Celebrating Black History Month
Educators say these lessons are urgently needed in current racial climate.
Even though Elavie Ndura knows that it is a daunting challenge to help children grasp the entirety of the African American experience in the shortest month of the year, each February she and other educators give it their best effort.
Honoring the Past and Present
A home with both a rich history and modern conveniences is on the market in Fairfax.
When Betsy Rutkowski purchased her Fairfax home, she was drawn to its rich history and the childhood memories which it evoked.
City House, Country House
Home offers sunny interior and bucolic surroundings.
European craftsmanship, a free-flowing floor plan and light-filled rooms characterize a home that was designed according to the vision of a local jurist.
To Move Or Not To Move: Local family moves mother into newly opened Kensington Falls Church.
One of the most heart-wrenching decisions that Denise Schossler, her two siblings and her 95-year-old mother had to make was whether or not to move her into an assisted living facility, leaving the home where she’s lived since 1954.
Planning for Summer Camp
Local camp fairs help families navigate the maze of summer camp offerings.
In an effort to confront religious intolerance, a group of local middle school students will attend a camp aimed at bringing together children from different religions and giving them the chance to come together, make new friendships, visit houses of worship, learn about other traditions and practice dialogue to confront Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism.
New Year, New Order: Organizing an unruly linen closet
If retrieving an item from the top shelf of one’s linen closet sets off an avalanche of mismatched sheets and tattered towels, it might be time for a linen closet reorganization.
Organizing a Home Office
Design ideas for workspace order.
Whether located in a basement, spare bedroom or kitchen corner, one of the keys to creating a functional home office is organization.
Thinking Beyond Serving Meals
Experts advise finding age-appropriate ways for children to give back.
During this season of giving thanks, opportunities for expressions of gratitude can seem ubiquitous.
Easing Election Fears
Local therapists say acknowledging, reassuring are keys to easing anxiety.
On the morning after what was possibly the most adversarial election in recent history, psychologist Carolyn Lorente, Ph.D. felt an urge to send a text message to her two teenaged children.
Setting a holiday table
Local tastemakers offer suggestions for creating festive tablescape.
As Thanksgiving draws near, thoughts of table settings and holiday décor abound.
Guest-Ready Home for the Holidays
From organizing to decorating, a guide for getting a house ready for visitors.
Ready or not, the holidays are coming.
Decking the Halls, Stuffing Bellies
Local cooking schools offer crash courses in holiday dishes.
Ever since Bernadette Lott can remember, she’s had a sweet tooth as big as a sugar cane field.
Additional Factors Impede Efforts To Quit Smoking
Public encouraged to learn about challenges faced by smokers with mental illness who want to quit.
Despite her mental health challenges, Deneice Valentine quit smoking in part by learning to meditate.
Making STEM Fun for Children
Event offered opportunity to learn about STEM subjects.
A local educator used carrots and broccoli to teach girls about science and technology.
Advice from the Pros
Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.
From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.
Showcase Home Offers Design Inspiration
DC Design House was transformed by local designers to raise money for charity.
Those in search of interior design ideas now have a source of new inspirations, at least temporarily. The 2016 DC Design House is now open to the public and runs through Oct. 30.
Home Improvements for the Holidays
Local contractors say there is time to spruce up your house and yard.
Changing temperatures and falling leaves are a signal the holidays are near. From Thanksgiving through the New Year, homes are filled with guests and schedules are stacked with parties. Getting one’s home guest ready by the holidays may be daunting, but it’s doable with proper planning and realistic expectations, say local contractors.
Senior Living: Regaining Mobility
Local orthopedic surgeons offer keys for successful joint replacement surgery.
Tired of the limited mobility and pain that have thwarted her love of foreign travel and fall hiking, Lynda S. Johnson, 72, scheduled a knee replacement surgery for later this month. She chose a doctor, found a pet sitter to watch her Cairn terrier, and enlisted her sister to live with her while she recovers. “I had been debating for months about whether to have it,” she said. “I was in so much pain, though, that I don’t really think I have anything to lose.”
Homework Overload
Some educators say less can be more, stress balance when it comes to homework.
Paula DeMarco dreads one time of day the most: weekday evenings at 5:30. It’s the time she has set aside for her children begin their homework. That means no screen time, music or other distractions.
Walking to End Alzheimer's
Northern Virginia walk set for Sept. 25
When Paula Dierkes was growing up in Arlington, she would often hear family stories of a grandfather who sat on his front porch screaming at his neighbors and asking for his shotgun. She recalls a grandmother who shut out her family, literally, by closing doors and windows when they came to visit.
Comfort Zone
Local furniture maker combines style and comfort
John W. Smith treks through a maze of sleek chairs and stately sofas in a large, sunlit showroom tucked in an industrial warehouse center in Fairfax. He pauses at a dining chair, upholstered in beige linen and framed with espresso hardwood.
Create a Back-to-School Game Plan
Educators tell how to make the transition less jarring.
As a single mother of a fifth grade student, Christine Schull is already making back-to-school preparations.
Considering a Private School?
Educational consultants can help families navigate application process.
For families considering an independent school for the 2017-2018 school year, the admissions process begins this fall. From essays and interviews to school visits and standardized tests, the process for getting into kindergarten may feel nearly as daunting as applying to college.
Stylish Solutions for Organized Homes
Practical and chic ideas for making a home back-to-school ready.
Before school begins later this month, taking the time to organize home and school supplies can take the stress out of the transition from a laid-back summer to a structured, schedule-driven school year. Local home design and organizational experts share ideas to help parents add practical organizational tools to their home without sacrificing their sense of style.
Staying Fit and Healthy on Vacation
Advance planning is key to maintaining a healthy diet and fitness on the road.
Listening to Christian Elliot describe part of a recent vacation that he took with his wife, Nina, you might think he was attending a fitness bootcamp.
Pushups For Charity Challenge Benefits Veterans
Local veteran opens gym, Rebel Fit USA.
Strategies for Preventing Concussions This Summer
Local physician is pioneering traumatic brain injury treatment.
Summer has been dubbed “trauma season” by health care professionals.
Online Classes Offer Flexible Options for Earning Credentials Outside the Classroom
Interested in learning to landscape your yard using sustainable practices?
Tips for Memorable Family Vacations
As summer gets underway, vacation-bound families are packing their bags and heading out of town. Vacations often fly by — months of planning and anticipating can be over in the blink of an eye. With a little advanced planning and forethought, however, even a quick weekend trip or a visit to relatives can become meaningful and memorable.
Considering Private School?
Small steps this summer can minimize stress of application process.
The school year has just come to an end … which means it’s the ideal time to prepare to apply to leading independent schools.
Octagonal Dream Home on the Market
Home's shape and large windows make it a sun-drenched space.
It was during a trip to California almost 20 years that McLean resident Susan Jordano first laid eyes on her dream home.
Staying Safe This Summer
Tips and precautions for avoiding warm-weather hazards.
The start of summer means pools and backyard grilling. It also means an increased risk of accidents and injuries.
A Mindful Family
Family mindfulness meditation practices can bring calm to a hectic day.
Every evening after dinner and bath time, Elizabeth Rees, a Mount Vernon mother of three, instructs her children to lie on the floor keeping as still as possible. With soft tones, she recites a phrase, slowly and purposefully. These moments of serenity allow her family to release the chaos of the day.
Language Immersion for Young Children
Experts tout the benefits of an early start
When Martha Davis’ daughter Alice was ready for kindergarten, she decided to enroll her in a Spanish language immersion program.
Local Designer Honored for Remodeling Reston Townhouse
Home transformation gives family of five more living space.
Mina Fies, CEO of Synergy Design and Construction, was recognized for remodeling a Reston townhouse that was built in 1968.
Creating Space for Family Oasis or Outdoor Entertaining
Local designers unveil recent projects and offer tips.
Lured outside by rising temperatures and blue skies, homeowners are deciding that it’s time to spruce up patios, gardens and other outdoor living spaces. Local tastemakers are hard at work transforming winter-worn al fresco spaces into lively oases in time for a season of warm-weather entertaining.
Working to End the Longest Day
Event to raise awareness and funds for research programs of Alzheimer’s Association.
Emily Rusch says her mother died a slow and heartbreaking death from Alzheimer’s Disease. The experience felt continuous and excruciating.
Preparing for Summer Camp Away
Many emotions arise when a child leaves for camp.
A child’s first residential summer camp experience can be fraught with emotions that run the gamut from excitement to terror.
Academic Camps Combine Education and Fun
Local camps help students maintain school skills in a relaxed environment.
One summer Ana Lado created a summer camp activity for students at her neighborhood pool. The Marymount professor set up a picnic area, and included activities and books. Her plan was to engage the students and give them the opportunity to read and build reading skills while still enjoying fun activities traditionally associated with summer.
From Colonial History to Future Entrepreneurs
Campers can explore diverse interests in specialty summer camps.
This summer dozens of elementary school-aged children will travel back in time to the Colonial Era where, among other things, they’ll learn to spin cotton into cloth for garments.
Removing a Barrier to Pomp and Circumstance
Gowns for Grads program at George Mason provides regalia for needy graduates.
When Muntaha Choudhary walks across the stage during George Mason University’s graduation ceremony this May she will celebrate not only her bachelor’s degree, which has been eight years in the making, but also the fact that she is the first person in her family to graduate from college.
Historic Garden Week in Virginia
Elegant homes and gardens in Old Town, Arlington and Falls Church will be open to the public.
Some of the most spectacular gardens will be in bloom and on display during the 83rd annual Historic Garden Week in Virginia.
Luxury Condos are a Growth Market for Seniors
Active retirees seek options for independent living, including condos in Alexandria, Arlington, Tysons, Reston, McLean, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, among others.
When Joyce and Don Lipman decided to move out of their Potomac, Md. home, they opted for a high-end townhouse instead of a retirement community.
Private Schools: When Leaving Unexpectedly
Spring is time to commit to one’s school of choice.
When Ashley and Clark Leonard enrolled their son in a local independent school, they were excited about the prospect of him thriving in a new, smaller academic environment.
‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’
Starting conversations about gun safety can help prevent play date tragedies.
Starting the conversation felt awkward. After all, she didn’t want to offend another parent.
It Takes a Village
Campaign designed to end homelessness in Fairfax County.
When speaking with Kathy Albarado, one might not guess that she’d experienced periods of homelessness as an adolescent.
Nanny Suites Add Value
High-end live-in quarters attract au pairs and can increase property values.
When Peggy Delinois Hamilton relocated to the Washington, D.C. area and began working full-time after spending eight years as an at-home mother of two children, childcare was one of her top concerns.