Health + Wellness

From Seashells to Smiles

A Fresh Look at Pediatric Dentistry in McLean Article by Yankel Polak Island Children’s Dentistry doesn’t just change how kids care for their teeth—it changes how they feel about visiting the dentist. When you walk through the doors, you’re immediately transported, not just into a dentist office, but into an oasis. The calming blues of the ocean, sandy accents, and playful sea creatures adorning the walls suggest you’re closer to the beach than the Beltway. For Dr. Gema Island, this aesthetic...

Arts + Culture

Artist: Nia Stratos

A Life in Color, a Canvas of Joy Article by Yankel Polak Nia Tavlarides Stratos speaks about her art with a quiet intensity—a reverence that suggests painting, for her is more than just expression. From the first moment you encounter her artwork—vivid, multilayered works that shimmer with pigment, glass, and gold leaf—you sense that this is an artist in conversation, with her environment, with her materials, with her ancestry, and with the ever-shifting chaos and beauty of being alive.  ...

Arts + Culture

McLean Chic

Inside the Whimsical World of The Preppy Pink Pony Article and Photography by Yankel Polak Nestled in the heart of McLean, The Preppy Pink Pony is more than a boutique—it’s a local institution, a carefully curated experience that feels like stepping into the most charming chapter of a Southern storybook. At its center is Virginia Kennedy: a former attorney turned tastemaker, whose journey from the back of a horse show box truck to boutique owner is as colorful as the monogrammed gifts lining...

Health + Wellness

Doctor, Designer, Dream-Builder

Inside the Wellness World of Dr. Anna Le Article and Photography by Yankel Polak Walk into Anna Health  and you might momentarily forget you're at a doctor's office. Soft lighting. Thoughtful palettes. Furniture that belongs more in Architectural Digest than a waiting room. But for Dr. Anna Le, every square foot is an extension of the mission: care that feels human . “I always tell my staff, our patients are VIPs,” says Dr. Le, founder and physician extraordinaire behind one of Northern...

Life + Culture

The First Teacher We Never Forget

How a Kindergarten Teacher Shaped a Community Article and Photography by Katie Moore Think back to your very first classroom: the smell of crayons, the tiny chairs, the teacher who knelt to your level and called you by name. For many of us, kindergarten wasn’t just the start of school; it was the beginning of learning how to be in the world. For over two decades, Nancy Stansberry was that first teacher for hundreds of children in McLean, Virginia — and her impact has rippled far beyond the...

Arts + Culture

Art That Grows With a Community

The Works of Matthew Johnston Article by Katie Moore | Photography by Matthew Johnston In a town where history and creativity walk hand in hand, Matthew Johnston has long been a quiet force shaping the local arts landscape. A resident artist at the iconic Torpedo Factory for over four decades, Johnston isn’t just a painter, he’s a pillar of the Alexandria arts community. His studio is more than a workspace; it’s a place where conversations turn into friendships, and first-time visitors often...

Home + Design

Custom Architecture, Personal Touch

Designing Where Luxury Lives Article by Katie Moore | Photography by James McDonald Associate Architects McLean and Great Falls is a melting pot of lifelong locals and post-graduate transplants, all of whom contribute to the area’s blossoming community and hometown feel. Those who moved to the area, or simply switched neighborhoods, each play a role in the towns’ character and personality — and nothing speaks to character and personality like a person’s home.  The architecture of Northern...

Real Estate

Understanding the Market

Insight from a Local Expert Article by Katie Moore | Photography by Casey Margenau No zip code is immune to the ups and downs of the housing market — even the most sought after neighborhoods like McLean and Great Falls experience shifts that impact buyers and  sellers alike. While online research can offer a starting point, truly understanding when and how  to act in today’s real estate landscape often requires insight from those who live and breathe  the market every day. One powerful way to...

Home + Design

Where Craftsmanship Endures

The Return of Michelbach’s in Old Town Alexandria Article by Katie Moore | Photography by Justin Bernhardt In an era defined by convenience and mass production, it's rare to find a business that moves at the pace of thoughtfulness. But on a quiet stretch of King Street in Old Town Alexandria, one such business continues a legacy that began over a century ago.  Michelbach’s, a furniture store that was once a cornerstone of Alexandria’s commercial life, has returned to its roots — this time...

Arts + Culture

A Journey in Color, Texture, Passion

Meet Local Artist Sharon West Article by Katie Moore | Photography by Sharon West Art has a way of calling to us, sometimes quietly and sometimes with a force that cannot be ignored. For Sharon West, that calling came later in life, but once she embraced it, there was no turning back. As an award-winning Loudoun County palette knife artist, Sharon has built a career on the power of texture and color, transforming blank canvases into dynamic, expressive works of art. Her journey from corporate...