Washington, D.C. is arguably most beautiful in the springtime, and the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin are worth their hype. If you haven’t strolled around the Tidal Basin during peak blossom season yet, you really need to add that treasured local experience to your bucket list. It’s extraordinary. But if you’ve been there and done that… eh, skip it this…

Looking to steal away for a romantic tryst or just need a place for some R&R? Then you should definitely consider the historic Omni Bedford Springs Resort. Feeling the doldrums of winter, friends and I decided to treat ourselves to a weekend of spa treatments, cocktails and good food. So we packed up the car and…

I have often wanted to visit this area’s newest Irish pub, and with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, I decided it was finally time to head to P.J. Mulligans. This restaurant is owned by people who have run some of the most beloved Irish pubs in the DC area. I visited with them to learn more about their backgrounds and…

To continue our We Tried it! series, guest contributor Charlie Schoening subjected himself to a month of classes at First Defense Krav Maga in Herndon. Maybe he can tell us what the heck Krav Maga actually is! (See our previous articles on CrossFit Reston and Pure Barre Reston.) Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art primarily used…

When I met with Leslie Combemale on Wednesday morning, she was cheerful and energetic even though she had been working all through the night. But if your job was to see an early release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the middle of the night, and then write a film review before coming to the art gallery that you…

The author of one of my son’s favorite books, Dozi the Alligator Finds a Family, lives right here in Northern Virginia. My son has excellent taste, too; the book is a gorgeously illustrated story with charming rhyme and humor. The whole premise is funny — the book stars a young alligator who secretly hitches a ride in a kid’s stroller at…

During my interview with artist Anne Smyers in the Reston Community Center about her current exhibit there, she was frequently stopped by admirers of her work. “Are you the artist? Your work is extraordinary!” “There are no words, wow.” “My grandmother used to quilt, and I’d love to learn to make ones like yours.” “Your handwork is magnificent.” And…

Virginia is having a major brewery moment, but in the midst of all that something lighter and tarter (and gluten-free) has popped up in Middleburg, VA. Specializing in small-batch, craft hard ciders and spirits, Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery is in full-swing now that it’s apple season. Hard apple ciders can be hit or miss — too…

We have officially entered into Fall. Gone are the light ceviches and heirloom tomato salads that dotted menus across town. Chefs are busy revamping their offerings with autumnal flavors and slightly heavier dishes. We thought it would be fun to see how some of our favorite restaurants in and around Reston are incorporating Fall produce such as…