun’s Best by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce.

Lifestyle Letter

Business Monthly

Maker’s Studio ARTS + CULTURE

Giving Back LOCAL SERVICES

Local Limelight LOCAL SERVICES

Travel Journal TRAVEL

Must See ENTERTAINMENT

Culinary Creations FOOD + BEVERAG E

How To ARTS + CULTURE

Photography: Mary Lanaghan, MJL Studios

FEBRUARY 2024

business monthly A ROUNDUP OF NEWS F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S

Rotary Club of Broadlands Hosts 10th Annual Mardi Bras

Personally invested in winning your case. Traffic | Criminal | Business

Join Rotary Club of Broadlands and One-Hour Heating and Air Conditioning at Parallel Wine and Whiskey Bar on February 13th from 6-9 p.m. to support the non-profit "free the girls” (freethegirls.org), an international counter-trafficking organization working with survivors of sex trafficking to help women have financial freedom. Tickets are at mardibras24.eventbrite.com. Rotary Club of Broadlands has sent more than 5,000 bras and tens of thousands of dollars to support "free the girls” over the decade. Photography: Melinda Gipson

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Mark Irchai Conducts, Performs in Loudoun Lyric Opera’s Magic Flute Mark Irchai puts his own piano at the center of a fresh, new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) on February 17-18 and 24-25, where he will both play and conduct. The 27-year-old maestro was recently named Loudoun Lyric Opera’s Artistic Director after a smash run as music director for last year’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. The performance opens at the ballroom in Lansdowne Woods. For tickets seeloudounlyricopera.com/ticketsto-show.html. Photography: Stan Engebretson

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Protecting What

Matters Most.

John C. Whitbeck

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Morven Park Looks to Unveil 246 Years Project in 2024

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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

Morven Park, in partnership with the Loudoun County Circuit Court, has been uploading thousands of pieces of biographical data pertaining to the enslaved of Loudoun County, and hopes to make the compilation publicly available online. The historical material spans from 1619 to 1865 when slavery was practiced in Virginia. Spearheading the project are Jana Shafagoj, Morven Park Director of Preservation & History, Gary Clemens, clerk of the Loudoun County Circuit Court, and Stacey Metcalfe, Executive Director/CEO, Morven Park. See: morvenpark.org/246years. Photography: Melinda Gipson

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Vibrant Senior Living in All Seasons

Artisans Decked Trees and the Barn at Brambleton for LFRF Tina Johnson of The CEO Consulting Group (theceowoman.com) raised money for the Loudoun First Responders Foundation (lfrf.org) at the Barn at Brambleton Holiday Market. The market brought artisans from the Loudoun Artisan Market and Studio (artisanmarketandstudio.com) in to share their holiday crafts, filling the expansive, new space with gift-givers. Artisans also decorated a dozen trees that were raffled off for the charity. See thebarnatbrambleton.com to plan your next celebration. Photography: Melinda Gipson

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Juliana MacDowell Plays Barns of Rose Hill February 9 Local singer-songwriter Juliana MacDowell brings her guitar and her exceptional talent to an old haunt, The Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville on February 9th. At the show, she’ll be celebrating the release of a new music video filmed in Leesburg for her song “Never Say Goodbye.” She’s working on a new album, with British Indie producer Ian Shaw, slated for release this year. See bit.ly/ Agreeables-at-BORH for tickets. Photography: Juliana MacDowell

This year’s Christmas Tea by the community-focused, small business Facebook group the Loudoun County Social Collective raised $70,000 for A Place To Be. Sponsoronly attendance again filled the Bluemont Station Brewery and Winery for a prize-packed raffle and fundraising gala. Mark Moseley, former Redskin placekicker and NFL MVP, spoke. Watch the video at the Leesburg Lifestyle’s Vimeo channel.: vimeo.com/leesburglifestyle. Photography: Melinda Gipson

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Steven Smith and Farris Hallaj at A Place to Be

L O C A L M USICI A N FA R R I S H A L L AJ R E L E A SE S F I R ST A L BU M ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELINDA GIPSON

M AK E R’S ST U D IO | ARTS + CU LT U RE

Farris Hallaj brought down the house at the Loudoun County Social Collective’s Annual Christmas Tea in December with his rendition of an original song called See Me. Now that song along with a full slate of his original music has been compiled into an album called California Dream that he’ll release this month with the help of producer Stephen Smith, MT-BC, with The Same Sky Studios. “See Me” appeared on an earlier compilation album from Same Sky, a label created by A Place To Be. The studio and label of the same name is an offshoot of “The Same Sky Project,” a series of inclusive touring shows starring the non-profit’s clients and performers that features a cast of individuals with an array of differing abilities and life challenges. See Me has become a kind of unofficial anthem for the music therapy organization, Farris says proudly. Farris, now 30, was born with limited eyesight. He started playing piano when he was five and has since mastered nine instruments. Farris plays all the instruments on the album and laid down the drum tracks with metronomic precision, Stephen says. Farris graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in voice from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. The only real challenge he says he has faced in his musical career is when he needs to sight read with a chorus. “All that means is that I basically have to have the music memorized beforehand,” he explains. He himself is blessed with both perfect pitch and Synesthesia, a condition where

music often triggers an overlap of two or more senses, so he’ll “see” colors and even some numbers and letters of the alphabet in combination with certain musical tones, for example. He also says many of the songs he’s written have appeared to him in dreams, so he keeps his phone handy on a nightstand so he can record himself singing melodies and lyrics while the inspiration is fresh. His musical style is eclectic, exhibiting a love of folk, country and blues. See Me may evoke James Taylor, but he’s always been a huge fan of Whitney Houston and the Kelly Bell Band which combines elements of hip-hop, blues and funk electrified. Farris loved Kelly Bell Band’s first album, Phat Blues Music, saying, “Some of my singing style and my tone of voice has been impacted by their music.” Farris is part of a group of musicians with A Place To Be called Pathfinders that does outreach performances for businesses and schools to help raise awareness about how to make workplaces more accessible to everyone. He also hopes to perform more locally when the album is out. For a quick listen, you can hear two of Farris’ songs from the album on our Leesburg Lifestyle Vimeo Channel, vimeo.com/leesburglifestyle, or stop in for a regular listen at his own YouTube channel, youtube.com/@ farrishallajmusic7801. The album will be available on all major streaming channels or you can follow facebook.com/aplacetobeva for specific information on its release.

“The hustle and bustle of this busy world, people coming and going in a fabulous whirl. We all have something to do; we all have places to be; we all have something to say, but do you see me?” — Farris Hallaj song See Me

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Good Shepherd Alliance Helps Loudoun See the Homeless Getting to Meet Santa

Shelter families supported by Good Shepherd Alliance (GSA), aka the Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia (https://goodshepherdnova.org/) joined Natalie Ramos and her crew at her new restaurant at the clubhouse of Lansdowne Woods for a Christmas brunch just before the holidays. The warmth and joy they experienced decorating cookies and receiving presents from Santa was likely doubled by the team that served them. GSA runs shelters that can house up to 34 people. The largest of these is an emergency shelter called Hebron which can house families for 89 days or less. Additionally, they support six other transitional houses: one house for single women that serves four, two apartments for six people total, and three other communal houses for women and children that serve 14 people. Beginning with the emergency shelter, through which all temporary residents pass, case workers are assigned to help them with benefits, child care, health care and any other resources they may need. After they move on from emergency housing they have a year to work toward finding a more permanent solution. During that year, residents save the income they earn that doesn’t go to rent and leave with a kind of escrow account that helps them secure permanent housing. The group’s four thrift stores, Hope’s Treasures, help support the group’s work, as do donations and fundraisers like Handbags for Hope, a fundraiser brunch that auctioned off donated designer bags at Belmont Country Club in January. That fundraiser was specifically marked as a way to launch programs like summer camp, after-school programs and scholarships so kids can afford the sports equipment, lessons and other programs that others in the county enjoy. The latter program

ARTICLE BY MELINDA GIPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELINDA GIPSON & ISABEL MEYER

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Natalie Ramos and her husband Michael Vaughn (aka Santa)

is a passion for Isabel Mayer, Director of Missions with Good Shepherd Alliance. Isabel cites the McKinney-Vento federal program for children counting 1,900 children in Loudoun as having no fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. She’ll celebrate two years with the charity next month, during which time she’s helped GSA hold job workshops from Crossroads Jobs and provide cooking lessons from BetterALife Foundation and financial counseling, all focused on helping residents live independently. In the new year, a coalition of Loudoun faith-based organizations will begin to make use of a local version of Careportal. org, linking them to specific, tangible needs posted by non-profit case workers. In this way, Isabel hopes that more people will both see and be able to provide what families need in real time. “If I’m a Christian, and I read the Bible, it says to help the poor, and the widows and the orphans. That’s my job. That’s what I should be doing.” This portal will help. “I think people are just not aware that there’s homelessness in Loudoun County,” Isabel said. “It’s very hidden in many ways. These are women with children saying, ‘I need help. I want to make myself better, and I want my kids to have a better life.’” Those who’ve been on the cusp of desperation do know, and Natalie is one of those people who will never forget how much having a helping hand meant to her. Besides providing food for shelter families

“If I’m a Christian, and I read the Bible, it says to help the poor, and the widows and the orphans. That’s my job. That’s what I should be doing.” — Isabel Mayer CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 4 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

One little girl who came to Natalie’s brunch and asked to save her gold spoon along with the cookies she decorated, “to remind me of the best day ever.”

Decorated cookies and a memory spoon

Isabel Mayer

right before the holidays, she filled a couple of shopping carts with toys for the kids. Natalie and other women like her will have an opportunity to share how they were able to triumph through hard times in a new feature for GSA’s transitional families that Isabel is calling, “Motivational Mondays.” By hearing others’ stories, “they have hope. And hope is in short supply sometimes.” Someone else who will never forget is one little girl who came to Natalie’s brunch and asked to save her gold spoon along with the cookies she decorated, “to remind me of the best day ever.”

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women rock SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELINDA GIPSON

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t’s the nature of journalism to state the obvious, so forgive us if we point out that this year’s Loudoun Chamber of Commerce selection of outstanding small businesses resulted in the vast majority of winners being female. Bear Chase, represented on our cover by GM Chris Suarez, was of course the “big winner” this year, making off with Best Destination Site, People’s Choice and Small Business of the Year. We only recently profiled them in October, so we’re going to take a closer look at how women are transforming the small business landscape in Loudoun County, all the way to the top.

ANGELA MITCHELL, LOUDOUN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD CHAIR

At that virtual “top” for 2024 stands Angela Mitchell, Board Chair, Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and CEO of ARM Consulting, a nationally recognized Healthcare, Human Resources, and Information Technology Solutions consulting

company. The company’s success in Loudoun spotlights the extent to which the area has become a center for not just data centers and IT expertise, but leadership in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices, telehealth, cybersecurity and systems engineering. She is the third woman in a row to hold the role, and the first African American woman. If Angela has anything to do with it, she won’t be the last. “You know, I don’t think we set out to make history in that way, by me being the first African American woman and only the third woman in the last few years to chair the Board of Directors, but it is happening. I want to make sure that, while I may be the first, that I’m not the last. Representation matters. I hope that when people can see others like themselves in this role that they can visualize themselves in it. This is a great county and I want to make sure people understand the impact they can make for others” as business leaders. She adds, “I really want to keep our focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. We’ve been able to really make some impact by having an annual summit to bring together thought CONTINUED >

Left page, left: Ferri Riar and Angela Mitchell | Top right: Leah Fallon, Ferri Riar, Shannon Curvey, Christine Gacharná, Chris Suarez, Angela Mitchell, Melissa Hinton | This page, top left: Natalie Ramos with Tina Johnson at a Sisterhood event she catered | Top middle: Shannon Curvey at Small Business Awards Top right: Christine Gacharná Displays her Award | Bottom Left: Leah Fallon with a list of Book Clubs | Bottom right: Melissa Hinton flanked by Erika Rowe and Tony Howard FEB R UARY 2 0 2 4 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

leaders and experts in the DEI space and we’re able to help educate our membership,” she added. The goal: “so DEIA becomes part of the DNA of organizations and their businesses and not an afterthought.” She models what she preaches as well: is the immediate past chair of the Coalition on Women & Girls, and the founder of a non-profit, Women and Girls Inspiring STEM Excellence, or WISE. Its goal is to mentor and tutor girls of color who are considering entering the STEM or IT workforce. “We want to make sure that we can continue to provide any comprehensive support that we can for them, because we need that talent.” Last Fall she was named Changemaker of the Year by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, and plans to turn the $10,000 award that accompanied the award into the Angela Stephens Mitchell Family Fund to award grants that help others change the world for the better.

FERRI RIAR, LOUDOUN COALITION ON WOMEN & GIRLS CHAIR

Ferri Riar, the current chair of The Loudoun Coalition on Women & Girls, is a research scientist and biophysicist who’s spent much of her career on women’s health policy, but currently runs Orblynx Academy focusing on STEM education. It’s the coalition that received the Chamber’s Non-Profit of the Year award, and what a year it’s been! The group focuses on how to serve women and girls in the community and has become best known for its Girl emPower Summit, which is largely organized by young female students in the community to help build leadership skills. In its second year of meeting in person, the summit tripled attendance and 95 percent of those who came said they felt very confident of their future goals. Mentorship and internship opportunities to come alongside other local businesswomen are a key component of the group’s networking, as is its new Loudoun Women’s Hall of Fame. The latter, in its first year, honored artist Kris Loya, entrepreneur Kindra Dionne, Nest4Us founders Shreyaa and Esha Venkat, LCPS Principal Katie Johnson, medical ethicist Sigrid Fry-Revere, Interim Chief of Police Vanessa Grigsby, philanthropist Karen Schaufeld and Pastor Michelle C. Thomas,

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who all were heralded as “hidden heroes” with community impact in their respective fields. “You know, as women, when we climb a mountain, we don’t just say, ‘Why should we climb a mountain?’ We look for the next one, right?” Ferri said. Nominations for this year’s awards will be solicited soon (see lcwag.org/about). And, this month also should see the release of its 2024 Voices of Loudoun Women Pulse Survey Report, intended to identify and monitor the important community issues that impact local women. More than 800 responses over four sample periods, hailing from every ZIP code in the county were tallied for last year’s report which found the top three challenges women face are child care support, workforce connections such as educational or vocational skill training and certifications, and access to health care (including mental health). “Data from our survey indicated that the level of mental health stress among these women higher than the national average,” Ferri commented. “Understanding and addressing these challenges is crucial for supporting the women and girls in our community.” Just listing the group’s accomplishments doesn’t really convey its cohesiveness; when the award was announced, dozens of board members and volunteers lept to the stage, tears in their eyes.

NATALIE RAMOS, OWNER, FLEUR DE CUISINE

Succeeding in the face of challenges was a recurring theme for many of this year’s winners, but none so much as Natalie Ramos, owner of Fleur de Cuisine Catering, Superior Service Business of the Year. Natalie grew up rough bouncing between relatives in Florida and East New York, Brooklyn where she witnessed street shootings in her “ghetto” neighborhood and struggled for acceptance as the “darker skinned” daughter of an African American mother and Caribbean father. She traces her mother’s ancestry to her great-great grandmother, an enslaved Virginia woman who bore a daughter to the slave master’s son, and then fled North. Her grandmother was orphaned at a young age and became the single mother of three children. She felt her father’s family rejected her and struggled with self-acceptance throughout her life.

A dysfunctional marriage finally ended with a severe incident of spousal abuse that sent her to the hospital. Facing eviction with the younger of two daughters, she agreed not to testify against her husband if he would pay the back rent. Then he was gone, and she spent her first Christmas alone unable to either buy or light a Christmas tree because her electricity had been terminated. She relates how local groups like LAWS and Loudoun Cares rescued her when things were at their worst, and she now gives back with a passion. Just recently, we attended a special brunch she threw for shelter families with children who are being supported by The Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia (see story, p. x.) She details the whole unvarnished, emotional story in a new book called Recipe for Life, coming soon from 846 Global Publishing. While it’s a tough read at times, it’s a page-turner infused with a lyrical, poetic sensibility. In it she and her daughter and business partner Tiana record their trials and triumphs, stopping just short of relating her more recent, meteoric success with not just Fleur de Cuisine but her new restaurant and ballroom / dining room in Lansdowne Woods of Virginia, a 55+ condominium community. Of course, there are culinary recipes – singular ones that recall a lifetime of love and family togetherness – but also one that she credits for her current serenity and security in God’s love. The ingredients she lists are: 1 Mindset of Faith, ½ Cup of Family, ½ Cup of Finance, ½ Cup of Food, ¼ Cup of Fitness, and 1 Full Cup of Focus. “Start by stirring your mindset thoroughly until well-blended. Sprinkling a generous serving of family, a dash of finance, a pinch of food, and bit fitness and combine until smooth. Pour in a cup of focus over it all. Bake for a lifetime. Then consume.” She’s always held the conviction that, “the miracles of my life, as well as the hardships, were merely God’s way of showing me that there was a purpose for my being. The difficulties and even traumas I experienced were not sent to destroy. They were sent to squeeze the greatness out of my like oil flowing from an olive.” Still, what would bring a 45-year-old to write a memoir? This too, she did for others. “I hope that in those moments when your heart is particularly open,

as you journey through those processes, taking those steps, somewhere, somehow, you are influenced and introduced to God. Knowing God helps you rationalize, change and, more importantly, hope. Here I am as an adult, and my life is filled with hope. It is filled with miracles and purpose. These are the greatest gifts.”

SHANNON CURVEY, OWNER, FUNCTION-N-FITNESS

Shannon Curvey, upon winning top Health and Wellness business honors, said, “First and foremost, I am eternally grateful to God,” adding, “It is super validating to know that others get what you’re trying to do in this world. It is validating to know that my customers need and appreciate the services that are offered. This award today is tangible proof that I’m walking in my purpose.” That purpose? Providing a bridge between healthcare like physical therapy and rehab, and fitness, when her customers are truly ready to return to their normal workouts and activities. She also is a gifted massage therapist and can accurately pinpoint and relax muscles that are causing pain – even if they’re far from where clients might assume the problem lies. It’s simple, she explains: “I help people to heal, recover and get back to the lives they enjoy.” She, like many successful business women, have coped with adversity. “Let’s start with COVID,” she says wryly. “I started the business in 2015 and a few years later there’s a worldwide pandemic. The work that I do can’t be done six feet away!” She credits her success in attracting and retaining clients to the many relationships she has built in the community and the testimonials of her grateful fans. Her Spring training to prepare golfers for the links after a long winter have become virtually mandatory. (See bit.ly/FNFGolf.) And, just to make things interesting, she has also served as team trainer of the Virginia Hearts of the semi-pro Women’s American Basketball Association. On the website, function-n-fitness.com, you’ll find more information on individual training, Yoga classes and three of her books on fitness psychology, heart health, and the right nutrition for losing weight, all available for free download. So, if you’ve overdone your January fitness resolutions, February should begin here. CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 4 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

“Who you become has nothing to do with where you go. The contacts you make, the people you meet and the opportunities you take advantage of – that’s what fuels the fire that's in you.” — Christine Gacharná

CHRISTINE GACHARNÁ, OWNER, ESSAYCURE.COM

You met Christine Gacharná in Leesburg Lifestyle’s August issue (bit.ly/LLEssayCure), but can now point to her as Loudoun’s Best Home-Based Business. She created and built EssayCure.com, which helps High School students craft their all-important college essays, virtually during the pandemic. Now she offers in-person seminars and one-to-one coaching sessions that not only help her clients become better writers, but the leaders on whom Loudoun will depend in future. As important as her proven essay-writing methods are in winning her students serious consideration by college admission boards, her true gift may be in helping them evaluate what kind of college experience can help them become who they want to be. It’s a dose of reality many high-achieving seniors need at exactly the right time in their lives. “To begin with, when they use the word ‘passion,’ I cut them off and I say, ‘I don’t want to sound insensitive here, but I don’t care what you hope for. I don’t care what you dream. I don’t care what you want. I don’t care what your passions are. What I care about is what did that lead you to do?’ Because if it didn’t lead you to do anything, a) you don’t have a college application essay and b) we need for those interests that you’re involved in to become academic interests.” The process of writing a

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | LO CAL SE RVICE S

successful essay thus becomes a process by which seniors’ priorities and goals solidify. Christine tells each student that their mission is to “find a major that you’re going to be able to graduate with and do something with. Just to go to college to get a ‘Mrs.’ degree or something that you’re never going to use – I just don’t see that as a good investment.” Students who have life-tested their aspirations and can articulate what they expect from their education are “those that will come behind us and open businesses, and employ people and practice law or medicine or brew beer or open an HVAC company. They’ll do all the things that we are all doing in the business community, and be good at it because it’s what they were meant to do.” That said, there’s only so much that planning can do to chart students’ future courses. Christine observes that, “These are students who are entering college and the jobs that they’re going to do when they graduate, we haven’t even heard of yet. That’s how fast things are changing for them. They’re flexing and pivoting and rolling with it. And they can do things that the generations before them can’t. They’re pretty impressive.” Regardless of what parents think, she adds that the right college for their student isn’t always the one with a “name brand.... There are a lot of really

great things about a lot of great schools out there that people don’t know about.” A person shouldn’t be judged by the school they get into: “Who you become has nothing to do with where you go. The contacts you make, the people you meet and the opportunities you take advantage of – that’s what fuels the fire that’s in you.”

LEAH FALLON, BIRCH TREE BOOKSTORE

No fewer than 13 book clubs meet at Birch Tree Bookstore at 11 West Market Street, each with their own leader and genre to stimulate conversation and community. It was in fact community that drove Leah Fallon, a former teacher, to open the business in 2021, “because I thought downtown Leesburg needed a bookstore and a place to congregate to talk about books.” Meetings are free, and anyone can attend; there’s even a web page that lets members know what the book of the month is in every genre, in case they’re interested in broadening their horizons (see birchtreebookstore.com/bookclubs). She’d never run her own business, and she’d never been associated with bookstores, but her love of reading, and willingness to be vulnerable and ask for help when she needed it, helped Leah build her “Main Street Business” into a best of breed. The bookstore community, what remains of it in competition with Amazon, is “very connected and very supportive,” she says. But what makes the store truly compelling is a combination of its coziness and old-fashioned curation. Just inside the door is a shelf of employee and owner “favorites,” culled from the seemingly endless variety of recent releases. (It’s not the same, but you can browse the list online at birchtreebookstore.com/shop.) Like a good wine store, having someone to recommend something you might like in consideration of other books you’ve enjoyed offers a special layer of service to the reading experience that AI has yet to master. Because it’s so prominent and the bookstore is so popular locally, that shelf alone is worth a visit for its insight into the zeitgeist of local page-turners. Also in imitation of a good wine club, the shop has 200 members who each pay $49/ year for a list of insider treats including $10 off with every $100 spent, exclusive access and discounts

to special events, a free paperback of your choice on your birthday, advanced copies of books before they’re published and a guaranteed seat at the store’s most popular book clubs. There’s even a plant club to accompany the plant store the shop incorporates. Getting a book or a plant on your birthday is altogether nicer than a smiley face emoji on Facebook; it just has a greater sense of anticipation and belonging about it, Leah asserts. Local authors also are celebrated, with their own special section as well as on Birch Tree’s Local Author Showcase on Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday, April 27th. Leah herself steps into the limelight Friday, February 23rd at 6:30 p.m. with a Shop Talk presentation she calls: “How to Protect Bookstores and Why,” based on the book of the same name by Danny Caine. (RSVPs are recommended.) Our takeaway even without an advance on Leah’s speech is that a visit to Birch Tree is like a mental vacation, where you can relax and lose yourself in browsing your next great read in the company of others who love the experience – and now likely the place where you’re apt to find copies of Leesburg Lifestyle if you don’t already get it at home, or want to share a copy with a friend.

MELISSA HINTON, SERENITY HOUSE

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Melissa Hinton, our cover story last March (bit. ly/LoudounSerenityHouse), of Loudoun Serenity House (loudounserenity.org) was the Chamber’s choice for Entrepreneur of the Year in acknowledgment of her dogged determination to marshal not just sober housing for men and women in Loudoun to support their recovery, but also a wealth of other educational, counseling, training and support services with the help of local donors and businesses. New to their calendar is the Coffee Connections Café to help people in recovery in all aspects of their lives at the Recovery Community Center in Old Town Leesburg (29 N. King St. – check the organization’s events page.) Melissa rounds out a group of truly extraordinary business leaders that make Loudoun a great place to live.

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Reservations For Two Dreamy destinations for couples looking to get away.

Finding a life partner just might be easier than finding someone you can travel with. Pace, patience and priorities all matter when organizing itineraries, straddling time zones and navigating new places. Do you like languid mornings with room service, wide sandy beaches and white-glove service? Or, do you prefer watching the sunrise in hiking boots, launching into eye-opening excursions and digging to find that hidden gem of a restaurant that serves local food to locals? When the stars align, both partners have an affinity for generally the same kind of vacation, or are willing to compromise. Enjoying travel with your mate is the icing on the (wedding) cake. Here are a few ideas for fabulously romantic getaways. Bon Voyage!

Traveling can be as stressful as it is sublime. Exhausting as it is inspiring. Traveling as a couple requires additional planning and communication with a healthy dose of patience. Much like marriage! But, waking up in a faraway place, exploring unknown terrain together and leaving your routine and all its trappings behind can be therapeutic. You both can take on new roles and release tired habits.

Write new vows over lunch or take a random nap because you can.

Share planning and talk about your goals for the trip. Do you want to completely unplug or will one of you need excellent wifi to call into a few meetings?

If you’re parents, consider setting boundaries for texting and phone calls so you can put the phone away and immerse in one another. Let the kids know you will be checking your phone at a certain time each day (and stick to that). Let the grandparents or caregivers handle the day to day drama.

Take turns charting a course for the day. On day one, you check museum opening times, get the timed tickets and find a nearby spot for a healthy lunch. On day two, you sit back and let your partner call the Uber and source out the perfect shopping district, walking distance to a park. Enjoy the ride, either way.

T R AV E L J OU R N A L | TRAV E L

Four Seasons Bora Bora FourSeasons.com/BoraBora

Privacy and so much blue water. Bora Bora, French Polynesia At the Four Seasons Bora Bora, bucket list overwater bungalows line a glassy lagoon, inviting early-morning swims off your own private dock with a bright breakfast table set on your patio overlooking Mount Otemanu. The morning air is like silk, with a lithe breeze promising more of the same. Later, meander down the shady paths of the resort to the Te Mahana Spa. With breathtaking lagoon and Pacific Ocean views from twin infinity pools, the treatment begins with local juices and fruit, a foot massage, and then continues with rebalancing rituals starring indigenous ingredients like skin-smoothing, Tahitian-black-pearl powder and detoxifying algae sourced from the ocean. A full body scrub, massage, and hour-long soak in a coconut bath will leave you thankful and grounded. You can connect with the underwater world by snorkeling with a resident marine biologist and leave a legacy by grafting coral to repopulate the sun bleached lagoon. Dinners at the Four Seasons Bora Bora offer the ultimate date night experience, and a private moonlit swim is the perfect nightcap.

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 4 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

Montage Palmetto Bluff Montage.com/PalmettoBluff

A sanctuary for you and nature alike. Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

Tucked away on 20,000 acres of conservancy property in South Carolina’s low country, this classic resort delivers quintessential southern hospitality at every turn, whether you stay in one of the private cottages dotting the winding walkways along the May River or at the Main Inn with views of a maritime forest or inland waterway. Dramatic giant oaks dripping with Spanish moss line the miles of shady paths for meandering and biking around dreamy Palmetto Bluff. Golf with a caddy at May River Golf Course, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. Venture out by bike with a bottle of the finest Veuve Clicquot bubbly for a private picnic. Paddle, kayak or join an intimate cruise on a vintage

T R AV E L J OU R N A L | TRAV E L

picnic boat along 32 miles of waterfront. Shoot clay targets on one of the elevated 5-Stands, or on the sporting clay courses winding through an expansive 120-acre facility. There’s tennis, pickleball, three pools, a fitness center or hikes with the in-house Naturalist to keep you busy. If being busy is not your idea of fun, spend a day in robes at Spa Montage. The May River Renewal is two and a half hour spa experience with exfoliation, a soak and Heart of the Bluff Massage. Dine at The River House, where charming wait staff from around the world serve elevated local fare, elegant cocktails and the most perfect bread service you’ll ever enjoy. It’s these thoughtful details at Montage Palmetto Bluff that make you feel like the day belongs to you both.

The Pendry Pendry.com

A perfect romantic getaway in a contemporary mountain enclave. Park City, Utah Create a perfect romantic getaway at Pendry Park City, a contemporary mountain enclave bringing the mastery of Utah’s awe-inspiring landscape to new heights. The ski-in / ski-out resort is nestled in the center of Canyons Village, with slopeside modernist design, luxury service and thoughtful amenities, ideal for a couple’s escape. With intimate and cozy après and evening settings by the fireplaces and firepits throughout the entire property and in-room, complete with live music, inviting meals and more. Book an extra special meal at KITA, the stunning Japanese

steakhouse and sushi restaurant, the ideal romantic setting. Pair with some pre or post dinner cocktails at one of the bars, or a relaxing couple’s massage post ski. Rejuvenate the body with Spa Pendry for a couples massage, a side-by-side personally tailored massages for two in the couple’s suite and enjoy the herbal steam room, relaxation spaces, complimentary refreshments, state-ofthe-art fitness center and access to the hotel rooftop pool and whirlpool, with stunning views of the mountains. A perfect place to unwind with a robe and glass of champagne. CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 4 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

The Willows TheWillowsPalmSprings.com

A secluded escape surrounded by mountains. Palm Springs, California With only 17 guest rooms, The Willows feels like an exclusive private hideaway where you expect to see celebrities around the pool or world leaders hiding behind newspapers at the three-course breakfast on the patio. Originally a millionaire’s private luxury hideaway the Italianate style mansions were built side-by-side for best friends, captains of industry where they entertained movie stars and political giants. Dr. Albert Einstein and his wife were frequent guests. The seclusion, though just blocks from the Palm Springs village, is intoxicating. You’ll meet the most interesting people at the complimentary afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres in the charming sitting room and find a new friend in one of the many engaging reads on the shelves dotting the thoughtfully renovated property. Rooms include oversized tiled showers, priceless antique pieces and a turndown service to make you feel like the royalty you are. Situated at the base of rugged Mt. San Jacinto with views of the Coachella Valley, The Willows is a perfect base for exploring the Palm Springs mid-century architecture of Hollywood titans or hiking the Andreas or Big Morongo Canyons or nearby Joshua Tree. Open September through May.

T R AV E L J OU R N A L | TRAV E L

The Swag TheSwag.com

You had me at copper soaking tub. Waynesville, North Carolina

Perched at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Swag is a very special Relais & Chateau property where history, storytelling and a deep respect for nature are a priority. Combined with luxurious accommodations (hello, private copper soaking tubs, outdoor showers, saunas and steam showers) and thoughtful service. The Swag has welcomed guests celebrating engagements, anniversaries and multi-generational stays since 1982. Many come back every year to hike with experts in residence who share their knowledge of birds, wildflowers, lore, photography, astronomy, cooking, gardening and more. Breakfast is served in front of a roaring fire or overlooking the 250-acre property and Cataloochee Valley. Lunch (ordered the night before) is served in a backpack for hiking, to-go bag for a private picnic or in the lodge’s dining room. Dinner is a social affair, with hors d’oeuvres and a welcome from the inn owners or managers and a toast to those celebrating milestones followed by a four or five-course meal from a kitchen teeming with local talent and award winning chefs. After dinner, wander out to the lawn, almost a mile high on the rim of the Cataloochee Divide, where you can spot four of North Carolina’s six highest mountain ranges adjoining 500,000 miles of national park. Once the sun sets, gaze up for a never-ending palette of stars. Back in your room, find a wood fire laid, lights dimmed and bed turned down for the sweetest of dreams. FEB R UARY 2 0 2 4 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Alec Ne gri ,a . k. a

Deliver i ng ‘ Wow!’ StageCoach’s Monthly Magic Show Does it in Spades

M UST SE E | ENTERTAI NME N T

ARTICLE BY MELINDA GIPSON

teacher, and magic performer. Robert Ellis, performing as MisterE of Science, uses magic to demonstrate scientific concepts. Larry Lipman, a.k.a. Lorenzo, is a retired journalist and former adjunct professor of journalism at George Washington University. Sunnier Sun, a Taiwanese magician, has won the 2022 and 2023 Magician of the Year Honors from the National Capital Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. “There's an interaction between the audience and the performer that you can't get on a flat screen. You just can't do it,” Alec says. “I love giving people the experience of what I had when I first started seeing magic as a kid. If I see good magic that fools me, I just have that kid-like experience back again, like finding the gifts under a tree Christmas morning. That's like magic. It's like ‘Wow.’ That’s an experience that I want to make sure everybody has throughout their entire life.” If you hurry, you can grab their next show on February 2nd, or see the full roster of monthly shows here: stagecoachtc.com/ slys-magic.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELINDA GIPSON, STAGECOACH THEATRE

There’s magic in Loudoun County. You can find it performed monthly at StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn as Sly’s Fabulous Las Vegas Style Magic Show by a handful of magicians whose passion is not only to astound, but to engage and entertain. Admittedly, it’s hard to define what one finds magical. To Alec Negri, a.k.a. Sly, what makes a good trick is the element of surprise. Dr. Ken Jones, Sly’s opening act, waxes more philosophical: “I treat magic like it's an academic discipline. I study it, I learn about it. I learn from it. I think that there's magic in the untapped potential of the human mind...the thread that ties it together, is a feeling of impossibility. Some people call it astonishment, some people call it wonder. It's that cognitive dissonance that happens when you've just seen something that you know can't possibly be real or true, but you've just witnessed it.” Sly’s performers come from a variety of backgrounds and evoke astonishment with a variety of styles. Ken, an award-winning magician with 20 years of experience, is a retired US Army officer and currently works as a full-time researcher, statistics

Dr. Ken Jones Sly, Dr. Ken Jones, Robert Ellis, Larry Lipman

“

“ I t r e a t m a g i c l i ke i t ’s an academic discipline. I study it, I learn about i t . I l e a r n f r o m i t .”

Robert Ellis aka Mister E of Science

Larry Lipman, Alec Negri, Sunnier Sun, Dr. Ken Jones, Robert Ellis

Larry Lipman aka Lorenzo with Audience Participants

Sly and Audience Participant

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CHOCOLATE and WINE The Key to a Successful Wine and

Chocolate Pairing Lies in Finding the Right Combination of Flavors and Characteristics.

Pairing wine and chocolate together can be a delightful sensory experience that can elevate the flavors of both. While the concept of pairing wine with food is well-known, pairing it with chocolate may seem unconventional at first. However, when done correctly, it can create a harmonious balance where the flavors of the wine and chocolate complement and enhance one another. Wine and chocolate have a lot of similarities to each other. Both contain flavanols (antioxidants) and polyphenols (compounds found in plant-based food) that are good for you and have anti-inflammatory properties. These characteristics affect flavor so it’s somewhat challenging to pair wine and chocolate together. The more polyphenols, the more pronounced the bitter taste. For example, if you sip a delicious dry red wine alongside a hunk of dark chocolate, the wine will start to taste bitter and sour. The taste imbalance is coming from the heightened levels of flavanols (different types of tannin) found in both chocolate and wine that end up clashing against each other on your tongue. While it might sound counterintuitive, a good rule of thumb is to pair a wine that is “sweeter” than the chocolate itself. “Sweet” doesn’t refer to dessert wines alone. In the wine world, the term “sweet” is often used to denote ripe, fruit-forward flavors in a wine. These characteristics provide a nice balance to the bitter flavors of cocoa. Both wine and chocolate can have intense, dry flavors. In order to find the right balance, it’s best to choose wines that are a little bit softer and juicier than the chocolate you’re pairing it with. We’ve done the footwork to find several wines that partner well with chocolate. Here are our guidelines for matching chocolate with wine and a few of our favorite wine and chocolate pairings. We hope you’ll try them and then get inspired to experiment and create your own.

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

ARTICLE BY HALEY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSANDRA CASTANEDA

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CREATING THE PERFECT PAIR DA R K CHOCOLATE TIP 1: M ATCH SUGA R WITH SUGAR When it comes to pairing chocolate and wine, you don’t want to strike a balance, you want to match sugar to sugar. Sweeter chocolate like white chocolate does better when consumed with sweeter wines and bitter chocolate like dark chocolate enjoys being paired with dryer wines. Think of it as matching sugar with sugar. A good rule of thumb is to always pair wines that are equally or slightly more sweet than the chocolate being eaten with it.

TIP 2: M ATCH INTENSIT Y WITH INTENSITY If you pair an incredibly delicately flavored dark chocolate with a full-bodied, heavy red, the intensity of the wine will destroy any of the subtlety that might have been present in the chocolate. The opposite is also true: strong-tasting chocolate will blow a delicate wine out of the water. Keep this rule of thumb in mind: light-flavored chocolates enjoy being paired with light-bodied wines and intensely flavored chocolates prefer being paired with full-bodied wines.

T I P 3 : PA I R F L AVO R S W I T H F L AVO R S Wine and chocolate both carry their own intense flavors. If the chocolate contains other ingredients such as nuts, fruit, or caramel, consider how these flavors will play with the wine. This is especially helpful to remember when enjoying truffles with wine. To avoid creating a palate power play between the two, do your best to match fruity or floral chocolates with fruity wines like Moscato or White Zinfandel. Enjoy chocolate-covered nuts alongside a nutty wine like a Madeira or Marsala. Chocolate studded with dried cranberries might pair well with a fruit-forward red with berry undertones.

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

Bitter to semi-sweet dark chocolates, that are 50 to 100% cacao, have intense, bitter flavors, and earthy to fruity undertones. Match the intensity without adding more dryness by pairing these chocolates with full-bodied, yet fruit-forward wines. Pairs well with: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Port, Merlot, Shiraz, Barolo

MILK CHOCOLATE Milk chocolate is typically creamier and sweeter with flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and cream. It requires a wine that is light to medium in body, with a ripe fruit character. Pairs well with: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sweet Riesling, Ice-Style Wine

WHITE CHOCOLATE White chocolate has a sweet, buttery flavor with notes of cream and honey. Sweet white and rosè wines help cleanse the palate of the rich flavors from white chocolate, as does sparkling spumante like Moscato d’Asti. Pairs well with: Sweet Riesling, Moscato, Semi-Dry Sparkling Whites, Gewurztraminer

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

DIY VALENTINES

ARTS

ARTICLE BY CHERYL PARTON

1. Arts Create heart ornaments to hang on a Valentine’s Day tree. The ornaments can be used as clue cards for a Valentine's Day scavenger hunt. Participants find their picture on the tree and hunt for a hidden treasure.

2. Sweets A home-based holiday is made complete with a dessert table. Whether made from scratch or store bought, a collection of decorated confections is as beautiful as the treats are delectable to eat.

3. Sentiments Poetry is a most personal way to express your heart. No need to be intimidated by haiku, a short form of Japanese poetry. While there are several variations of the form, a traditional place to begin is with a seasonal word that divides 17 syllables into three lines of five/ seven/five. Simple and sweet.

H OW TO | ARTS + C ULTURE

SENTIMENTS

The first Valentines were handmade in the 18th century, long before printing presses and mass-produced options. Today, handmade signifies the ultimate in personal mots d’amour. Enjoy these sweet projects as a couple, a family, or with friends.

SWEETS

Simple Projects to Celebrate at Home

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