LISAWATERS
Cover photo by Mauricio Cordiero
ENRICHING
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HELLO, VIENNA!
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, February is a wonderful reminder to celebrate love in all its forms—love for family, friends, neighbors, and the community we’re fortunate to call home. Whether you’re planning something special or simply sharing everyday moments with those you care about, this season is all about connection, creativity, and appreciation—and this month’s issue re ects just that.
I’m delighted to introduce our feature family, Lisa Waters and her boys, Brady and Ian. Lisa is the heart behind I Can Buy Myself Flowers, a community-based ower arranging business rooted right here in Vienna. With a genuine passion for owers and a desire to share her knowledge, Lisa offers engaging workshops and creates beautiful oral arrangements for special occasions. She also brings her experience as a wedding orist to help couples thoughtfully plan their special day, ensuring every detail feels personal and meaningful.
A proud member of the Vienna Business Association, Lisa truly embodies the spirit of collaboration. She works closely with other small businesses and nonpro ts to fundraise, host events, and bring people together. When she’s not arranging blooms or tending her garden, Lisa is sharing her love of owers on Season 2 of The Flower Power Podcast. Flower farmers and oral designers interested in being a guest are encouraged to reach out—Lisa is always eager to connect and collaborate.
This month, we are also proud to spotlight the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, a remarkable 100% volunteer community service organization dedicated to bringing out the best in kids. As part of Optimist International, the Club focuses on providing hope and a positive vision for youth through service projects, scholarships, and special programs. Locally, they organize and run the Vienna Farmers Market, the Annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser, and tours of our beloved Caboose. With their upbeat outlook and hands-on involvement, Optimist Club members help empower young people to be the best they can be. Each year, Optimists worldwide conduct more than 65,000 service projects, positively impacting over six million young people.
As you enjoy this issue, I’d also like to extend a heartfelt reminder to support our advertising sponsors. Their commitment makes Vienna Living possible and helps sustain the small businesses that give our town its unique character. Please consider patronizing their businesses and thanking them for supporting our community.
Wishing you a February lled with kindness, connection, and maybe even a few beautiful blooms along the way.
Warmly,
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VBA COMMUNITY MESSAGE
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LISA'S LIFE IN FLOWERS WITH HER TWO BOYS
SUBMITTED BY TANIA
REYES
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MAURICIO CORDIERO
Heartbreak, owers, and two energetic boys in Vienna might not sound like the start of a business plan—but for local mom, teacher, and oral designer Lisa, that’s exactly where her story begins. What started as a personal ritual of healing with owers has bloomed into a family-infused venture that brings beauty, calm, and connection to homes across the community.
A BUSINESS BORN FROM HEARTBREAK
In April 2023, after a painful breakup, Lisa did what many people do: she went to Trader Joe’s. But instead of comfort snacks, she came home with armfuls of owers and lled every room in her house with arrangements, surrounding herself with color and fragrance as she worked through her grief. The act of creating something beautiful, with her hands, her eye for design, and her memories of growing up in Japan, helped her rebuild her sense of optimism and inspired the name and concept for her oral
business - I Can Buy Myself Flowers.
Her “less is more” approach is rooted in the traditional Japanese art of ikebana, where each stem has a purpose and negative space is part of the design. That simple, intentional style now de nes her work and has become a quiet signature in homes and gatherings throughout Vienna.
FLOWERS, THERAPY, AND A LITTLE CHICKEN WIRE
For Lisa, oral design is more than just pretty petals, it is calming, therapeutic, and deeply restorative. She loves showing others that arranging owers can be a form of self-care and a way to reconnect with nature, rather than just “plopping a store-bought bouquet into a vase.” She is particular about the mechanics behind each design, using chicken wire instead of oral foam and seeking out vintage containers that add story and character to every arrangement.
VIENNA
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Whenever possible, she sources her blooms from local ower farmers, neighbors, and her own growing cut ower garden, favoring chemical-free stems that feel safe to handle and to bring into her home. Even when store-bought owers are in the mix, she encourages simple practices—like wearing gloves and conditioning stems, to elevate the whole experience.
A FAMILY AFFAIR IN THE SUNROOM
Behind the scenes, this business is very much a family project. As a single mom and full-time teacher, Lisa has woven her creative work into the daily life of her household. For the entire rst year, her “design studio” was her younger son’s air hockey table in their sunroom, layered with buckets, clippers, and blooms instead of paddles and pucks. Her two boys, Brady and Ian, now in 7th and 5th grade, have grown up among the owers, riding along on deliveries, stepping in as impromptu photographers, and serving as her built-in cheer squad.
Her oldest son, Brady, a 7th grader who is non-verbal and was born with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome and epilepsy, is at the center of the family’s routine and support system. Lisa credits her parents with helping care for him so she can balance teaching, motherhood, and entrepreneurship, and she often channels that gratitude into small gestures, like surprise bouquets for the boys’ teachers. The business has become another way for the family to give back to the community that has embraced them.
GROWING COMMUNITY, ONE STEM AT A TIME
As her arrangements have found their way into more homes and events, Lisa’s world of owers has continued to expand. With guidance from local growers, she has spent the last three seasons building out her own cut ower garden, turning her front yard into a living resource for her designs and a daily reminder of what patience and care can grow. That curiosity also led her to launch the Flower Power podcast, where she shares conversations with ower farmers and oral designers
about their journeys, favorite blooms, and lessons learned along the way.
Her connections in the local ower community run deep. Growers like Joan Fuller of Hidden Pond Farm and Jessica Jue of Fern & Folly Farm have supported her with advice, encouragement, and locally grown stems, showing just how much beauty can be cultivated right here in and around Vienna. Together with Joan, Lisa is now starting a local oral design club, a relaxed, community-centered way for neighbors to explore arranging, share ideas, and enjoy owers in good company.
HOPE, JOY, AND WHAT COMES NEXT
At its heart, Lisa’s story is about turning something painful into something generous and bright, a business that supports her family while spreading joy to others. She is grateful for every hand that has helped along the way, from her parents and sons to friends, colleagues, and customers who believe in what she is growing.
Looking ahead, she hopes to keep encouraging people to see owers not as an occasional luxury, but as a tool for everyday beauty, connection, and mental well-being, whether through her arrangements, her podcast, or gatherings like the new oral design club. For those who want to follow along, learn to grow their own blooms, or receive updates on workshops and club meetups, Lisa offers a free monthly newsletter and can be reached at www. eursbylisa.com
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e Business Minute
AGOOD OPERATOR
ERIKA BAEZ-GRIMES, Certified M&A Advisor | Founder
The BPH Group Inc. – An Exit Preparation Company
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If you are a business owner, chances are you are very good at running your company, and if you’ve been in business more than 5 years, you’re great at it!
You know your customers, your people, and your numbers. You're likely involved in decisions every day, and the business works because you are paying attention. These qualities are not aws; they’re key characteristics necessary to build wildly
successful companies.
But there is an important distinction that many owners never stop to examine: The skills that make you a strong operator are not the same skills that make you a strong owner. Because:
A good operator knows how to run a business.
A good owner knows how to build one that lasts without them.
Operators live in execution. They manage day to day, they put out res, close deals, oversee staff, and ensure customers are taken care of!
When something breaks, they x it. When performance dips, they step in & business moves forward because of their direct involvement.
Owners think at a different altitude. They step back and view the business as a system rather than a series of tasks or a baby who’s reliant on them for survival. Their focus is not on today’s issues, they look at their organization from a different angle, looking at things like: repeatability, predictability, and risk.
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They consider things like:
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Operators optimize for control.
Owners optimize for leverage.
In many cases, control feels responsible, It feels like leadership… But too much control creates dependency, and dependency limits value.
On the ip side, leverage requires trust, documentation, and structure. It means building systems that work even when you are not present and people who can perform without constant oversight.
This is where many founders unknowingly trap themselves. They believe their involvement is the business’s greatest strength. In reality, it is often its greatest risk. The more indispensable you are, the harder the business is to sell, scale, or step away from.
Buyers do not pay a premium for effort or sacri ce. They pay for predictability. They want clean nancials, durable margins, leadership depth, and systems
that do not rely on one person’s memory or relationships.
The shift from operator to owner is not about working less. It is about working differently.
Operators create income.
Owners create equity.
And the businesses that command the strongest valuations are almost always built by owners who learned when to stop operating and start owning.
If you'd like to learn more about how to begin optimizing your business and become the owner you've dreamed of, LETS CONNECT!
© Best Version Media
COMPILED
BY
TANIA REYES
Every Sunday (Year-Round) FRESHFARM
Farmers Market Mosaic
@Mosaic District (Merrifield)
A weekly farmers market featuring local vendors, produce, and prepared foods.
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: FREE entry www.mosaicdistrict.com/fun/
Sat., Feb 7
RUMOURS - A FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE
@Capital One Hall, Tysons Corner, VA
A spectacular tribute band performing the music of Fleetwood Mac.
Time: 8:00 PM Cost: From $73.80 https://www.unation.com/event/ rumours-a- eetwood-mactribute-61841651/
Sun., Feb 8
PICK OUT CLASSMATE GIFTS AT OUR FREE POP-UP VALENTINES SHOP
@Wasinger & Co Properties
(Crosspointe/Fairfax Station, VA) Free community event where kids use "Cupid Cash" to "buy" Valentines for their class. Includes a creative station, hot cocoa, and sweet treats.
Time: 2:00 PM EST Cost: FREE https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ pick-out-classmate-gifts-at-ourfree-pop-up-valentines-shoptickets-1977834628616
Sat., Feb 14
HEART 2 HEART GALA
@The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, McLean, VA Fundraiser gala featuring comedian John Crist and multi-platinum country music artist Josh Turner, live and silent auctions, and the Sweetheart Bene t Raf e drawing.
Time: Evening Event (Raf e Drawing 10:00 PM)
Cost: From $750
https://www.youthfortomorrow.org/ event/heart-2-heart-gala/
Wed., Feb 25
KEB MO
@Capital One Hall, Tysons, VA
A concert by the renowned American blues musician.
Time: 8:00 PM Cost: From $74.50
https://www.jambase.com/show/kebmo-capital-one-hall-20260225
Thu., Feb 26
THE CHOIR OF MAN
@Main Theater @ Capital One Hall, Tysons, VA The Olivier Award-nominated, worldwide smash hit returns. Set in the world's best pub, featuring a cast of extraordinary singers, dancers, and musicians.
Time: Doors 7:00 PM Cost: From $40 https://www.capitalonehall.com/events/ detail/the-choir-of-man
Fri., Feb 27
MILES OF MEANING GALA 2026
@Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
A Mardi Gras celebration and fundraiser for Mercy Medical Angels. Attire: Festive Cocktail. 21+ event.
Time: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Cost: Starts at $150 https://tysonsva.org/events/miles-ofmeaning-gala-2026/
Fri., Feb 27 - Sat., Feb 28
ALI SIDDIQ: IN THE SHADOWS TOUR
@Capital One Hall, Tysons, VA
Stand-up comedy special live taping featuring gripping storytelling. Suggested age 16+. Multiple shows on both days.
Time: Fri 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM; Sat 5:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Cost: From $79
https://www.capitalonehall.com/events/ detail/ali-siddiq-in-the-shadows-tour
Multiple Dates
SELF-GUIDED THE SPIRITS OF ARLINGTON, VA: OUTDOOR GHOST SCAVENGER HUNT!
@Arlington, VA (Start near Welburn Square) A self-guided ghost scavenger hunt/outdoor escape room game played on a smartphone via the Questo App. Follow clues and solve puzzles to track the city's spirits.
Time: Everyday, All Day (Approx. 90 minutes to complete)
Cost: From $7.50 (Per device) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thespirits-of-arlington-va-outdoor-ghostscavenger-hunt-tickets-1976838116020
Multiple Dates
SELF-GUIDED FAIRFAX SCAVENGER HUNT FOR COUPLES - SHOW LOVE (DATE NIGHT!)
@Fairfax, VA
(Recommended starting point: 10360 North Street) A self-guided "CITY LOVE" Scavenger Hunt Date for Couples with fun digital activities.
Time: Self-Guided (Multiple start times available)
Cost: See event details
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairfaxscavenger-hunt-for-couples-show-lovedate-night-tickets-1560168318439
Sun., March 1
POKÉMON EVENT
@Shipgarten
Bring the family for a Pokémon celebration featuring trading, card games, and fun for all ages. Kids can bring their own cards and DS to play and trade with friends in a familyfriendly environment.
Time: 12pm Cost: FREE www.shipgarten.com
Wed., March 4
PUP STROLL WEDNESDAYS AT MEADOWLARK
@Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Enjoy a walk with your favorite canine at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. On Wednesdays, leashed dogs are welcome in the gardens during regular daytime hours to enjoy the scenery and fresh air.
Time: 10am-4pm
Cost: Starts at $5 www.novaparks.com
Sun., March 8
DAN FORREST’S ‘CREATION’
@Fairfax United Methodist Church
Time: 5pm Cost: Starting at $0 www.viennachoralsociety.org
Wed., March 11
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT
@The Barns at Wolf Trap
The world’s premier touring guitar festival brings together a diverse group of virtuosos to exchange musical ideas and perform for a night of incredible acoustic artistry.
Time: 8pm Cost: Starting at $37 www.wolftrap.org
VIENNA
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Fri., March 13
PINK TIE PARTY
@Union Station Washington D.C.
Kick off the cherry blossom season in style at this signature soirée. Enjoy curated bites and cocktails from top restaurants, lively music, and immersive fashion-themed experiences.
Time: 7pm-10pm
Cost: Starts at $250 www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Sat., March 14
VIENNA PHOTO SHOW
@Vienna Community Center
Explore a wide range of photography at this annual show featuring work from local artists. Visitors can browse the exhibition and participate in one of the community's favorite long-standing arts traditions.
Time: 10am-3pm Cost: FREE www.viennava.gov
Sun., March 15
KIDS ST. PADDY'S DAY WITH MERIDA AND TINKER BELL
@Shipgarten
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a touch of magic. This festive afternoon includes special appearances by Merida and Tinker Bell, perfect for photos and smiles, plus food and drinks for the parents.
Time: 12pm-6pm Cost: FREE entry www.shipgarten.com
Fri., March 20
MYTHILI PRAKASH: JWALA
@The Barns at Wolf Trap
Experience an evening of Bharatanatyam dance as Mythili Prakash presents JWALA. This performance is a powerful exploration of South Asian classical dance presented in partnership with District of Raga.
Time: 8pmCost: Starting at $32 www.wolftrap.org
Sat., March 21
OPENING CEREMONY
@DAR Constitution Hall
Celebrate the of cial start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with a worldclass performance featuring Japanese and American artists to honor the 1912 gift of trees.
Time: 5pm-6:30pm
Cost: FREE (Reservation required) www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Fri., March 27
FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT
@Vienna Community Center
Bring your ashlights and baskets for a unique evening egg hunt! Families can enjoy games, music, and a visit with the bunny before hunting for eggs in the dark.
Time: 6:45pm-8:30pm
Cost: $5 per family member www.viennava.gov
Fri., March 27
ANI AZNAVOORIAN, CELLO & MARTA AZNAVOORIAN, PIANO
@The Barns at Wolf Trap
The Aznavoorian Sisters bring their renowned musical chemistry to the stage for an evening of chamber music, featuring a repertoire that highlights their celebrated partnership on cello and piano.
Time: 7:30pm
Cost: Starting at $45 www.wolftrap.org
Sat., March 28
BLOSSOM KITE FESTIVAL
@Washington Monument Grounds
Join kite enthusiasts from all over for a day of ying on the National Mall. The event features competitions, demonstrations, and the sight of hundreds of colorful kites soaring among the cherry blossoms.
Time: 10am-4pm
Cost: FREE www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
At the time this magazine went to print, all event details were accurate to the best of our knowledge, but please check event websites or call ahead for the most current information.
INSPIRING OPTIMISM IN VIENNA: The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna
SUBMITTED BY
TANIA REYES
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY
WENDI CARROLL
The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna has been quietly shaping the lives of local children and families for more than 70 years, weaving optimism into the everyday fabric of Vienna life. Rooted in service and powered entirely by volunteers, this club turns beloved community traditions into meaningful opportunities for connection, learning, and hope.
WHO THEY ARE
The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, Inc. is a 100% volunteer community service organization dedicated to “bringing out the best in kids” through positive, hands, on projects. Based in Vienna, the club can be reached at Info@OptimistClubOfGreaterVienna.org or by phone at 571354-6933, and they stay connected with neighbors through active Facebook and Instagram pages. As part of Optimist
International, they share in a global legacy of more than 65,000 service projects each year that impact over six million young people worldwide.
DEEP ROOTS IN VIENNA
Formed by local business leaders, the club celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2025 and remains a trusted presence in town life. Over the decades, its members, many of them former band parents, scout leaders, and long, time Vienna volunteers, have helped make service a natural extension of everyday living. Their involvement has become a stabilizing force, offering familiar traditions and steady support even in challenging times, such as keeping the farmers market open during Covid.
The club is best known around town for its Annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser, a long, standing holiday tradition that brings
families together and raises essential funds for youth, focused programs and scholarships. Rows of evergreens, volunteers in bright hats, and neighbors greeting each other among the trees have made this fundraiser one of Vienna’s most recognizable seasonal rituals.
They also organize and manage the Vienna Farmers Market, held Saturdays from May through October, 8 a.m.–noon, at the Vienna Community Center. This true farmers market features foods grown or produced within 150 miles of town, with volunteers coordinating vendors, permits, live music, and even “pooch sitting,” while also connecting visitors to the beloved red caboose at Church Street and the W&OD trail.
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science, sports, and technology. The Carol Waite Brennan Award is a dedicated scholarship program for high school seniors, and the club is working to make it increasingly needs based so that it can better support students for whom nancial assistance can be life changing. Additional honors include “Helping Hands” awards for outstanding sixth graders, recognition for local educators, police, and rst responders, and the Jim Houston Award for a Madison High School baseball senior of high character.
A SPIRIT OF FUN AND COMMUNITY
INVESTING IN LOCAL YOUTH
Youth programs and scholarships are at the heart of the club’s mission, supporting students academically, personally, and as emerging leaders. The club sponsors essay and oratory contests, a Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a technical student scholarship, and the T.R. Cook Youth Appreciation Awards, which recognize high school juniors in six areas of excellence: academics, citizenship, ne arts,
For members, the experience is as fun as it is meaningful, with each person choosing how to serve, setting up the farmers market, selling Christmas trees, acting as a caboose conductor, or judging contests. Meetings feel more like friendly socials, often centered around food, with some of the best moments coming from mentoring student volunteers who earn service hours while discovering the joy of giving back. Described by members as fun, welcoming, and rewarding, the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna continues to prove that a positive outlook, paired with community spirit, can change lives, one tree, one market morning, and one student at a time.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 (15-ounce) cans of chickpeas
• 1/2 loaf rustic bread
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 to 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon harissa paste, more for later
• 2 lemons
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
• 2 green onions, trimmed and chopped (both white and green parts)
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare the canned chickpeas: In a medium saucepan, set over medium-high heat add the chickpeas with their liquids and cover the chickpeas with water by about 1 inch.
LABLABI
Tunisian Chickpea Stew
By Suzy Karadsheh
Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins Serves 4
DESCRIPTION
This comforting Tunisian chickpea stew is so simple to put together and made with pantry staples you may already have on hand. Nutritious and satisfying, it’s usually served for breakfast but can really be enjoyed any time of the day.
Combine a few ingredients to create bold flavors that will even have meat eaters asking for more.
• Boil then simmer the chickpeas: Bring the chickpeas to a boil, then lower the heat and cover part-way with a lid. Simmer the chickpeas over low heat for about 30 minutes or until very tender.
• Toast the bread: Set your oven rack about 6 inches beneath the boiler and set the broiler high. While the chickpeas cook, tear some hearty crusty bread into a little larger than bite-size pieces and arrange them on a large sheet. Drizzle the bread with extra virgin olive oil, toss to coat and arrange them so the pieces are crust side down. Broil briefly, maybe a minute or so just until the bread turns golden brown. Watch carefully, as the bread can go from golden brown to burnt quickly!
• Sauté the onions and garlic: Add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet set over medium heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the onions and garlic, a dash of kosher salt, cumin, coriander, and paprika. Cook over medium heat, tossing regularly until the onions are tender and translucent.
• Season the chickpea stew: When the chickpeas are ready, transfer the onion and garlic mixture to the saucepan with the chickpeas. Add 1 tablespoon harissa paste, a big pinch of kosher salt, juice from 1 lemon, chopped parsley, and a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve: Slice the remaining lemon into wedges. Prepare serving bowls and place a few pieces of toasted bread on the bottom. Ladle the Lablabi chickpea stew on top of the bread and add a good drizzle of olive oil, a dollop of harissa, more parsley, and the chopped green onions. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and more of the toasted bread to the side.
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