Health + Wellness

Paws with Purpose

How Starfleet Service Dogs is Redefining Training for Working Dogs Article by Debra Wallace When trailblazing scientist and animal advocate, Dr. Jennifer Barnhard, instructs her eight-week-old Siberian husky, Dauntless, for a future career, she knows she is changing her corner of the world.  Dauntless doesn’t have a career yet, but the pup is learning foundational skills for search and rescue, water rescue, and service work. As she grows and her personality develops, her career path will...

Education

Caring Pilots Make a Difference for Families in Need

Taking to the Skies to Help Children and Veterans Article by Debra Wallace   "Our families are dealing with so much –  pain, finances, and an uncertain future – and are quite honored that someone cares enough to gift them a flight.”   In 2010, a group of pilots got together to offer free flights for medical care for sick children undergoing treatment and it’s still going strong.   The impactful nonprofit,  Patient AirLiftServices   (PALS SkyHope), encourages pilots to use their skills...

Life + Culture

Giving Back

Husband and Wife Team Edward and Christina Sledge Focus on Family, Philanthropy, and Community Article by Debra Wallace | Photography by Christa Booth When it comes to hitting one out of the park,  Christina and Edward “Eddie” Sledge  not only created a media company in the middle of a pandemic, but they are also using  Sledge House Media  to share their own remarkable love story, while remaining focused on giving back to the greater community. The couple, who were former high school...

Life + Culture

Giving Back

Husband and Wife Team Edward and Christina Sledge Focus on Family, Philanthropy, and Community Article by Debra Wallace | Photography by Christa Booth High school sweethearts Christina and Eddie Sledge reconnected in 1999, eloping during a snowstorm with “two quarters in their pockets.” Twenty-five years later, they are proud parents of two daughters, Tiara (24) and Olivia (17), and the founders of Sledge House Media, a company built during the pandemic to share their love story, and help...

Food + Beverage

A Quiet Culinary Jewel

Tradition Finds a Home at Mamma Lena, Germantown’s Italian Treasure Article and Photography by In the unassuming setting of a Germantown strip mall, where chain restaurants and big-box convenience stores form much of the visual landscape, a modest trattoria has quietly distinguished itself as one of Montgomery County’s most memorable dining experiences. Behind its simple glass front, Mamma Lena Trattoria Napoletana has spent nearly a decade showing that exceptional Italian cooking does not...

Food + Beverage

Local Family Expands from Tacos to Brewing

A Mexican culinary dynasty brews in Gaithersburg Article and Photography by In Montgomery County’s strip-mall landscape, one family has quietly rewritten the script. Over the last twenty years, José and Teresa Valdivia and their extended family have transformed everyday storefronts into beloved culinary destinations that locals and beer lovers cherish. It started in 2003 at Taco Bar El Güero , a gas-station counter tucked into Gaithersburg’s industrial fold. Despite changing from Chevron to...

Food + Beverage

Sweet is So Good

Sweet Findings in the DC Area Article by Marie Robey Wood | Photography by Provided From boutique candy stores to cozy donut pop-ups to charming pastry shops, the metro area has something to satisfy every kind of sweet tooth! Nothing Bundt Cakes “A party without cake is just a meeting.” – Julia Child After working twenty years in the corporate world, Verelyn Gibbs Watson fell in “love at first bite” with Nothing Bundt Cakes, leading her to open the brand’s first location in the DC metro...

Food + Beverage

Let's Talk Cheese

Family-owned Wegmans Provides Exemplary Products and Customer Service Article by Debra Wallace | Photography by Provided by Wegmans Food Markets When shoppers at the Wegmans in Rockville sample and buy pieces of authentic Italian Parmigiano Reggiano or Triple-Cream French Brie, they are usually unaware of how much preparation, care, and hard work go into each of these products. When the Rockville store opened in June 2025, the cheese demonstrations and other samples quickly became a customer...

Arts + Culture

Around Town & The Newest Flavors in the Area

Article by Anicia Juarez | Photography by Provided October 2 Wheaton Farmers Market
Evans Neighborhood Park, Wheaton, MD Celebrate the harvest season at this bustling community market, held every Thursday in October from 3–7 PM. You'll find fresh local produce, artisan breads, baked goods, and small-batch jams, perfect for anyone who loves farm-to-table freshness. The relaxed, family-friendly vibe makes it a great spot to grab a snack, chat with local growers, and soak in the fall spirit.
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Style + Beauty

Velvet Reign

Fall’s most luxurious fashion trends arrive in layers, regal jewel tones, and sculptural jewelry. Article and Photography by In Gaithersburg, fall fashion steps into its most decadent chapter yet. Discover velvet tailoring and gilded accents at Saks Chevy Chase, rich layers at Nordstrom Bethesda, and timeless consignment finds at Chapter Two. From local streets to living rooms, Fall 2025 revels in texture, jewel tones, and baroque drama.