Bethesda Magazine: September/October 2024 Digital Edition
EDGE? Is MCPS losing its
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DATA
COOL SCHOOL SPACES
The new Verstandig Pavilion is open. And with it, a world of possibilities for patients.
Our MedStar Georgetown University Hospital team continues to deliver trusted, world-class care, now in a new world-class Pavilion. The Verstandig Pavilion features:
• 31 state-of-the-art operating rooms
• Expanded and modernized new emergency department with 32 private rooms
• Access to the most advanced treatment technologies
• 156 private patient rooms with natural, healing light
Visit MedStarHealth.org/Pavilion to learn more.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 11:30 am
The Universities at Shady Grove Conference Center 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
MEET OUR 2024 INDUCTEES
LaTisha Gasaway-Paul Founder, Minds in Motion Childcare
Matthew Lee Founder and CEO, FASTech and A-Tech Systems
Jerry Shapiro President, Shapiro & Duncan
Margarita Womack Founder, Latin Goodness Foods/ MasPanadas
Edward Woods IV President and CEO, TerpSys
Read more about the inductees at mcbushalloffame.com/honorees.
Why support the Montgomery Business Hall of Fame?
All net proceeds beneft scholarships at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), the University System of Maryland’s regional education center in Montgomery County with nearly 80 degree programs from nine Maryland public universities. The same type of vision that led to the creation of USG in the fall of 2000 — to do something truly unique and extraordinary — is the type of vision our honorees all share.
Presented By
Sponsorships to honor these great business leaders are available
For more information, or to register, visit MCBusHallofFame.com or contact Lenore Dustin at 301.571.1900 or lmd@grossberg.com
How lenient absentee policies, grade inflation and below-gradelevel curricula are impacting students BY AMY HALPERN
74
Cool School Spaces
Across Montgomery County, students are drawn to areas designed just for them, from cozy reading nooks to artfilled atriums
BY CARALEE ADAMS
82
College Bound
A chart of the colleges and universities where 2024 graduates from eight Montgomery County high schools applied, were accepted and enrolled COMPILED BY DANA GERBER
FEATURES
116 Women Who Inspire
Meet six women shaping our county through business, journalism, education and more BY AMY HALPERN
132 Fall Arts Preview
From thought-provoking exhibitions to appearances by Hollywood celebrities, the fall arts season is shaping up to be a busy one BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE
144 Bethesda Interview: Ted Leonsis
The CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment on winning, losing, and the “little town” charm of Potomac BY MIKE UNGER
150
20 Years of Bethesda Magazine
A look back at our 121 covers
PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT
PAGE 116
Cynthia Bryant with her guide dog, Summer
Little Miner Taco, Stone SIlo Brewery and comings and goings
Lime & Cilantro offers delicious modern Latin fare.
The Queen City Mischief & Magic festival in Virginia 208 CELEBRATIONS
A wedding on a Poolesville farm
213 HEAL TH & WELLNESS
The “Sex Detective” of Bethesda
216 WHA T I KNOW
Jermaine Williams, president of Montgomery College, on his most important student
Crisply cut blazers are just right for fall’s fluctuating temperatures
VELER’S
New—and newly refurbished— inns for a great getaway
petite Harry Potter in Staunton, Virginia
Sol Graham
“I want students in our community to have access to the educational opportunities that I sought …’’
SOL GRAHAM MONTGOMERY COLLEGE FOUNDATION DONOR
WHY I GIVE
desperately wanted to go to college, but my family couldn’t afford it. The GI Bill was my only option, so I asked my father to enroll me in the Navy. It was during basic training that I vowed that no one in my family would need to go to such lengths to pursue their college degree. I am grateful I have been able to fulfill that vow.
Through the Navy I was able to attend tissue-culture school at the National Naval Medical Center. After I was discharged, I found my calling: biotechnology. Through opportunity, a lot of hard work, and the support of my family, I took a big leap and founded my own company, Quality Biological.
After putting our two daughters through college, my wife, Dorothy, and I established our first
scholarship at Montgomery College in 1992, followed by a charitable remainder trust in 2010. After Dorothy’s passing, I established the Dorothy L. Graham Endowment for students enrolled in the Presidential Scholars Program. This comprehensive program, which is open to all, has a mission to increase the representation of African American young men in high-demand jobs, providing them with access to scholarships, academic support, wrap-around services, and connections to mentors who guide them on their academic and professional journeys.
I give to the Montgomery College Foundation because I want students in our community to have access to the educational opportunities that I sought and that I have been able to provide for my own children.
I hope you will join me.
SOL GRAHAM
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A Happy Anniversary
BEFORE I WORKED AT BETHESDA MAGAZINE, I’d often page through a copy of the latest issue on the grocery store checkout line and catch a glimpse of the fascinating people who live here. Inevitably I’d wind up buying the magazine as there would be at least one person I recognized or knew in the issue, and others I found intriguing. The get-to-know-your-neighbors vibe felt like the answer to a line in a Sesame Street song that asks “Who are the people in your neighborhood?”—just one of the questions that Bethesda Magazine has been striving to answer since Steve and Susan Hull published the frst issue in 2004. Twenty years later and the magazine is still a rich resource for the community. When I mention that I work at Bethesda Magazine—I started as a freelance writer in the early days, joined the staff in 2015 and left for a year and a half before returning this past February— I often hear, “I still remember that story about the guy who…” I think one of the reasons some stories stick with readers is because they are about people they know or feel like they know—their neighbors.
While you can read stories from many past issues online, a good way to see the evolution of the magazine is through the 121 covers published before this one (“20 Years of Bethesda Magazine,” page 150). We asked a few key people who helped shape the covers to share the stories behind their favorites, including an on-set haircut and the race to get a photo shoot completed before the food on the table started to look bad.
It’s back-to-school time, and this issue is packed with stories on schools, college admissions and people from the education world. We examine the state of Montgomery County Public Schools at the high school level as writer Amy Halpern digs into the data and policies to see how absenteeism, grade infation and other issues are impacting students in what is often considered one of the top districts in the nation (“Does MCPS Deserve a Passing Grade?” on page 62). We have two short pieces to check out, one on an author who stepped away from teaching to focus on her writing (“7 Questions for Sara Goodman Confno,” page 26) and the other with Jermaine Williams, president of Montgomery College (“What I Know,” page 216). And it’s always interesting to fip through our annual college admissions chart to see which universities are the most popular with students from local high schools and where students got in (“College Bound,” page 82).
This is the fourth year we are highlighting women who stand out in their felds and in our community—get to know six superstars in “Women Who Inspire” (page 116).
I hope you enjoy meeting some of our neighbors in this issue. Let me know what you think at kathleen.neary@MoCo360.media.
KATHLEEN NEARY EDITOR
CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT
AMY HALPERN POTOMAC
BACKGROUND: Halpern, who still lives just a few miles from where she grew up, is a freelance writer with a focus on investigative pieces and human-interest stories.
IN THIS ISSUE: She explored the state of the Montgomery County Public Schools system for our cover story. She also wrote the “Women Who Inspire” profiles, as she has every year since Bethesda Magazine launched that annual feature in 2021.
FAVORITE MOCO HANGOUT: “I love to take my dog, Lucky, to Bark Social in Pike & Rose in North Bethesda.”
WHAT SHE DOES FOR FUN: “I hike along Cabin John Creek, window shop in downtown Bethesda, and check out the new exhibits at Glenstone museum in Potomac.”
CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT
CHRIS GASH
MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY
BACKGROUND: Gash has been an illustrator for 24 years; his work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications. He also teaches illustration at various schools in New York City and Philadelphia.
IN THIS ISSUE: Gash created the illustrations to accompany the story on MCPS.
FAVORITE MOCO HANGOUT: “Kensington! Great little town. I found it accidentally when I was in Bethesda for an expo and have been back several times.”
WHAT HE DOES FOR FUN: “My wife and I are big road-trippers and antique shoppers. Any chance we get, we hit the road and stop everywhere. That’s how we found and came to love Kensington and the surrounding area.”
PHOTO BY JIMELL GREENE; COURTESY AMY HALPERN;
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Sara Goodman Confino takes our questions.
James Wood steps up to the plate.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
The Harvest Festival in Derwood in October is just one of this season’s many big draws. PAGE 32
THINGS WE LOVE RIGHT NOW 5 1
YOGA FOR ALL
When Arlet Koseian-Beckham, owner and founder of extendYoga in North Bethesda, looked around the wellness world in 2021, she saw a community that didn’t reflect the diverse population of folks who lived near her studio. With inclusivity in mind, the first-generation Armenian, 42, and employees Ayanna Wells (pictured above), 37, a Black woman, and Zahra Abbassi, 40, a Muslim woman, came up with the Repped Inclusive Yoga Series. A community is chosen to be the focus of a month of Sunday afternoon yoga sessions led by a teacher from that community, plus there’s representation in the art on the walls and the products in the boutique. September will be Latinx month, with three classes in Spanish and a trip to the Latin American Film Festival at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring. October will be a warrior series with trauma-informed yoga, sessions for breast cancer survivors and a session for those living with addiction.
12106 Wilkins Ave., North Bethesda, 301-881-3330, extendyoga.com
GREAT WALL
There’s so much to take in when looking at “Wheaton Lives,” a mural completed in June on the side of Elbe’s Beer & Wine store, that your eye may not know where to go first. Start at the right side, above the store entrance, and “read” to the left, moving through time from past to present. A Native American village, 18th-century European settlers, the founders of Elbe’s back when it was a neighborhood grocery store, a youth kicking a soccer ball, a present-day woman cooking pupusas—these images and more make up a tapestry of Wheaton life. The mural was painted by Baltimore artist Bridget Cimino, 42, who says she “wanted to create a piece with lots of color and movement.” Her favorite touches: the plowmen and their horses, and the Piscataway village.
2522 University Blvd. W., Wheaton, wheatonartsparade.org/elbesmural
FALL FOR THIS
To the mix of pumpkin spice lattes, harvest ales, apple fritters and other quintessential fall faves, we add the apple cider doughnut sundae at Jimmie Cone in Damascus. It starts with an apple cider doughnut from Gaver Farm in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Piled on is soft-serve vanilla ice cream drizzled with hot caramel sauce. To top it off: whipped cream and a cherry, of course. Look for this year’s sundaes to hit the iconic ice cream shop around mid-September, and you can expect prices close to last year’s $8 or a little more.
The best way to get out of a playground rut? Discover a spot with new things to explore. Beeline to the Nature Play Space at Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase for a water feature that’s activated by kid power, a group of boulders to scale, a slide encased in a wooden wood thrush (seen in the photo here) and a “bird nest” climbing structure made of giant logs. Opened in the fall of 2023, the play space is meant for kids up to age 10 and is designed to be accessible to all. It includes a small parking lot nearby, a pair of bathrooms with composting toilets (no water or chemicals), a water bottle filling station and a changing table stall. Keep the exploration going by trekking around some of the trails on the 40-acre property and checking out the gardens, meadows and pond.
8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, 301-652-9188, natureforward.org
STRETCH OUT SUMMER
We’re not ready to say goodbye to days spent cooling off at the pool. With county-run outdoor pools (and many private ones) closing right after Labor Day, it’s a good time to splash the day away at the new indoor Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center. Open year-round, it has the only county-run aquatic climbing wall. Climbers move untethered up the 10-foot rock wall, which means that falling into the water (from the top or on the way up) is part of the fun. The aquatic center, which opened in February in downtown Silver Spring, also has lap lanes, two hot tubs, diving boards, water-dumping buckets and a couple of slides. See the website for prices and the schedule; the climbing wall is open during rec swim. Look for metered parking on the street or in the garage at 8700 Cameron St.
1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, 240-777-6900, montgomery countymd.gov/rec/facilities/recreationcenters/silverspring.html
7 Questions for SARA GOODMAN CONFINO
BY CARALEE ADAMS
After publishing Behind Every Good Man (Lake Union Publishing, August 2024), her fourth novel, Sara Goodman Confno is taking a year of from teaching ournalism and nglish at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg to see if she can make it as a full time author.
“When told my students was not coming back ne t year, was prepared for tears,” says the 44 year old who lives in ockville. “ was not prepared for a kid in every single class to say, You taught us to follow our dreams, how could we be upset that you’re following yours?’ ”
Confno, a 1 8 graduate of ockville High School, earned her bachelor’s degree in nglish literature and master’s degree in education from the niversity of Maryland. She and her husband, ick, an nglish teacher at Thomas S. Wootton High School in ockville, have two sons, ages 4 and 7.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
1 When did you know you wanted to be a writer? My ncle ules Goodman lived in ndianapolis and never got married or had kids. When was 8, was writing letters to him. He mailed me a typewriter and told me when grew up that ’d be an author. t was one of the most special gifts. He saw something in me.
2 How do you describe the genre of your books? Humor ous historical fction. Women’s fction with a romance element is another way to describe the genre .
3 What is your new book about? t’s set in 1 62. t’s about a 27 year old wife and mother married to a man who’s running a campaign for a sitting senator. She catches him cheating with his secretary—the ultimate cliche. She kicks him out. Her father
is a retired congressman, and the one thing she knows is politics. So she goes to the opposition candidate and says, f you want to win this thing, ’m your new campaign manager.’ t’s awesome. t’s got a lot of feminism in it.
4 As a product of Montgomery County Public Schools yourself, what’s the biggest change you see since you attended? Cellphones. That has defnitely changed the uality of educa tion. t has gotten signifcantly worse since C D. ids are con stantly scrolling on their phones.
5 What’s something that would surprise people about you? am a total introvert with social an iety. seem very e troverted. Anybody who meets me in person would have no idea. need to be away from people to fully recharge. would have no prob lem totally being a hermit and seeing nobody but my family a lot of times.
6 What apps on your phone do you use the most? nsta gram and Canva. A lot of marketing falls on authors. f wasn’t doing the writing part, would cut down on social media.
7 What books are on your nightstand? ust fnished Until Next Summer by Ali Brady. t’s a rom com and it’s about a sum mer camp. t was absolutely delightful. Please Come to Boston by Gary Goldstein was a story set in 1 75. t was a really good coming of age story. ne of my favorites was The Whisper Sister by ennifer Brown. t’s set in the 1 20s around ewish immigrant families. literally cried myself to sleep reading it. That’s how real those characters were.
PHOTO
Sara Goodman Confino at home in Rockville COURTESY PHOTO
THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IS NEAR
Our new six-floor hospital tower is coming soon and will transform care to our community in Montgomery County.
• Modernized emergency department with more treatment space fr mental health crises
• State-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit
•New medical-surgical unit
• Private patient rooms
• Calm, healing design inspired by nature
• Latest technology, supporting services that have earned national recognition for quality
People Watching
BY CARALEE ADAMS
Potomac’s Mikel Blair, 46, has launched a new business in downtown Bethesda to help women find community. Modern Revival (modernrevival.com), located at 7809 Woodmont Ave. in an apartment-style space, brings women together in regular small groups or “circles” to support and learn from one another. Blair— known for her philanthropy with her husband, David, a businessman and former candidate for Montgomery County executive—is co-founder and CEO of the wellness startup. Customers pay a membership fee to participate in facilitated in-person meetings each month with eight to 12 women to promote connection, growth and empowerment. Classes and retreats are also available.
In Nadia Hashimi’s latest young adult novel, Spilled Ink (Quill Tree Books, June
2024), the main character, Yalda, is a young Afghan American girl growing up in a small Virginia town where there are mixed feelings about immigrants. When a new wave of refugees arrives, she becomes aware of the challenges they face and tries to find her voice as tensions rise. Hashimi, 46, a daughter of Afghan immigrants who lives in Potomac and has written adult and young adult novels, says her new book has a timely message with intolerance, antisemitism, hate crimes and Islamophobia increasing around the world. “I’m wanting to make sure that we leave room for conversations where people can understand someone else’s perspective, to connect with someone else’s experiences,” Hashimi says. “That only comes from knowing a bit more about what the journey might have looked like.”
It’s a Privilege Just to Be Here (Alcove Press, June 2024) is a debut novel from Emma Sasaki, which is a pen name for the author, who lives in Chevy Chase. She says it seemed fitting for her to use a pseudonym for the book about the reaction to a hate crime at an elite private school in Washington, D.C. “The book is sort of about this gossipy culture. It’s about putting up facades,” says the author, connecting the storyline to her decision to be anonymous. “I like the mystery around it. It makes it more fun.” Sasaki, who graduated from Sidwell Friends School in D.C. in the 1990s and is the mother of two teens who attend private schools, says that although she’s trying to shield her identity, there is chatter online and she acknowledges some people will figure out who she is. What’s the next chapter for Sasaki? If there’s another book in her future, the author says she will weigh whether to use her real name.
After four co-authored books with Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen is back to solo writing with the psychological thriller House of Glass (St. Martin’s Press, August 2024). Inspired by someone she met who was an attorney in high-conflict custody cases, Pekkanen, 56, who lives in Bethesda, says she got the idea to write about a battle between two parents in an ugly divorce—with a twist. “You get a bird’s-eye view into a family in a crisis. Then, of course, I wanted to layer in more creepy and eerie things,” Pekkanen says of the 10th novel she’s authored on her own. Set in a Washington, D.C., suburb that Pekkanen imagines as Potomac, the book revolves around the mysterious death of the family’s nanny and a lawyer’s quest to solve the murder. Stay tuned for news on some of Pekkanen’s previous novels that have been optioned for television and film.
Rockville author and illustrator Jonathan Roth is out with his first nonfiction picture book for children, Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars (Christy Ottaviano Books, August 2024). It tells the story of flight through the eyes of a small piece of ordinary fabric that was used on the 1903 Wright Flyer and later taken aboard Apollo 11 and a recent NASA mission to Mars. “It weaves together all three milestones,” says Roth, 56, an art teacher at Ashburton Elementary School in Bethesda known for his Beep and Bob chapter books and Rover and Speck graphic novels. “Hopefully it will be enjoyed by kids, but also used by parents and educators as a way to teach about innovation, commemoration and history.”
Olympic gymnastics legend Dominique Dawes had a bronze statue dedicated in her honor this summer in the lobby of the new Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center. The three-time Olympian, who grew up in Silver Spring, competed on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Dawes was on the famed team that took home gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996, where she also won an individual Olympic medal in the floor exercise. Now 47, Dawes lives in Montgomery County and owns Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies with locations in Rockville and Clarksburg, with another in Columbia slated to open this year.
Jay Schlossberg grew up in Rockville listening to Bethesda’s WHFS, a free-form progressive rock radio station. Now a film and video editor, the 69-year-old has turned the station he loved into the subject of his first feature-length documentary, Feast Your Ears: The Story of WHFS 102.3 FM. The montage follows the station through the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, and includes interviews with musicians, fans and record executives exploring its influence. A filmmaker since 1988, Schlossberg founded the North Potomac production house Media Central in 1993. After winning the 2024 DC Independent Film Festival’s award for best documentary feature, Feast Your Ears is getting its debut on the small screen on WETA on Sept. 14 and will air several times before moving to PBS’s streaming platform.
—Buzz McClain
This fall, all eyes will be on Thomas Taylor, the new superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools. A product of MCPS, he attended Chevy Chase’s Somerset Elementary School, Bethesda’s Westland Middle School and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1996. He and his wife, Sue, have five children. Taylor, 46, has worked in public education for more than 25 years, most recently serving as superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia. He has a doctorate in education policy from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from William & Mary. Taylor, who will receive an annual salary of $360,000 to oversee the district’s 211 schools and more than 160,000 students, started on July 1.
Three-time Olympian Dominique Dawes (left, in red shirt) unveils a statue of her likeness at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center.
Chop Robinson takes questions from the media.
Quince Orchard High School alum Chop Robinson, 21, makes his National Football League debut this season. The Gaithersburg linebacker was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of April’s NFL draft. Robinson was on the QO team that won the Maryland 4A state championship in 2018 and graduated from the Gaithersburg high school in 2021. He went on to play at the University of Maryland, where he was named an ESPN Midseason True Freshman All-American. Robinson transferred to Penn State and played there for two seasons before being drafted by the NFL.
READING LIST
These were the most requested books at the Montgomery County Public Library system in June 2024.
Fiction
1 Tom Lake Ann Patchett
2 The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store James McBride
3 The Women Kristin Hannah
James Wood has been hitting it out of the park this season—Nationals Park, that is. Wood was called up from the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and made his Major League Baseball debut with the Nationals on July 1. The 21-year-old, who was born in Rockville and grew up in Olney, attended St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. Wood, a lefthanded hitting outfielder, is known for his size and power at 6 feet 7 inches and 234 pounds. He comes from a family of basketball players: His dad, Kenny, was a standout at the University of Richmond; his uncle, Howard, played a season in the NBA; and his sister, Sydney, was a team captain at Northwestern University.
James Wood bats against the New York Mets at Nationals Park in July.
4 Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver
5 The Covenant of Water Abraham Verghese
6 Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt
7 Funny Story Emily Henry
8 The Exchange: After The Firm John Grisham
9 Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus
10 Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros
Nonfiction
1 Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI David Grann
2 I’m Glad My Mom Died Jennette McCurdy
3 The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War Erik Larson
4 Educated: A Memoir Tara Westover
5 Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning Liz Cheney
6 Elon Musk Walter Isaacson
7 My Name Is Barbra Barbra Streisand
8 The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder David Grann
9 Crying in H Mart Michelle Zauner
10 Raising Mentally Strong Kids
Daniel G. Amen and Charles Fay
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#1 in Maryland, #3 in the DMV, and #57 nationally in 2024 RealTrends rankings. Included in the #TheThousands list of small real estate teams by volume.
SEPT/OCT
FESTIVALS & COMMUNITY EVENTS
Sept. 7-8
Bethesda Row Arts Festival
Original artwork in categories including painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, woodworking, textiles and jewelry is on display and for sale at this outdoor show in downtown Bethesda. A jury of local artists chooses a winner in each discipline and a Best in Show grand prize winner. bethesdarowarts.org
Sept.
8
Salvadoran Independence Festival Sept. 15 marks the 203rd anniversary of El Salvador’s independence, and thousands of people are expected to celebrate the occasion at this festival at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Musical guests include Zacarias Ferreira, Orquesta Hermanos Flores, Marito Rivera and Grupo Bravo, Orquesta San Vincente, and La Maquina. festivalsalvadoreno.com
Sept. 13-15
Washington Ukrainian Festival
Experience traditional Ukrainian music, dance, clothing and food at this event on the grounds of the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, where you’ll also find handmade crafts by folk artisans and activities such as face painting for children. ukrainefestdc.com
Sept.
14
A Day of Belonging Veterans, active-duty military personnel, their families, caregivers and community members are invited to participate in art workshops, demonstrations, performances and readings at this event produced by Community Building Art Works and Strathmore. The gathering at The Mansion at Strathmore is open to anyone age 16 and older. strathmore.org
Sept. 21
Parks Ale Trail
Part festival, part hike, this event includes a walk by Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Regional Park in Rockville as well as beer stations, live music and food trucks. Start at the main festival area, where you can see live bands and grab a bite or a beverage. Kids can play on inflatables. Then hit the 2.5-mile round-trip trail, where you’ll find another beer garden and acoustic musical performances mid-hike at Needwood Mansion. montgomeryparks.org/event/ parks-ale-trail
Sept. 28
Polo Classic
Wear your fanciest topper to Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland’s fifth annual polo event to benefit the nonprofit. In addition to the matches at the Congressional Polo Club will be a “divot stomp” and contests for best hat, best dressed and best tailgate. classy.org/ event/5th-annual-polo-classic/e575708
Sept. 28
Rocktobierfest
Beer and bands are among the highlights of this free German-themed festival in Rockville Town Center. Live performances—rock music and traditional German music and dance—take place on two stages. You also can enjoy drinks from local breweries, food and checking out the crafts for sale.
Sept. 29
Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival
Watch as spectacular floats, dance groups, bands and artists march around the Wheaton triangle to start this festival dedicated to art and community. The event at Marian Fryer Town Plaza also features a visual arts market, live musical performances by local talent and activities for kids such as face painting and balloon art. wheatonartsparade.org
Oct. 5
Harvest Festival
Candle dipping, tin smithing, quilting and yarn spinning are a few of the traditional hands-on activities you can try at this event at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. You also can paint a pumpkin, make a scarecrow, go on a hayride and enjoy live music and storytelling. Don’t forget to check out the farm equipment demonstrations and say hello to the resident farm animals. montgomeryparks.org/event/harvest-festival
Oct. 5
Taste of Bethesda
You can sample cuisine from newcomers and old favorites during this annual event in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. More than 30 restaurants are expected to participate in the festival, which also features five stages of live entertainment. bethesda.org/bethesda/taste-bethesda
Rocktobierfest stage
Oct. 13
Oktoberfest
This fall festival in the Kentlands features Bavarian music and dancing, performances by local bands, and traditional American autumnal activities, such as pumpkin carving and painting, and cider pressing demonstrations. For kids, there’s also face painting, balloon twisting and inflatables, while grown-ups can try beverages from local breweries and cider and mead distilleries. gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/ special-events/oktoberfest
Oct. 19
Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show
There’s sure to be something that will rev your engine at this free event, where you can see all types of automobiles dating from the 1920s to the ’80s and ’90s. The
show, which takes place on the grounds of Glenview Mansion at Rockville Civic Center Park, has a car sales area, flea market, live music, and food and drinks for purchase. rockvillemd.gov/667/antique-classic-car-show
MUSIC
Sept.
13-14
Will Downing
Early in his career, the R&B singer was a backing vocalist for artists such as Kool & The Gang, Billy Ocean and Jennifer Holliday. Later, his album All the Man You Need was nominated for a Grammy Award. He’ll stop by the Bethesda Theater for two shows. bethesdatheater.com/shows
Sept.
14
The Sweater Set
Lifelong friends Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin make up this contemporary folk music
duo known for charming harmonies. They’ll perform a free outdoor concert at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center in Silver Spring. Pack a picnic and chairs or blankets, but no alcohol. strathmore.org
Sept.
20
Yo-Yo Ma
The world-famous cellist joins conductor Jonathon Heyward and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for this concert at The Music Center at Strathmore. The concert is the classical season opener for the BSO and its largest fundraiser of the season. Expect appearances by special guests, including student musicians. bsomusic.org
Sept. 21
Musica Viva Kentlands
Head to the Kentlands Clubhouse lawn for a free outdoor classical music concert by a professional orchestra. The performance is part of an ongoing initiative sponsored by the Kentlands Community Foundation,
UP AND RUNNING
Setting a goal, trying something new, spending time with friends—people join races for all kinds of reasons. Whether you’re a frst timer or an experienced marathoner, there’s a run nearby that’s just your speed.
Sept. 7
Damascus Freedom 5K
This family-friendly 3.1-mile race at Damascus Recreational Park commemorates 9/11, honors veterans and frst responders, and raises money for organizations that support members of the military and their families. The out-and-back route is a partly paved trail, with a portion on a wooded grassy path. There’s also food, entertainment and a quarter-mile fun run for kids. damascusfreedom5k.com
Sept. 8
Parks Half Marathon
Imagine running through parkland as the sun rises above the trees—along with about 2,000 others. Known for its friendly vibes, it’s a favorite among casual and competitive runners, and is open to participants age 13 and older. The course starts near the Shady Grove Metro station, winds through Rock Creek Park and ends with a Finish Festival on Beach Drive in Kensington. parkshalfmarathon.com
Sept. 15
Revenge of the Penguins
This race gets its name in part from marathoner and author John Bingham, who promoted jogging and walking marathons and was nicknamed “The Penguin” for his slow pace. Choose the 10-mile or 20-mile course; both follow the fat, shady and tree-lined C&O Canal towpath. The race is organized by Marathon Charity Cooperation, a nonprofit that raises money for charities that work to improve the lives and comfort of disadvantaged children and families. mc-coop.org/rotp
Oct. 12
Black Hill 10K
The scenic route snakes through Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds. The race, introduced in 2009, is organized by the Montgomery County Road Runners Club, which offers training programs, group runs and races for participants of all levels. mcrrc.org/calendar-event/ black-hill-10k-2024
—S.S.B.
BANTER BEST BETS
which aims to bring affordable, high-quality classical music concerts to the community, presented in a relaxed atmosphere for audiences of all ages. kentlands.org
Oct. 4
Blockbuster Broadway
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is led by conductor Stuart Chafetz and joined by guest vocalists in this tribute to the Great White Way at The Music Center at Strathmore. Expect songs from Broadway favorites including The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Wicked, Annie, The Sound of Music, Cats and The Lion King, just to name a few. bsomusic.org
Oct. 11
Elle King
The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer and four-time Grammy nominee is back on the road. King, whose dad is actor Rob Schneider, stops by The Fillmore Silver Spring on a tour promoting her single “Baby Daddy’s Weekend.” livenation.com/venue/kovzpza6tfla/ the-fillmore-silver-spring-events
Oct. 18
Afro-Cuban All Stars
If you were around in the late 1990s, you probably remember the Buena Vista Social Club, the name of both an album by a group of aging Cuban musicians and a documentary about them. Bandleader Juan de Marcos González was an instrumental member of that project and has devoted his career to keeping Cuba’s musical heritage alive. With the Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban All Stars, he’ll bring the sounds and rhythms of Cuban music to The Music Center at Strathmore strathmore.org
FILM
Oct. 25
The Nightmare Before Christmas Just in time for Halloween, see a screening of the Disney film by Tim Burton while the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plays Danny Elfman’s memorable score at The Music Center at Strathmore. The movie follows the misadventures of Halloween Town’s Pumpkin King Jack Skellington as he attempts to take over Christmas. bsomusic.org
ON STAGE
Sept. 13-29
Red Herring
Set in 1952, this black comedy at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg follows the attempts of three couples to overcome the obstacles of love and marriage, while also solving a murder mystery and uncovering a Soviet spy plot. The show is presented in partnership with The Montgomery Playhouse. gaithersburgmd.gov
Sept. 20-29
Veronica’s Room
This thriller written by Ira Levin, author of Rosemary’s Baby, is full of twists and turns. A young couple, Susan and Larry, are out on a date when they meet the Mackeys, a sketchy older couple who serve as caretakers at the Brabissant mansion. They convince Susan to pose as the long-dead Veronica Brabissant to console Veronica’s dying sister, but the line between reality and fantasy soon begins to fade in this production by Rockville Little Theatre at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre rlt-online.org/veronicas-room
Oct. 1
Better With Age Comedy Special
Think aging is no laughing matter? This free comedy show presented by Montgomery Parks as part of Active Aging Week will prove you wrong. Comedians will riff on growing older, family, friends, relationships and all the trials and tribulations that go with them. The event at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park in Silver Spring is geared toward audiences 55 and older. montgomeryparks.org
—Stephanie Siegel Burke
Women in Business
Ain & Bank, P.C.
Natalia C. Armstrong (Wilson), Principal
Sarah E. Mancinelli, Principal
Amy W. Spain, Partner
SEE PROFILE PAGE 57
Chevy Chase Digital Dentistry
AZIN GHESMATI, DDS
Dr. Azin Ghesmati combines her advanced training in restorative, implant, and cosmetic dentistry with an engineering background to ofer exceptional, comprehensive care. A graduate of NYU’s College of Dentistry, she employs cutting-edge technologies, including microscopes and 3D imaging, for a modern approach to dental health.
Chevy Chase Digital Dentistry 4400 Jenifer St. NW, Suite 340 Washington, DC 20015
Q How have you mentored or inspired others who are following in your footsteps?
A I always remind people that it's never too late to reinvent themselves and pursue new paths. My journey to dentistry is a testament to this philosophy. I spent a decade as an engineering project manager, but a project involving dentists and advanced technology ignited my interest in dentistry, and I've never looked back.
I have been practicing for over 15 years now, and while I knew I would enjoy dentistry, I didn't anticipate how much I would love it. It truly is the perfect blend of art, science and engineering. My engineering background gives me a unique edge in digital dentistry, allowing me to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology into my practice. This expertise enables me to excel in everything from general care and complex treatment
planning to surgical, implant and endodontic procedures.
Q What do you look forward to when you go to work every day?
A I look forward to meeting amazing people and getting to know them, their lives and their families. Hearing their stories and helping them achieve optimal oral health is incredibly fulfilling. I find great satisfaction in using my knowledge to make a difference, knowing that a confident smile is invaluable. Changing people's perceptions of dental care, helping patients overcome their fears, and seeing the positive impact on their lives is deeply rewarding.
Q What's the best advice you've received, and how has it helped you?
A E njoy the journey. I've always kept my goals in sight but have cherished the process of reaching them.
STEIN SPERLING FEMALE PARTNERS: JAMIE ALVARADO-TAYLOR; SARAH J. BRODER; KATHRYN E. DECKERT; DARLA J. MCCLURE; ALEXIA KENT MCCLURE; IVONNE C. LINDLEY; KAREN N. SHAPIRO; BETH M. IRVING
NOT PICTURED: JOLIE S. DEUTSCHMAN; MONICA G. HARMS; JULIE B. CHRISTOPHER
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong
Driscoll PC
tein er ing a t e reci ient o ai ecord o ering o en ard or it trong co it ent to u orting and e e ating o en ent our r attorne are i ted in e e t a er in erica edition in e t a er ne to atc edition and ere na ed ar and u er a er or i ing tar
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700
Rockville, MD 20852
301-340-2020
SteinSperling.com
Q W hat’s changed for women in business in recent years?
A O ver the course of our careers, we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of female attorneys, especially within our firm, where more than half of our attorneys and partners are women. At Stein Sperling, 11 women have been elevated from associates to principals, highlighting our dedication to career advancement. Our successes within the firm and the broader legal community have paved the way for other female attorneys. This positive shift is evident not only in our firm but also across other firms and industries.
Q How do you measure success?
A W e measure success by our unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which enriches our team and strengthens our capabilities.
This foundation enhances our clientfirst approach across all practice areas. Ultimately, success is determined by how effectively we advocate for our clients’ interests, achieve their objectives and keep them well-informed.
Q W hat qualities do you think a successful attorney should have?
A A successful attorney should have a strong commitment to client service, prioritizing the needs and best outcomes for each individual they represent. Key qualities include keeping clients informed, prepared and protected, and passionately advocating for their interests while being able to effectively serve multiple clients at one time. At Stein Sperling, we value attorneys who are resourceful and can draw on diverse areas of expertise to provide comprehensive solutions for clients.
The Carolyn Homes Team
CAROLYN SAPPENFIELD
Carolyn has been a top-producing agent in t e a ington region or ore t an ear e and er tea are dedicated to de i ering a r t rate c ient e erience eir track record o ucce te ro decade o oca e erience u erior negotiation and rob e o ing abi itie and o t i ortant t e i e ong c ient re ation i t e a e de e o ed
RE/MAX Realty Services
4825 Bethesda Ave., Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
C: 240-353-7601
O: 301-652-0400
Carolyn@CarolynHomes.com CarolynHomes.com
Q provide?
A W e are a full-service real estate team serving sellers, buyers, builders and investors across the D.C. metro region. As native Washingtonians, we provide unmatched market knowledge and resources, breadth of experience, strong local networks, and deep insights into the local market dynamics to help our clients achieve all their real estate goals.
Q
A W e tailor every transaction to our clients' particular needs, and pride ourselves on providing concierge-level service throughout the process. Our clients become friends, and a majority of our business is based on repeats and referrals. We foster a culture wherein clients come first, going above and
beyond to advocate for them with a focus on creative problem-solving, due diligence and professionalism.
We provide a plethora of advantages, including access to the resources of the largest national and international real estate network of more than 100,000 RE/MAX agents. Our team brings over 30 years of combined experience handling real estate negotiations to ensure exceptional results. Our long-standing relationships with fellow local Realtors provide an invaluable benefit to our clients.
Above all, our goal is to make every transaction as seamless as possible by providing extraordinary service with integrity and professionalism. Our track record of success stems not only from our experience and the lifelong client relationships we have developed, but also our commitment to the community in which we are deeply rooted.
Chevy Chase Trust
FROM LEFT: PAULA A. LANDAU, ASHLEY G. HALL, TANYA M. BLAKELY, BLAKE K. DOYLE, STACY C. MURCHISON, JEANNETTE OWEN ROEGGE, WENDY MOYERS, CLAIRE VOORHEES, ELIZABETH KEARNS
Chevy Chase Trust is an independent, privately-owned investment
anage ent r ecia i ing in g oba t e atic e uit re earc ort o io anage ent nancia and e tate anning and duciar er ice
7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1500W Bethesda, MD 20814
240-497-5000
ChevyChaseTrust.com
Q W hat has changed for women in
A T he percentage of women in the financial sector has grown over the past few decades. At Chevy Chase Trust, women comprise more than half of the overall staff and senior management team. Women often seek advice from female financial professionals who they believe may best understand their needs and goals.
Q
A A ll new client relationships start with a financial plan that allows us to tailor our investment strategy to each client’s priorities.
We work closely with clients’ outside advisors, who appreciate our comprehensive approach. With intimate knowledge of our clients’ finances, we can ensure their investment and planning strategy evolves as their unique circumstances change.
Q
A O ur global thematic approach to equity investing is an important differentiator. Thematic investing capitalizes on the powerful secular trends, disruptive ideas and economic forces constantly reshaping our world. We build portfolios of companies positioned to exploit these transformational changes and, just as importantly, avoid companies that will be disrupted by them.
MICHAEL VENTURA
The Chesapeake Center
LANGDON COMEE, CEO
The Chesapeake Center is committed to empowering individuals with ADHD, earning diference and re ated conditions to reach their full potential. We provide comprehensive, cuttingedge care through a collaborative team o e ert ofering trengt ba ed approaches and holistic treatments to foster lasting positive change and improve quality of life across all ages and life stages.
6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20817
301-562-8448
ChesapeakeADD.com
A I a dvise women to seek mentors and skill-building opportunities. In the early stages, prioritize self-actualization and growth over financial gains, positioning yourself for long term success. Invest in personal development, and financial rewards will follow.
Q W hat's the best advice you have
A T he healthiest people have the strongest boundaries. Establishing boundaries early in one's career is crucial for maintaining emotional, physical and mental well-being. Developing skills in direct communication, saying no, and setting priorities and limits allows individuals to preserve their integrity.
Q
A Ch allenge yourself and make an interesting choice. It’s not a bad thing to be uncomfortable with your choices and environment. Force growth by pushing your own limits. Too often, we take the safe option and lose the opportunity to grow in an unexpected direction.
QA I like to hire ambitious women. I foster ambition in female employees by requiring personal development, directing them to grow with or through us, but grow. My goal is to equip women with self-advocacy, boundary-setting, confidence and assertiveness for future leadership roles.By bringing them into the conversation, I hope that the women who work at our center will leave with highly developed soft skills such as critical thinking, communication and time management, positioned to take leadership positions in their next chapter.
Selzer Gurvitch
RABIN WERTHEIMER & POLOTT, P.C.
Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C. is a leading real estate, trusts and estates, business transactions, tax, land use and zoning, and itigation a r in et e da ince t e r a de i ered innovative solutions to meet the needs of investors, owners, developers and businesses throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 4416 East West Highway, Suite 400 Bethesda, MD 20814
301-986-9600 SelzerGurvitch.com
Q success?
A O ur firm's success is rooted in building lasting client trust, a cornerstone of our 40 years of service. We take pride in earning our clients' confidence, often demonstrated by their referrals to friends and family.
Q W hat should prospective clients know about working with Selzer Gurvitch?
A W hether you're an individual, business, or family-owned enterprise, our firm stands as your comprehensive legal partner. We manage everything in commercial real estate from land use and zoning to purchases, sales, leases and financing. Our services also cover business transactions, disputes, tax advisory and estate planning, ensuring allencompassing legal support as your income and wealth expand.
Q How do you support the careers of
A Our firm prioritizes the success of our women attorneys and actively fosters their professional growth. We offer training, mentoring and professional development initiatives that help them achieve their full potential. Regular networking and support gatherings provide ongoing opportunities to connect, collaborate and learn from each other.
Q
A Community service and charitable giving are integral to our firm's values. Our members take pride in their leadership and volunteer roles with various charitable, community and professional organizations. In addition, our firm sponsors charity events throughout the year. We collectively choose and participate in an annual charity drive, exemplifying our commitment to making a positive impact beyond our office walls.
MICHAEL VENTURA, PHOTO SITE COURTESY OF CARR PROPERTIES
Burt Wealth Advisors
MARIA CORNELIUS, CFP; PRANALI FORTINI, CFP; BETH VENIT, CFP; JENNIFER MACLENNAN, CFP, CPA; DEANNA TOMASETTI, CFP; MYRLE SIMONE, CFP; AND SOPHIE LEAHY, CFP
"We become an ongoing resource to each c ient e ing t e na igate t eir nancia i e to be t ac ie e t eir nancia goa a aria orne iu e r a been na ed one o t e to nancia ad i or in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia by d i or annua ince
6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 500 North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-770-9880
BurtWealth.com
For information on awards criteria please see: https://burtwealth.com/awardsanddisclosures and click on “Required Disclosures”.
Q W hy choose Burt Wealth Advisors?
A O ur boutique firm has served the metro area for more than 35 years. Of our nine financial advisors, seven are women. If you’re looking for a female advisor, we are your firm.
We keep client numbers low so that we have ample time to get to know each one. We listen carefully, as money is very personal. Emotions come into play when talking about financial goals or especially when dealing with market declines.
All our advisors are Certified Financial Planners (CFPs), which requires education—and continuing education—in investments, insurance, taxes, and estate planning. We’re a team. When you work with a Burt Wealth advisor, you’re not only being supported by his or her knowledge, but also by the support of the entire team.
We help with investment management, retirement planning, social security
A We see many women who are in a life transition. They may be handling finances or serving as their own advocate for the first time. Many enjoy having another woman for financial guidance. All seven of our women advisors are in different stages of life and can help clients through their changes.
Q How do you measure success?
A T he underlying goal with everything we do is creating peace of mind. We engage all clients in the planning and investment process, empowering them when it comes to finances. We encourage questions, as they show that our clients are engaged in the process.
Potomac Audiology
DR. GAIL LINN, AUD, CCC-A
DR. TRICIA TERLEP, AUD
"I opened Potomac Audiology in ock i e in t a o going at r t it on one tting roo and one audio ogi t ic a e oda t e ractice occu ie uare eet o o ce ace it e en tting roo and e audio ogi t
Potomac Audiology
11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 105 Rockville, MD 20852
240-477-1010
potomacaudiology.com
Q What has been a recent technological development in
A S omething near and dear to our practice is called “Real Ear” or “Probe Microphone” measures. This procedure allows us to put a tiny tube that is attached to a tiny microphone in a patient’s ear during the hearing aid fitting. We can measure exactly what the hearing aid is delivering to the eardrum. This procedure is not widely done but we consider it a vital component of a good hearing aid fitting. Without performing this measurement, there’s no way to know whether a patient is receiving the correct amplification on the correct frequencies.
Q What is one of your top
A P roviding each person with the best
hearing healthcare possible. This includes using the best testing equipment, Real Ear equipment and hearing aids from all the major manufacturers.
Q How are you helping others
A M y daughter, Dr. Tricia Terlep, is our pediatric audiologist. Together, we have mentored, trained and hired many talented young audiologists from the University of Maryland and Gallaudet University.
Grover & Badalian, LLC
ANNE GROVER, ESQUIRE
KRISTINA BADALIAN, ESQUIRE
CAROLINE PALMER, ESQUIRE
CAROLINE CLARKE, ESQUIRE
At Grover & Badalian, LLC, we are strong advocates, trusted by our clients and e erienced in co e nancia and highly charged custody cases.
Grover & Badalian, LLC 11 N. Washington St., Suite 630 Rockville, MD 20850
301-358-1813
GBFamilyLawyers.com
Q W hy do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you?
A A t Grover & Badalian, we are inspired by solving difficult problems and developing innovative approaches and strategies. Our entire team will work with our clients to ensure that they understand the process, their goals are pursued and they are an active participant in their case. Team cohesion is integral to finding an individualized approach that best suits each client. We are motivated by a desire to establish strategies and ideas that are unique to each family that needs our help.
Q W hat’s the most important lesson you’ve learned during your career?
A D etails are vital in every case. Much of advocacy is storytelling—but to effectively tell our client’s story, we must have a complete understanding of the details of their lives (personal,
professional and financial). To accomplish that, we partner with our clients in a way that allows them to feel supported, involved and informed at all times. Establishing that rapport allows us to accurately and effectively represent their lived experience which is essential to a successful case outcome. We pride ourselves on thinking critically and considerately, being patient and creative, knowing what to emphasize and understanding what problem areas need to be addressed and alleviated. At the end of a case, having a command of the facts and file and building rapport with our clients are the keys to a successful outcome.
Cheltenham Interiors
ISABEL (ISY) JACKSON, OWNER AND PRESIDENT
Cheltenham Interiors founder Isy Jackson brings a legacy of design expertise spanning three generations. With an art history degree from University College London (U.K.) and a master's degree in interior architecture from George Washington University, Isy specializes in custom features and o e reno ation i ingetc aga ine contributor er de ign are celebrated for their curated elegance and ar oniou a ea 4520 Harling Ln. Bethesda, MD 20814
202-999-9910
Cheltenham-Interiors.com
Q W hy do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you?
A I wake up every morning motivated by the belief that good design changes lives. Studies by Suchi Reddy highlight the intersection of neuroscience and design, revealing its profound impact on our emotions. I love helping clients find joy in their homes, especially those navigating life's transitions. For instance, I recently helped a widow who lost her husband during the pandemic transform her home. Beyond practical modifications like removing wheelchair marks, we brought joy back through beautiful fabrics and upholstery. Her tearful, emotional reaction to the new design is a moment I'll never forget.
Q W hat woman inspires you and why?
A K it Kemp for her vibrant, playful interiors; Nina Campbell for her philanthropy and iconic designs; and Lulu Lytle for preserving British artisanship.
Their creativity and contributions to design deeply resonate with me.
Q W hat's the most important lesson you've learned during your career?
A To embrace my distinctive quality and what distinguishes me as a designer in Bethesda and Washington, D.C.—that I'm British. British style is having a moment, with America's fascination with the monarchy and television shows like The Crown, Bridgerton and Downton Abbey. The United Kingdom has influenced many American homes through various styles that convey Britain's rich, colorful history. Mentored by renowned D.C. designer Kelley Proxmire, I can recreate her Anglophile approach, characterized by layered looks with antiques and unique items that create a welcoming, homey atmosphere. Originally from Cheltenham near the Cotswolds, I bring a touch of my English roots to every project.
Feldman Jackson, PC
FROM LEFT: BRYN BAFFER, REBECCA SHANKMAN, ANNE MARIE JACKSON, MAGDALENA D’AIUTO, RACHEL DE ROSE
Awards and Honors
Best Law Firms: Family Law, Washington, D.C.; Top Divorce Attorneys; Washington’s Top LawyersFamily Law, D.C. Metro Area; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Best Lawyers in America; Best Lawyers-Ones to Watch; Super Lawyers.
7600 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 625 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-715-8110 FeldmanJackson.com
Q W hat can I expect from an initial consultation?
A I nvolving a lawyer in your family dispute is a difficult step to take. Our entire practice at Feldman Jackson concentrates on family law. Our singular focus ensures that we are well-equipped to handle any divorce, from the most straightforward to the most complicated. Since every situation is specific to one’s experiences, the initial consult is the first opportunity to develop a road map to determine how the law can best fit your circumstances.
Q W hat should I do to prepare for my initial consult?
A Your interests can be best protected only if you are forthcoming about all the facts of your case, so be honest and don’t be embarrassed. Bring documents and relevant notes such as a summary of
assets, tax returns and any agreements that provide background. It’s also helpful to have a general sense of the issues you want to address. Are there co-parenting or financial concerns? We will discuss them to help set specific goals.
Be prepared to ask and answer questions. We ask tough questions based on the experience gained in our years of representing clients. It is also appropriate for you to ask questions or get clarification. Remember, it is OK to vent. Expressing emotion is normal in difficult circumstances.
Although scheduling a first meeting may be hard, the attorneys at Feldman Jackson offer compassion, guidance, advocacy and, most importantly, a sense of control over our clients’ future.
Wealthspire Advisors
ASHLEY
E. IDDINGS, CIMA, CPWA; ROBIN DOBBS, CFP; MICHÈLE WALTHERT, CFP, CRPC
It’s all about the satisfaction of helping people and the strong relationships we a e it our c ient and co eague e are inspired and motivated every day by the opportunity to work side by side with each other, talented and motivated co eague o tri e to ake a diference or our c ient and our co unit
12435 Park Potomac Ave., Suite 500
Potomac, MD 20854
301-564-9500
Wealthspire.com
Q W hat’s the most important lesson you’ve learned during your career?
A P resenting financial plans and introducing new investment ideas are serious business, but we're not always going to have all of the answers and of course, we can't predict the future. It's important to come to the table with solutions or options that are outside the box. There is a lot to be said about taking the time to educate yourself and your clients on possibilities that may not be in your wheelhouse.
—Robin Dobbs
Q How do you measure success?
A T here is nothing more rewarding than when a client refers you to a friend, colleague, or family member. There is no greater validation and proof of the trust placed in us than a client sharing
their personal relationship. To me, that means everything. The same is true for our employees. We have a number of our advisors that have come to us as referrals from existing advisors. To know they love our team enough to bring in a friend is absolutely success!
Ashley E. Iddings
Q I f you could go back in time and give advice to yourself as a young professional, what would you say?
A Gu ard against making assumptions about people. This is true whether we’re talking about clients, colleagues, friends, or strangers. The most successful advisors are empathetic and have the natural curiosity that results in asking lots of questions. A strong interest in helping others makes us go the extra mile to fully understand our clients’ situations.
—Michèle Walthert
The McKeon Law Firm
SHELLY D. MCKEON, ESQ. & JESSICA S. KERN, ESQ.
Shelly McKeon has been recognized by Washingtonian Magazine, is included in Maryland Super Lawyers and DC Super Lawyers and was selected to the Maryland Daily Record’s Power List: Family Law. Jessica Kern has received the Client Champion recognition from artinda e ubbe and t e r o d the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating.
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814
17 101 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 301-417-9222
McKeonLawFirm.com
Q W hat’s the most important lesson you’ve learned during your career?
A J essica S. Kern: Never stop learning— there’s always new information to absorb. Whether it’s a change in the statute, new technological advances, or a new way to present exhibits and evidence, there is always something new and fresh out there. I enjoy analyzing new developments in case law and determining how they can impact our practice.
Q W hat was a major turning point in your career?
A S helly D. McKeon: Starting my own firm in 2003. I knew starting my own practice would afford me the autonomy within my cases and business to provide clients with efficient and well-rounded representation. Many of our clients are referrals, which I consider one of my firm’s greatest achievements.
Q W hat are the strengths of an allwoman legal team?
A S helly D. McKeon: Our workplace, which has recently welcomed an excellent male paralegal, is conducive to teamwork, cooperation and growth. Jessica Kern and I have worked together for 14 years. This continuity helps our clients, women and men, feel comfortable and has contributed to the firm’s success both at the settlement table and in court. We represent our clients through divorce, alimony, custody, child support and other family-related matters. We offer compassionate, realistic guidance to clients who are typically navigating one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Maragh Dermatology
SHERRY L.H. MARAGH, MD, FAAD, FACMS, FACS
National Aesthetic Medical Director - Advanced Dermatology and o etic urger u ocation oard erti ed General, Surgical, Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology & Mohs urger e o erican cade o o etic urger erican cade o er ato og erican ociet o Dermatologic Surgery; “Top Doctor”, Best Dermatologist uburb and atient oice or ce ent Compassionate Care.
Maragh Dermatology, Surgery & Vein Institute
Part of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery 14995 Shady Grove Road, Ste. 150 Rockville, MD 20850 301-358-5919
AdvancedDerm.com
Q What skin issues commonly impact women in professional work settings?
A C onditions include adult acne, rosacea, eczema, melasma, and hair loss which can all be exacerbated by stress.
Q How can these conditions best be managed?
A Partner with a board-certified dermatologist who’ll tailor treatments to your needs while minimizing side effects like redness or peeling.
Q How can busy women maintain a healthy skincare routine with limited time?
A O pt for routines with minimal steps and products with maximal benefit. Essential ingredients for healthy skin include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol and glycolic acid.
Q How important is sun protection in preventing premature aging, and what SPF do you recommend?
A U V rays break down collagen and elastin, leading to age spots, volume loss, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. Choose SPF 30-plus products that protect from blue light.
Q How does lack of sleep impact the skin?
A Skin repairs itself during sleep. Lack of sleep leads to changes like dull skin and dark circles or puffiness around the eyes.
Q What inspired you to combine a career in dermatology and business?
A M y father was an accountant and my mother a nurse practitioner. Earning my MBA and medical degrees allowed me to integrate all aspects of my aspirations.
Nazareth Bonifacino Law Benefit LLC
NATASHA M. NAZARETH, ESQ., CO-FOUNDER
GINNY CASCIO BONIFACINO, ESQ., CO-FOUNDER
a aret oni acino a ene t coun e co anie c oo and non ro t b ro iding integrati e ega ad ice to rotect bu ine e create o ortunitie and dee en t e re ation i t at atter o ounder ata a a aret and inn oni acino are a ard inning attorne o e o er entre reneur and bu ine o ner it ractica ad ice at t e inter ection o a and bu ine
401 N. Washington St., Suite 470 Rockville, MD 20850 240-202-4302
dmvbusinesslawyers.com
Q Why do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you?
A W e believe that lawyering is a force for good. Serving as outside general counsel for small business owners, nonprofits and independent schools and colleges, we help clients optimize their businesses, minimize risk and reduce friction, ensuring they can stay focused on their work and thrive. As a purpose-driven organization, we pushed ourselves to become a certified B Corporation and are proud to be the first law firm in Maryland—and one of only 25 nationwide—to earn the distinction as a leader in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.
Q What changes or innovations are on the horizon in your industry? How are you preparing for them?
A Technology is rapidly changing the legal industry to reduce administrative waste and allow law firms that provide client-focused service to shine. We actively cultivate rapport with prospective clients and have built tech-enabled business processes to seamlessly onboard clients, process invoices and manage all legal documents, greatly improving the overall client experience. We are constantly refining our processes and keeping up with the latest technological developments to increase efficiency for ourselves and our clients.
Q What do you look forward to when you go to work every day?
A Working in a supportive, collaborative environment that allows us to achieve optimal results for our clients. Our consistently high performance stems from the trusting relationships we build with clients, partnering with each to home in on their unique vision and create innovative, practical strategies to help them prosper and flourish.
Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry
Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry has proudly been providing high quality, personalized dental care to this community for more than 30 years. We pride ourselves not only on our commitment to warm, extensive and individualized care, but on utilizing the most modern equipment and cuttingedge methods.
14 55 200 Rockville, MD 20850
301-610-9909
FallsgroveDentistry.com
QA G oing to the dentist can be challenging for some people. We take time with our patients to ensure they have a comfortable experience. We have found that educating our patients has a motivating effect and makes the experience as pleasant as possible. Putting patients at ease and giving them healthy smiles for a lifetime is our motivation.
Q
A W e have patients who have been with us for decades and refer us to family and friends. The trust patients have in us is our success.
Q W hat are your top priorities?
A We approach each situation with precision and care. Our priorities are to be trustworthy, compassionate dentists,
treating people the way we want to be treated. We want to make sure patients are comfortable and confident and understand the recommended treatment so they can be a partner in their dental care.
Q W hat do you look forward to when
A W e have a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach, and think of each other as members of a congenial, cooperative work family. Many of us have worked together for more than a decade. Respect for each other and for our wonderful patients makes it a great environment. We discuss patients’ concerns and strategize treatment accordingly. On many occasions, a three-person team—restorative dentist, periodontist and orthodontist—meet with and examine a patient during the same appointment to ensure thoroughness.
Glassman Wealth Services LLC
LINDSAY
SHETTERLY, PRINCIPAL AND CLIENT ADVISOR; CANDACE LEE, VICE PRESIDENT AND CLIENT ADVISOR; LAURA CHEPLAK, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Glassman Wealth is a full-service, fee-only duciar ro iding er ona i ed in e t ent ad ice nancia anning and ea t anage ent it one o t e o e t c ient to ad i or ratio in t e indu tr a an tea o inno ati e ad i or a t e ti e to ocu on eac c ient uni ue need e ing t e ac ie e t eir nancia goa and rea i e t eir drea
Pike & Rose 11810 Grand Park Ave., Suite 500 North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-371-2900
info@glassmanwealth.com glassmanwealth.com
Q W hat’s changed for women in business, if anything, over your career?
A M ore women are entering the financial services industry, and more are rising into leadership roles. We’re also seeing an increase in clients who are specifically requesting to work with female advisors.
Q W hat qualities do you think a successful wealth advisor should
A I t starts with being an attentive listener, so you can make the clients’ priorities your own. A successful wealth advisor should have a curious mindset and a fierce attention to detail. Also, a deep love of Excel! But our role goes beyond numbers; it’s about understanding how each client feels about their finances, and communicating how we can serve their best interests in a way that resonates with them.
Q How do you measure success?
A W e measure our success in terms of our clients’ success. We’re always working to meet our clients’ needs, helping them achieve their financial goals while giving them peace of mind. In some ways, success can be hard to quantify, but it shows up in our high client retention rate. Satisfied clients not only stay with us, but are also happy to refer us to their friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Q W hat do you look forward to when you go to work every day?
A T he team. Each one of us at Glassman Wealth absolutely loves and respects their colleagues. We are all here to support each other and do our best work for our clients every day.
A W ith bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dietetics followed by a career in food service management, I learned how the power of food impacts health, wellness and longevity. I founded Nutrilinxs to provide one-on-one nutrition counseling for improved health and/or weight loss.
My motivation is helping people make their 1,095-plus annual food decisions with personalized plans based on their needs and lifestyle. To give my clients individualized tools, I have curated my favorite kitchen hacks for simple meal planning, useful kitchen devices and the best new products on the market. For a deeper dive I offer genetic testing that provides DNA based nutrition recommendations.
My inspiration is my clients’ dedication to employing the strategies that greatly improve their health, wellness and happiness.
Malini Iyer, DMD, MD
MARYLAND ORAL SURGERY ASSOCIATES (MOSA) BETHESDA 10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 206 | Bethesda, MD 20814 301-984-9111 | bethesda@mosa4os.com MOSA4OS.com
Q W hat woman inspires you and why?
A W hen I think of inspiring women, Ruth Bader Ginsberg is one of the true trailblazers who broke the glass ceiling in a meaningful way. Her capacity to visualize complex situations, perseverance in achieving her goals and her commitment to enduring excellence in her chosen field has been an inspiration and a guiding light.
Q W hat do you love most about doing business in this area?
A Every morning, I’m truly appreciative of working in a dynamic, diverse community. The whole process of meeting a patient, understanding their concerns and addressing them is rewarding. We try and connect with patients at a personal level. This helps in achieving an overall holistic experience and better outcome. Each day is a successful one when I see one of my patients bringing family and friends to MOSA Bethesda for treatment. Their trust in our practice is priceless.
FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: JANE OCHSMAN ROWNY & JUDY BARNHARD
BACK ROW FROM LEFT: STEPHANIE ANDERSON, NAKESHA HODO, REEMA PATEL, LISA SIPPEL & ABBIE (NIEHOFF) FRISHMAN
May Barnhard Investments, LLC
FEE-ONLY SUBSIDIARY OF COUNCILOR, BUCHANAN & MITCHELL, PC
May Barnhard Investments is the fee-only wealth management subsidiary of CBM. Our team of CFPs, CPAs, CDFAs, and CFAs provides investment management services and co re en i e nancia anning inc uding tax and divorce consulting. MBI team member Debora E. May has been recognized by Bethesda Magazine and the Washingtonian a a to nancia ro e iona
A W hen starting out, it can feel like your entire life is charted within a single moment. But the trajectory of your life is made up of many decisions and moments over time, gradually building to the life you are working toward. Sometimes the journey wasn’t what you expected. When you’re open to something new, opportunities are endless. Also, be fearless. Trust your own talent. Advocate for yourself. Understand what you bring to the table. Ask for the right support and resources to get where you want to go.
Q
A W e measure success by our clients’ satisfaction in our services. We take the time to listen and understand each client’s unique goals and needs. One client may be focused on college planning for
their kids. Another wants to understand how to strategize Social Security and Medicare into their retirement plan. For divorcing individuals, success is achieving the best financial outcome for the present and future. Our solutions are tailored for each client to help set them up for their best financial future.
Q What qualities do you think a
A E mpathy, patience and vision are key. When helping clients navigate painful aspects of their lives, such as divorce, death and disability, empathy goes a long way. Patience is important during challenging conversations with clients. Lastly, if you have vision, you keep clients’ long-term goals in mind while addressing their immediate concerns. These qualities are crucial for anyone in financial planning and wealth management.
Kelly Orthodontics
DR. KELLY LABS
10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 301 Bethesda, MD 20814 | 301-530-7718 BethesdaOrthodontists.com
Q What qualities are key to being a successful
A A h ealthy mixture of compassion and strength is key. A leadership style that is approachable and understanding whilst demonstrating strength and conviction instills confidence and respect.
Q
A D on't give yourself limitations, believe in your abilities and pursue goals with confidence. Embrace kindness and a strong work ethic. This will not only guide your career but enrich your overall approach to life and relationships.
Q
A I h ave had the honor to mentor younger students, including previous patients, who’ve shadowed me to gain insight into the field. I emphasize the importance of nurturing a culture of excellence, continuous learning and patient-centered care.
ScoliOcean, LLC & Graham Therapy and Fitness, P.A.
JENNIFER GRAHAM, FOUNDER, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, SCHROTH PT
301-245-7314 | GrahamPT.com 4948 St. Elmo Ave., Suite 206 | Bethesda, MD 20814
Scoliocean, LLC | 301-312-6315 | ScoliOcean.com 4948 St. Elmo Ave., Suite 206 | Bethesda, MD 20814
Q
A A s a mother, business founder and owner, I work hard to provide the highest level of care as a physical therapist and scoliosis/ posture specialist. I hope to be a changemaker in raising awareness of scoliosis. My daughters motivate and inspire me to be the best mom I can be, and to demonstrate the power of women in business.
Q
A I come from a family of extremely powerful women, so it is hard to choose just one. However, my grandma Annette taught me to be caring, family-focused and also be tough, roll with the punches, rise above, work hard, have faith in general and have faith in myself.
Ain & Bank, P.C.
FROM LEFT: AMY W. SPAIN, PARTNER; NATALIA C. ARMSTRONG (WILSON), PRINCIPAL; SARAH E. MANCINELLI, PRINCIPAL
Ain & Bank is a preeminent boutique
a i a r recogni ed or it co a ionate re re entation and acute under tanding o a i a c a enge i e tri ing or a icab e re o ution it o i ticated itigator and e co e ca e it di cretion and integrit in ank roud er e a di er e c iente e inc uding ig net ort indi idua and bu ine o ner
1300 19th Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-530-3300
AinBankLaw.com
Q W hat distinguishes Ain & Bank, the area?
A A in & Bank, P.C. stands out as a premier collaborative partnership of leading family law attorneys across the Washington metropolitan region who excel in navigating the complexities of family law with unparalleled expertise and empathy. Our award-winning team collectively offers more than 100 years of combined experience and has successfully resolved some of the nation's most complex family law cases. Specializing in all family law matters—from divorce and custody to business valuation and wealth management—our firm upholds the values of dignity, integrity and compassion, guiding individuals through family disputes with the utmost respect and discretion. Though we work diligently to reach amicable, non-litigated resolutions and thrive at the negotiating table, our attorneys are highly skilled litigators with
significant trial and appellate experience. The attorneys here have been instrumental in shaping positive outcomes for families.
At Ain & Bank, each client receives personalized attention and innovative legal solutions to achieve optimal outcomes. We pride ourselves on clear communication, attention to detail and uncompromising dedication to our clients' best interests.
QA U nderstand the value you bring to any work environment, advocate for yourself and be proactive in your professional growth. Engaging with colleagues and clients can enhance your skills and open doors to new opportunities. Seek mentorship from experienced women across different practice areas and join organizations that foster these connections. These steps can pave the way for future leadership roles and personal growth.
McCabe Russell
HEATHER MCCABE, ESQ., CO-MANAGING PARTNER
EMILY RUSSELL, ESQ., CO-MANAGING PARTNER
443-812-1435
C
Q W hy do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you?
A S hepherding people through some of their darkest times is a great privilege. We're continually inspired by our clients' strength and resilience as they rediscover joy and fulfillment. Celebrating weddings, baby showers and other milestones with clients we served years earlier fuels our passion for helping others find their own paths to happiness.
Q W hat qualities do you think a successful attorney should have?
A A successful family law attorney should have compassion, tenacity and perseverance. When our clients are at their lowest, they rely on us to carry the weight and support them through their toughest moments with empathy and resolve.
PAGE MORRIS, LCSW-C
107 2
301-653-4597
20 52
Q W hat unconventional methods do you use in treating families and adolescents?
A A dolescents are greatly impacted by their family relationships. Therefore, I believe it’s vital to treat the entire family. I work with as many family members as it takes—in any combination—to improve the family’s communication skills and problem-solving capabilities.
I’ve also found that most of my clients respond positively to my two service dogs who accompany me in my practice. Animals facilitate rapport-building and lessen anxiety, especially in adolescents. I once treated a teenage girl who was severely depressed and non-verbal. Noticing a connection between her and Tucker, my smaller dog, I suggested we bathe the dog together. Somehow this broke her silence. “All therapists should have a dog,” she commented—a remarkable “first step” in her recovery.
A I n the past two decades, pediatric dentistry has transformed from a male-dominated field to one where women are at the forefront as leaders and innovators.
Q
A I 've embraced technologies like digital X-rays, laser dentistry, and AI-driven tools, which have revolutionized patient care by making visits more engaging and less intimidating for children. But the heart of my practice remains the irreplaceable personal touch—building trust and comfort through smiles and gentle care.
Q Why do you do what you do? What motivates
A M y motivation to become a pediatric dentist comes from overcoming my own childhood fears with the help of a dentist who made visits enjoyable and educational. This transformative experience inspired me to become a pediatric dentist and provide similar positive experiences to my patients. For me, my practice is more than a career—it's a calling to reflect the love and compassion I believe are gifts from God. I strive to leave a legacy of kindness and care, meaningfully impacting lives.
Sandra Guzman-Salvado, Esq.
LAW OFFICES OF SANDRA GUZMAN-SALVADO
11 North Washington St., Suite 500 | Rockville, MD 20850 301-340-1911 | Sandra@GuzmanSalvadoLaw.com GuzmanSalvadoLaw.com
Q W hy do you do what you do? What motivates and
A I a m passionate about making a tangible difference in my clients' lives. Witnessing their transformations—from moments of despair to a renewed sense of hope and purpose—is incredibly rewarding. When clients express their gratitude, it reinforces my commitment to this work. I love helping others, guiding clients through challenging times and seeing them emerge stronger, and I am grateful to have a dedicated team that shares my drive to make a positive impact.
Q
A B uild your brand and reputation with quality work and integrity. Stay committed, avoid shortcuts and focus on your growth. Surround yourself with positivity, and never give up on your dreams.
A I h ave always been interested in eyes, which provide a window into our overall health. I feel fortunate that I not only get to help people see better and achieve optimal ocular health but can significantly impact their overall wellbeing by detecting potential underlying health issues. I also love interacting with people all day. I enjoy getting to know each of my patients/customers so I can offer the highest quality of individualized, comprehensive eye care and help them find stylish frames that best suit their faces and personalities.
Q How do you measure success?
A To me, being successful means appreciating what you have in life, gleaning satisfaction from achievements within your control, and showing perseverance when facing adversity.
MICHAEL VENTURA COURTESY PHOTO
Does MCPS deserve a
PASSING GRADE?
How lenient absentee policies, grade inflation and below-grade-level curricula are impacting students
BY AMY HALPERN PHOTOS BY JOSEPH TRAN ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS GASH
At Gaithersburg High School, long a er the late bell rings to signal that everyone must be in class, dozens of students remain in the hall, laughing, cursing and checking their phones, says science teacher Kurt Richter.
And it’s not just the science corridor that’s packed with students during class time. They gather in bathrooms and hallways throughout the building. Sometimes the students are so loud that Richter goes into the hall to ask them to quiet down.
“Just last week, I saw one of our security personnel … come up [to a group of them] and say, ‘Hey, y’all, you’re missing class. Why don’t we try to go back and learn?’ ” he says one day this past spring. The kids responded, “Just go away, you can’t do nothing.”
For the most part, the kids are correct, says Richter, who is also the parent of two Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) graduates. He cites changes to longstanding MCPS policies that now make it harder for teachers to fail students who routinely arrive late or skip class altogether.
Sharon Gardner, who has been teaching social studies at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown for nearly 30 years, says that her fve story school is flled with “nooks and crannies” where students gather during class time, and when a staf member chases a group of kids of one foor “they ust go downstairs to another foor and the staf on that foor didn’t know that you ust chased them of of the foor above.”
Gardner says a favorite haunt for truant students at her school is what teachers pe oratively call “the TikTok space,” an area under a stairwell where kids go to record and upload videos to their social media sites when they should be in class.
“ t’s happening everywhere,” Gardner says about so many high school students in the district skipping classes. And she doesn’t blame the pandemic. “I just think that our policies have e acerbated a problem that was already happening.”
A growing number of teachers, parents and education experts say that MCPS—long considered among the best school districts in the nation—no longer deserves a passing grade. They cite overly lenient absentee policies, grade infation gone awry and below grade-level curricula. Many point to two decades of well-meaning rule changes designed to ease students’ stress and promote equity among an increasingly diverse population. Instead of achieving these goals, detractors say, these changes have stripped students of accountability, learning and even the incentive to show up to school.
“ f need to go to class to keep my A, will go,” but not “if I’m not … learning anything that will help my grade [and] I’m not learning anything for a test,” admits a straight A student at another high school in the county who says her parents would only allow her to be interviewed anonymously.
One longtime MCPS substitute teacher who asked not to be identifed out of fear of retaliation says she was teaching a frst period class at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda this past spring with only one student out of 10 present when the late bell rang. “First period is defnitely the worst. These kids stroll in whenever they want. They’ve got Starbucks cups; they’ve got McDonald’s,” she says. “When the system says you’re not going to be penalized for these absences and tardies, would you, at 17, bust your ass to get to school on time?”
t used to be that students who accumulated fve une cused absences or 15 unexcused tardies would receive a failing grade for that class, according to a 2010 report by the county’s ce of Legislative Oversight. The consequences were severe enough that nearly every student was in the classroom when the late bell rang, says Richter, who has taught in the MCPS system for 22 years.
Now, the onus is on teachers (or counselors, at some schools) to implement “attendance improvement plans” (A Ps) for students who are chronically absent. Until last spring’s semester, teachers had to establish a two-way line of communication with a student’s guardians before the AIP could even be implemented. The policy was revised early in 2024 to say that teachers still need to notify guardians, but it no longer requires them to respond.
Richter says he twice tried to implement an AIP for truant students in his advanced science classes prior to the 2024 change but “the process was so arduous, with so many diferent steps involved, that each time it got held up at some point after submitted it.” ast school year he only had a few students who were chronically absent, he says, but “some teachers had many in each class.”
Chronic absenteeism—defined by MCPS as missing 18 or more days in a school year or 10% of the calendar year—is a problem nationwide, and it has only decreased modestly from
pre-pandemic highs in most school districts, according to data compiled by the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, a public policy think tank. But at MCPS, absenteeism rose slightly at the high school level, from 31.4% in the 2022-23 school year to 32% in 2023-24, even as it dropped in the county’s elementary and middle schools, according to district data.
MCPS seems to be aware of the problem. A spokesperson said via email that the district is “looking at current grading and reporting practices to further incentivize students to attend classes more regularly,” and that it is “supporting schools to pilot innovative scheduling approaches.”
In recent years, MCPS has also seen a drop in student scores on tests that measure performance and college readiness, while nationwide scores on these tests have improved, according to the College Board, a nonproft that runs the SATs and Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
Yet all the while, GPAs countywide have continued to rise. More than 51% of the class of 2023 graduated with a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, versus 27.8% for the class of 2013, according to MCPS.
“I absolutely think standards have dropped,” says Nikkee Porcaro, the founder of No Anxiety Prep, a tutoring and test preparation company in ensington. “Teachers are pressured to, you know, pass students who shouldn’t pass and the stu-
“If we just [give] every kid in town a diploma, we’d have a 100% graduation [rate], but we wouldn’t be an educated population.”
—Kurt Richter, science teacher at Gaithersburg High School
dents I’m working with, [many of them] are coming to me with these crazy 4.7 and 4.8 GPAs and then they can’t do Algebra 1.”
When Sami Saeed, then a senior at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, took over the role of student member of the board of education at the start of the 2023-24 school year, he witnessed crises at MCPS’ central o ce practically from Day 1.
It started with a scandal involving a middle school principal who’d been promoted despite several teacher accusations of sexual harassment. After that, there was the forced resignation of MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight, who had held the job for only two years after serving as interim superintendent for less than nine months. (Former Staford County, irginia, Superintendent Thomas Taylor took over the superintendent role on uly 1.)
Then there was the lengthy list of central o ce leaders and school principals who retired or departed unexpectedly, including four principals who vacated their posts midyear, something MCPS’ Retirees Association described at the time as “unprecedented.”
Now a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, Saeed thinks the school board and MCPS have done an excellent job tackling the student mental health crisis, but says it’s time to focus on increasing student accountability.
Take the 50 rule. ntroduced in 2006, it mandated that
Kurt Richter at home in Poolesville
teachers give students at least 50% credit on any assignment they turn in, so long as it showed some degree of efort. The rule, which was controversial even then, was based on the theory that it would incentivize students to at least attempt di cult material. But early in the pandemic, the rule was revised to require teachers to give students at least 50% credit on every assignment, even assignments they didn’t turn in. And the policy wasn’t automatically changed back when MCPS returned to classroom learning.
“During the pandemic, central guidance to schools was to err on the side of the student and emphasize the importance of twoway communication prior to the assignment of zeros for missing work,” the MCPS communications department said in an email when asked about the softening of the rule.
“I think that was a bad decision,” says Saeed, who supported the 50% rule’s original goal of encouraging students to put forth “an honest efort,” but not the pandemic era change. “ eeping that in place was ust incentivizing people not to do assignments.”
Only in early 2024 was the policy quietly walked back to the pre-COVID era days of requiring teachers to give 50% credit on assignments that show at least minimal efort, but not on assignments that aren’t turned in. The decision wasn’t announced publicly, but rather was sent in memorandums to high school principals, which has led to some mi ed signals.
“If a student does not submit an assignment, meaning the teacher does not have any data to be able to provide the stu-
“I absolutely think standards have dropped. Teachers are … pressured to, you know, pass students who shouldn’t pass … and the students I’m working with, [many of them] are coming to me with these crazy 4.7 and 4.8 GPAs and then they can’t do Algebra 1.”
—Nikkee Porcaro, founder of No Anxiety Prep
dent with feedback to assess the student’s learning, the teacher then is not able to give that 50% [and] the student will receive a zero,” says MCPS’ isha ogan, director of the Department of Pre to 12 Curriculum. “So that’s what the regulation says, you know, and that is something that we actually have been looking at as a district at the secondary level.”
Saeed says one reason there’s so much confusion over MCPS policies is because many of the changes aren’t decided at the school board level, but are made instead by MCPS’ central o ce, which considers them “regulation changes,” not policy changes, and doesn’t communicate them to the public. “ think that MCPS … [from] what I’ve seen, tries to avoid kind of sending things out to the community and … [tries to] keep things kind of more under the radar. honestly do think that probably will change under Dr. Taylor’s leadership,” Saeed says.
In the U.S. News & World Report rankings of the top U.S. public high schools, Walt Whitman High School, perennially Montgomery County’s highest achiever, recently lost its longstanding spot in the top 100, dropping from a national ranking of 3 in 201 , to 111 in 2021, and to 13 in 2024. The only other MCPS high schools to crack the top 200 this year also dropped in the rankings over the period of 2021 to 2024—Poolesville High School slipped by more than 50 slots to number 172, and Thomas S. Wootton in ockville by more than 70 to 1 6.
MCPS is still the strongest public school system in the state by many measures, according to data from the Maryland State Department of ducation. But the data also reveals that Maryland schools are not performing particularly well. n 2023, ust over 55 of MCPS nglish 10 students scored in the proficient range on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), compared with 53.5 statewide. n Algebra 1,
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22.2% of MCPS students scored in the proficient range, compared with 17.2 statewide. Yet Maryland was ranked the ffth top school system in the nation, according to a February 2024 announcement by the Maryland Association of Counties. The rankings, which were based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics and The Nation’s Report Card, considered factors including academic performance, bullying rates and pupil-to-teacher ratios. Only Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York scored better.
As for tests once considered crucial in determining college readiness, fewer MCPS students took AP exams last year than a decade ago, decreasing from 66% in 2013 to just under 60% in 2023. And the percentage of those scoring a 3 or higher—which is considered passing—on at least one e am dropped by fve percentage points to ust over 46 . MCPS still surpasses national averages by a signifcant margin ess than 35 of public high school students across the U.S. took an AP exam in 2023, and of these, less than 22% scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam, according to the College Board, which administers the tests.
n the SATs, county data shows that the average composite score among 2023 MCPS graduates was 1064 (out of a possible 1600). That’s more than 100 points lower than a decade ago, when the average composite score was the e uivalent of 11 0, based on a conversion from the 2400 scale that was used at the time.
“I don’t know why fire alarm bells aren’t ringing in people’s ears, but you know, they are in mine.”
—Rebekah Jacobs, an MCPS parent
“Grades keep going up and up, but the assessment from standardized tests are way of,” says ed ohnson, president and founder of PrepMatters, a Bethesda-based tutoring and college test prep company.
n December 2023, MCPS published a new School Profle Dashboard, making it easier to access and compare school informaton. The dashboard shows that Whitman’s 2023 graduating class earned an average SAT score of 1285, down from 1312 the year before, with 76.7% of students sitting for the exam. At John F. ennedy High School in Silver Spring, the average SAT score for its 2023 graduates was only 845, with 73.3 of them taking the e am. Per the College Board, the average composite score nationally was 1028 for 2023.
ohnson says several policy changes over the past decade have contributed to students being less motivated to learn and less prepared for college. Among them MCPS’ decision several years ago to get rid of midterm and fnal e ams and put a greater emphasis on quizzes and short tests, projects and homework assignments. He says it means that students can get high grades without mastering the material. ne of his students at PrepMatters fgured out that in one of her classes, if she turns in every in class and homework assignment, she can get as low as a 70 on each of her tests and quizzes and still get an A for the quarter.
“Students have fgure d out how to get the higher grade without having to do the e tra work. don’t blame them. blame Montgomery County,” says Potomac based education consultant Shelley Brody, who has been tutoring in the county for more than 40 years.
Sydney Merlo, who graduated from Whitman this past spring, says she was happy to learn early in her high school days that MCPS had ditched midterms and fnals, but now, she says, “ t makes me a little bit nervous because honestly, you do have midterms and fnals in pretty much every college class that’s probably the one area that MCPS might under prepare you.”
When asked via email whether changes to the fnal e am policy might be coming, an MCPS spokesperson simply explained the policy “Teachers may create assessments to help them determine student learning. Districtwide assessments are also implemented for certain courses and may be re uired at various times of the marking period.”
Rebekah Jacobs has two children in the MCPS system.
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During the 2023-24 school year, Rebekah Jacobs’ son was re uired to read only two books for nglish class at Wootton High School, she says, and none of his writing assignments was more than four pages long. And he, like all freshmen at the school, was in honors nglish.
Jacobs’ daughter, meanwhile, then an eighth grader at a private school in Bethesda, was assigned more than twice as many books—including one that her brother’s ninth grade class was reading, too—and she was assigned a 10- to 12-page research paper, Jacobs says.
The two very diferent e pectations placed on her kids is one reason the Rockville mom thinks that Montgomery County’s public schools have lost their edge. “ don’t know why fre alarm bells aren’t ringing in people’s ears, but you know, they are in mine,” says Jacobs, who has worked as a middle school and high school nglish teacher, a reading specialist and an education consultant.
Other parents say that even when teachers tackle more complex books, they don’t always have students read them. During the 2022-23 school year, Paul Jaskunas’ son was supposed to be studying Homer’s The Odyssey for his sophomore year honors nglish class at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School (B CC), but the students were only assigned a short excerpt from the book. To round out the unit, the class watched a 12-minute YouTube video summarizing the plot, performed a skit of one scene, and read a novella about Penelope, Odysseus’ wife.
“You want to give [students] a chance to, like, dive into a few of these texts and … give them the chance to love [them], or at least if they’re not going to love them , fnd out why they don’t,” Jaskunas says.
Jacobs and Jaskunas are both members of the curriculum committee of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. At a recent workshop with MCPS administrators in attendance, the committee reported that in classrooms at every socioeconomic level, “students are not reading a lot of te ts within the grade level band.” ven at high schools with 90% pass rates on the MCAP, where even the feeder schools had 70-plus-percent MCAP pass rates, “teachers are not assigning grade level work,” the organization reported.
A 2018 study called “The pportunity Myth” reveals how pervasive this problem is across the country. Sponsored by the nonproft T TP, formerly The ew Teaching Pro ect, the study’s researchers followed nearly 4,000 students in fve school systems in the U.S. and found that on average, students spent more than 500 hours per school year on assignments that were below grade level. It also found that “while more than 80% of teachers supported standards for college readiness in theory, less than half
number of complaints from parents and students that teachers were choosing not to teach books in their entirety “mostly because they don’t think students will read [them].” Solove, who left MCPS after the 2022-23 school year and now teaches in another school district, says she thinks that’s “a self fulflling prophecy.”
MCPS has tried to make English Language Arts (ELA) curricula at the elementary and middle school levels more rigorous by purchasing nationally recognized curricula for all teachers to follow starting in the 2024-25 school year. Yet at the high school level, the curriculum is still locally developed.
Even MCPS acknowledges that its high school teachers have more fe ibility than might be ideal, and that teachers may sometimes be modifying material, rather than simply adding support for students who need it. Jaclynn Lightsey, MCPS supervisor of secondary English Language Arts, says that will change with revisions that are being made to the ninth grade curriculum in the 2024-25 school year and to the grade 10 curriculum the following year.
“Our previous curriculum was really a curriculum guide—that’s actually what it was called—so it was indeed very open. … There were many, many te ts to choose from. The writing tasks were worded in a really open way,” Lightsey says, noting that the curriculum could potentially look pretty diferent from classroom to classroom and from school to school.
The new version will give teachers a choice of only two or
three books per unit, versus as many as 12 in the past, and instead of just outlining the major writing tasks and standards, “the revised curriculum actually goes week by week and even day by day … so that the content builds on itself in a meaningful way,” ightsey says. Teachers still have fe ibility to address students’ needs, she says, “but within a range of options that we know are going to provide students with similar e periences.”
Some students favor giving teachers more fe ibility than less. A senior at B-CC with a weighted GPA of 4.8 says she had different ELA teachers each semester in the 2023-24 school year, and though she “defnitely noticed a huge discrepancy in how … [each] of them teach,” she didn’t think her quality of education was diminished by either one.
“My frst one graded a little bit harsher than my second one,” says the student, who requested anonymity. “We got assigned a few more books in my frst one than my second one. But then will say that felt that the assignments did in my second one were, you know, more fulflling. felt that learned more within them, so think there’s kind of a balance there.”
The math curriculum presents even more challenges for MCPS. Coming out of the pandemic, the e pectation was that students learned the subject in Zoom school, but data suggests they didn’t. ess than 65 of MCPS students scored in the profcient range in Algebra 2 on the 2023 MCAP versus 95% in 2019. Johnson, of PrepMatters, says that since the pandemic, more
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students are coming to him for academic tutoring to address gaps in their learning, particularly in math. “If I’m a teacher, and I’m supposed to work in Algebra 2, I don’t really have the bandwidth to go back and try to reteach Algebra 1,” he says.
Saeed says he took Algebra 2 during the pandemic year and “[didn’t] learn a dang thing.” He says some kids even joined group chats where students who took an e am in frst period would post the answers so subse uent classes could fll in the blanks without even attempting to learn the material.
“So you get into precalculus next year … [with] Algebra 2 as a prerequisite and no one knows what’s going on … and then the question [for educators] is like, what do you do to respond to that? Do you lower the expectations … make [the next class] easier?” Saeed says. “[We] heard so many presentations to the board about this, and I think that [MCPS is] very aware of this issue and [is] doing their best.”
Take this quiz: If a student earns a 79.5% during his first quarter of a class and an 89.5% the second quarter, what grade would you expect he’d earn for the semester? If you guessed a B, you’d be wrong. At MCPS, it’s an A, which translates to a 5.0 if the class is an honors, AP or IB course, and a 4.0 if it’s not.
Why? Because of grading changes made by the district about a decade ago that even students admit make it too easy to earn A’s, including the policy that A’s are calculated as anything from
89.5% on, B’s as 79.5% on, etc., and that if a student gets an A in one quarter and a B in the other, the higher grade prevails as the semester grade. Same goes for a student who earns a B or a C in one quarter and one grade higher or lower in the next; only the higher grade appears on the student’s transcript. MCPS does not put numerical grades on students’ transcripts either, or plus or minus grades. t’s all refected on a marking table that teachers must follow that’s part of MCPS’ grading and reporting regulations.
These days, says Merlo, the recent Whitman grad, “students struggle to make themselves stand out on college applications because they’re competing with so many people in our grade who have 4.0 GPAs.”
Now a freshman at Indiana University, Merlo, 18, says she and some of her classmates consistently earned high grades at Whitman but garnered the same recognition as students who gamed the system. She says some students even used apps that helped them fgure out how low their grades could be on assignments and tests and still get an A in a class.
The result of giving out so many A’s causes high achievers “to get so stressed and get involved in a million extracurriculars and sort of overwork themselves, because they feel like if they want to get into a top university, their grades aren’t enough, because there are just so many kids with perfect GPAs,” Merlo says. Whether anything changes remains to be seen. “We will be
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gathering feedback and input on possible changes to this table from stakeholders this year,” an MCPS spokesperson said in an email.
At the county’s most prestigious public high schools “there’s that sort of pressure to infate the grades because these are the kids who have a shot at your top colleges ,” says Porcaro of o An iety Prep.
One former MCPS teacher, who didn’t want to be identified over concerns of alienating colleagues who are still working in the district, says the frst year she taught AP literature at one of the county’s top high schools, she was called into the department chair’s office and told she wasn’t doling out enough A’s. “I said, Wait ust let the students ad ust to my standards and the A’s will come,’ ” she says. It turns out the students did rise to the challenge, she says, “but I had to ask for that faith.”
Meanwhile, at MCPS high schools with a higher population of low-income students, there’s pressure to infate grades so that more students pass, says Seneca Valley’s Gardner. She says the grade infation at her school is the same grade infation as at the county’s top schools, it ust looks different. At Seneca Valley, nearly half of the students received free or reduced priced meals during the 2022-23 school year, according to county data.
“I think every teacher has seen that ‘hall walker’ that is in the hallway constantly, like, oh my gosh, every period yet they’ve got a 3.0 average,” she says. “I think it’s a problem at every school.”
That’s what Richter, the Gaithersburg High School teacher, is worried about. “We used to focus on educating students; now we focus on graduating them,” he says. “ f we ust give every kid in town a diploma, we’d have a 100% graduation rate , but we wouldn’t be an educated population. ur security personnel are really trying, and I think our administrators are trying, but I’m not sure what we can actually do. t’s maddening and it makes me sad.”
Journalist Amy Halpern has worked in print and television news and as the associate producer of an Emmy Award-winning documentary. She lives in Potomac.
ACROSS MONTGOMERY COUNTY, STUDENTS ARE DRAWN TO AREAS
DESIGNED JUST FOR THEM—libraries with cozy nooks that nurture a love of reading, art-filled atriums that bring friends together, a weaving room that fosters creativity. Here’s a look at some spots that inspire learning and connection.
BY CARALEE ADAMS
BROWN
COOL SCHOOL
SPACES
Washington Waldorf School art teacher
Barbara Bancroft (standing, left) with students in the school’s weaving room
PHOTOS BY SKIP
STEPPING UP
TWINS JAMES AND THOMAS SHELTON, 18, POINT TO THE SITTING STEPS in the new Boehly Upper School building at Landon School in Bethesda as their go-to place in the morning or during free period during their senior year.
The Silver Spring brothers, who graduated from the private school in May, say the centralized casual seating area was popular with their friends.
“It’s a good spot to just get work done and also have a random chat about the day,” Thomas says. “Sometimes you have a teacher walk by and we have a nice conversation that we otherwise wouldn’t have.”
The nine oversize steps are a gathering place in the middle of the building in an open space that connects the frst two levels. n the main level, at the base of the steps, there is a large interactive touch screen and foor space with room for presentations. The area also has been used for musical performances, robotics classes and foosball championships. The second foor serves as a terrace and spectator space, of sorts, where students can look down at a meeting or show.
STAINED GLASS ‘SERENITY’
WHEN ROCHAMBEAU, THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, purchased its property on Bethesda’s Forest Road in 1975, the former Catholic school chapel became a library. “We felt there was a special ambience and spirit in here,” Hélène Fabre, Rochambeau’s executive director, says of the worship spaceturned-library for about 560 students in grades 6-12. “There’s some serenity that totally suits how we use the place.”
In 2016, the private school renovated the library to make it brighter and more welcoming to students. The altar was removed to make room for comfortable chairs, couches and access to an extensive collection of French comic books. Up front, there’s a piano students can play during designated times—softly, so as not to disturb others.
Along one side of the library, sheer fabric is draped from above and pillows are scattered on the foor to create an intimate reading space. The refresh included lighter paint to match the original stained glass windows. “We really wanted to preserve [the windows] because they are part of the uniqueness of this place,” Fabre says.
James enjoyed playing his violin in concerts held at the base of the sitting steps. “It’s a really close space, so you feel like you’re with everyone rather than in a concert hall where you’re 50 feet away from anyone,” he says.
Sitting steps are increasingly used as a device to promote engagement and provide a crossroads for incidental contact, says Bill Spack, a founding principal at CGS Architects in Washington, D.C., who led the Landon building design that was completed in September 2023.
“When we started on the project, we talked a lot about the character and culture of Landon … about community and a strong bond with these young men,” he says. “ ur goal was to fnd a way to manifest that in a space in the building that previously hadn’t existed.”
In working on academic projects, Spack says he’s always searching for the “heart” of the school, and that was part of the intent of the sitting steps “We were looking to defne a clearly identifable interior space that says, ‘This is the core, the essence, the heart of the Landon School.’ ”
Student art and writings are exhibited throughout the library. Drawings hang from above, sculptures are placed atop bookshelves, and poetry is set out for others to read. Senior Ravaka Ramarozatovo, 16, of Bethesda, remembers the excitement of seeing her art displayed in the library for the frst time in middle school. “It was amazing because people you don’t know come up to you and ask, ‘Is that your artwork?’ ” she says. Ravaka says she likes the way the library showcases the school’s artistic diversity and gives students a chance to recognize each other’s talents. Special events are often held in the library, where the furniture is movable and can be arranged to foster more personal interaction between guest speakers and students. The school has hosted a variety of French actors, athletes and authors. Last December, retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer came to campus and spoke to the students entirely in French, Fabre says. Another time, young adult fction writer Marc evy met with students who were asked to write a continuation of one of his novels. Ravaka says sharing ideas in the library, where everyone was seated close together, felt less formal and made it more fun.
MEDIA CENTER MASTERCLASS
The space is decorated in green, blue and orange with lots of wood paneling. There’s a triangle theme throughout—in the shapes of the windows and cozy reading nooks. “That idea was inspired by kids taking their own pillows or blankets to make a fort,” Field says of the triangular, tent-like motif.
Fourth grade teacher Orly Santos says she likes the open atmosphere and light in the new media center. “It’s more welcoming than before,” she says. Santos particularly enjoys taking her students there to be inspired as they work on writing assignments. “I like to get out of the classroom to fnd diferent spaces to be creative,” she says. The fe ible seating is a plus, too, Santos says. Tables, couches and chairs are on rollers so kids can move them around to work in small groups.
THERE’S A TRIANGLE THEME THROUGHOUT— IN THE SHAPES OF THE WINDOWS AND COZY READING NOOKS.
“That idea was inspired by kids taking their own pillows or blankets to make a fort,” says Braden Field, associate principal at MTFA Architecture.
AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ BURNT MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, the media center was intentionally placed up front for students to see as they come into the building. With sweeping windows, it projects out from the second foor and over the main entrance.
The media center was part of an entire rebuild of the Silver Spring school that was completed in August 2023. From the beginning of the design process, the community was clear that it wanted the media center to be a prominent feature and central gathering place, says Braden Field, associate principal at MTFA Architecture in Arlington, Virginia.
ocating the media center on the second foor meant the ceilings could be higher (14 feet instead of 9), and large windows could let in an abundance of natural light. Instead of looking into the parking lot, students have a view into nearby trees.
The media center is nearly double the size of the previous one with room for more books and activities, says ori Savoy, the school’s media specialist. In the middle is a “maker space” that includes a kitchen island and two large tables with si chairs each where students work with magnets, puzzles, Lego bricks and robotics projects.
Savoy says she loves how the media center is bright and comfortable, attracting students to come in before and after school. “ t’s a very inviting space where everybody feels welcome,” she says.
A-PLUS ATRIUM
WHIMSICAL LIGHTS AND A LARGE MOBILE ARE HANGING IN THE CENTER OF THE ATRIUM as you walk into the Pen y Bryn Upper School Building on the Sandy Spring Friends School campus.
The multiuse space that opened in 2021 is primarily for students to socialize, do schoolwork and collaborate on small group projects. It’s also been the site of class meetings, college counseling activities, a gathering spot for faculty socials and parentteacher conferences, and the occasional daytime cofeehouse where students perform music, recite poetry or dance.
When deciding on the details for the three-story, 42,200-squarefoot building, the school held informal design charettes to solicit feedback. “Everyone was pretty energized about having a new upper school,” says Margaret Rosser, associate director of marketing and communications at the private school in Sandy Spring. The community liked the idea of a large common area and nimble spaces where people could collaborate. There also was support for it to be a sustainable building that aligned with the school’s values.
Large windows bring lots of natural light into the building,
which has a forest-themed palette of green, gray and white. Reclaimed wood from old campus ash trees were incorporated into the accents in the atrium. There are also wooden benches made by the students. The building gets high marks for energy e ciency, wellness and indoor air uality with a system that completely exchanges the air 20 times an hour, according to Rebecca Kolowé, director of operations.
“We wanted something that refected the culture of the school, which is a school that’s very student centered,” says David Hickson, former head of the upper school who is now a teacher there. “We believe students need to participate in the life and decision-making of the school. And we’re big believers in the outdoor environment and wanting that to be part of what we’re exposed to during our day.”
Gus Romanow, an 18-year-old from Silver Spring who graduated in June, says he often hung out in the sunlit atrium to get his homework done: “It’s a guaranteed space of quiet and calm because there is a collective awareness that people are working in here—that’s what’s really great about it.”
WEAVING WONDER
THE WEAVING ROOM AT WASHINGTON WALDORF SCHOOL IS BEHIND A SERIES OF DOORS buried deep in the basement of the Bethesda private school. “We had to wheelbarrow out all the dirt in there to create this room,” says Barbara Bancroft, an art teacher at the school for 30 years and chair of the high school art department. “It’s a nice, private, sequestered place insulated by earth all around it.”
Created in 2015, the room is windowless and small—yet the eight wooden looms made of maple and vibrant colored cotton and wool yarn give it beauty, Bancroft says. There is carpeting on the foor and three foor lamps throughout for a homey feel. It’s a place where all sophomores at Waldorf (generally, about 16) spend a semester.
Weaving is part of a progression of required high school art classes that include drawing, clay modeling, watercolor painting
and stone carving. Art is integrated into the curriculum from the early grades and becomes its own discipline in high school.
“We use art as a tool for teaching,” says Alia Goodyear, director of communications and marketing at Washington Waldorf. “Multidisciplinary lessons include art to allow the students to interact with the material in diferent ways.”
Initially with weaving, Bancroft says, students can be anxious about coordinating their hands and feet to operate the loom. “The whole body is working in rhythm to push this thing forward while your mind is structuring the pattern and the color choice,” she says. The process requires focus. Still, the weaving room is a quiet spot tucked underneath other classrooms, giving it a secluded, relaxed vibe. Students often talk while they work on the soothing, rhythmic art, Bancroft says.
“When you’re in any kind of classroom or group situation, if
it’s really working, there’s usually a point where you can feel like everyone is into it and the room sort of breathes a little bit,” Bancroft says.
The experience helps build confidence in students as they learn to take risks, she says, and then see their 5- to 7-foot woven pieces displayed in the front lobby of the school.
Junior Kate Gisvold says she didn’t know the weaving room existed until she was in ninth grade. “It’s a pretty cool space—and small. It’s cozy,” says the 16-year-
old from Alexandria, Virginia.
Learning to use the loom was a bit frustrating at frst, ate says, but she quickly got the hang of it. “I enjoyed the amount of creative freedom we got making our own patterns,” she says of her weaving, which featured purple, blue and yellow. “Everyone had a similar fnal product but there was a little individuality.”
Caralee Adams has been a freelance writer for nearly 30 years covering education and other issues.
THE ROOM IS WINDOWLESS AND SMALL— yet the eight wooden looms made of maple and vibrant colored cotton and wool yarn give it beauty, says art teacher Barbara Bancroft.
COLLEGE BOUND
THE FOLLOWING IS A CHART OF THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES where 2024 graduates from eight Montgomery County high schools applied, were accepted and enrolled. The chart is based on data provided by the students, so school officials could not guarantee its accuracy. For brevity’s sake, we have limited the list to colleges and universities with at least six applicants from the combined high schools.
The schools are Albert Einstein in Kensington; Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walt Whitman and Walter Johnson in Bethesda; Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring; Richard Montgomery and Thomas S. Wootton in Rockville; and Winston Churchill in Potomac.
BOWDOIN
Albert Einstein BethesdaChevy Chase Montgomery Blair Richard Montgomery Walt Whitman Walter Johnson Winston Churchill Thomas S. Wootton
TOTAL
COMPILED
DANA GERBER
UNIVERSITY 7408703101042851550103073158324 COLBY COLLEGE 2008304004002005205106203680
COLGATE UNIVERSITY 41012427104102101252122084061194
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 72143352741193019102221511243221511518811
COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS 0003212101003003201004111762
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY 210320110210110000000000960 THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER 11064011011010043022010017120
COLORADO COLLEGE 1107313202002001002101001971
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES 1000002103101004303201101580
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY 74155165062121075044132040284
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO 1101004400000001103100001070
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 1510340076116021351143333400531135097
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY 000000222100000320100220962
CONNECTICUT COLLEGE 30053053150000063153000029122
THE COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART 6102112111001002100002001642
COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY 510320103142110011011121027113
CORNELL UNIVERSITY 13103965731288913955336686435569654475441
CURRY COLLEGE 0000000001100001112107501181
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE 3001911211033212233233224002610171117
DAVIDSON COLLEGE 40040060030020011102005003710
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY 3000004108003201003001002330
DENISON UNIVERSITY 43171122142121195130031034156
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY 410650118310044044074100037264
DICKINSON COLLEGE 1272168112627412008611254840774011
DREW UNIVERSITY 1001103214000001101000001141
DREXEL UNIVERSITY 301633625329170271222817018171271232118321613415
DUKE UNIVERSITY 60035116710683352224876240068333681715
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY 31042010032011000021154019111
FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE 60077164152000042165064040243
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY 26821480251412543650420116314110125589 FURMAN UNIVERSITY 2100001000001004311002211162
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY 13814425137172501153319426141271003121026112514 THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 253041131501438795472510301015416459301039312034
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY 9002684226026117308647128413244732455530
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 81017406211057416164261035315070316376
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY 000100000000100321000210731
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY 420420166161011000061121039142
GETTYSBURG COLLEGE 21021122153143022062033026173
GOUCHER COLLEGE 10703101580600630220139096064360
GRINNELL COLLEGE 2003212102100000003111001352
HAMILTON COLLEGE 1005315004320002002005202483
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE 000220100000210000000100630
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY 510105022100121197010093064074311
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 600220065116422340034002200461129344
HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE 0002007200000003000002001420
HAVERFORD COLLEGE 200742111091021010043272043124
HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY 3304102000001001100001001250
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY 40051020063152086141075041182
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES 00054011000010033154000015121
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY 51033074083222053151065141224
HOOD COLLEGE 126210711144141133011041010056238
HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE 100000100100000000441000741
HOWARD UNIVERSITY 3482321018132634993094541247116922568826 IE UNIVERSITY, MADRID 0004110002000003002111001222
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 000100100110110110200110840
INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON 9505043775128624436759538603446550732223236
INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS 100110110400000100000000820 IONA UNIVERSITY 100000210100100100000000610 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY 1001101000001103201002211061 ITHACA COLLEGE 11901310316100721110211310105163396
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY 0004202101001001101000001040
JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY 100210000100110000111000631
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY 1650412952916233313525330211542133220227014017
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY 3521332211274946258223132495371764833422
JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE 210221210110000110000000861
JUNIATA COLLEGE 1001105201001110003113311583
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY 0001000002101111103313001162
KENYON COLLEGE 53176122131000021042021025163
LA SALLE UNIVERSITY 000320210000110200000000840
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE 41065040030020063073021134131
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY 000331221100000000110100862 LE MOYNE COLLEGE 2202212104000000001002001351
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY 1811196015308107102711216301440124303
LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE 3105106510000003200000001791 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY 1002003000001001100002101020
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 000420100000000000110000630
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY 42116121136114541180981121021472935812
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY 000108042060000065130030032151 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO 300151511080320530220104042052361
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND 39164302015428321701192870201111614219911213
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS 000221110110000000210000651 LYNN UNIVERSITY 0002201001000003202102001150 MACALESTER COLLEGE 530630118263320064121010039226 MANHATTAN COLLEGE 100320200111110000000000841 MARIST COLLEGE 33044032032121022054221024193
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY 00044022211110022021100012104
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY 000100210200000000100000610
MARY BALDWIN UNIVERSITY 2101002005100000000003001320
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY 000110100100000100100210720
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE 216216135162162987878782422421498989643030131651651493131311,0131,013717
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 245430161522342520851420142110521676013
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE 51183196030000032043110033153
MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY 1331171021781124176062251073084377 MUHLENBERG COLLEGE 73021063052021033164033034201
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY 173047726710470635561441364631721384186125
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 1001104109101102103102102370
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY 210710199012211510210071063069273
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY 0005204303001102101003101980
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY 4001750138118201270176124412550130373
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 183161254651325910361154793816601667728548014841
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY 70037314833563141434362261155753132716
NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY 136233020100101022010032053057272
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 0003302001005201000001001350 OBERLIN COLLEGE 5221914116103310221971511771664410
OBERLIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC 100210110000110100100000730
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE 11185143020011032133210023155
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 12613824219812810544367483895425577521732019947 OHIO UNIVERSITY 3201101100002102202101101290
OHIO WESLEYAN
SALISBURY UNIVERSITY 37235473934125445852722318121371852919428116630
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY 95232011110022220000021020115
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY 2001471000100000118000021030161
SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE 11054022000010022031011015110
SAVANNAH COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY 22000022015110001100002212282
SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY 2200003104001100000002001240
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 000110300210000000100000720
SKIDMORE COLLEGE 411108041042100022251031032164
STANFORD
STETSON
STEVENS
STEVENSON
STONY
SUFFOLK
BERKELEY 3003130514034203600482019104430266150
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS 41087110507303201370730128064361
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE 00074174110202011116301131179388367 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES 4002900337133303742584225114241261237 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE 000110110100000210000210740 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
Albert Einstein
BethesdaChevy Chase Montgomery Blair
Richard Montgomery Walt Whitman Walter Johnson Winston Churchill
Thomas S. Wootton
TOTAL
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER 3005412103001101001001101771
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, COLORADO SPRINGS 300000110000100100110000720
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT 14112231311571163016110181512611121152149868
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON 00044011000000011010054012100
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE 37202413012311044904636433220572733929332018413
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER 63176053042010084064133040252
UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 410750125181110000000011033132
THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH 000000210100100221111210952
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 410289214403821301012110327112552182176817
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA 6103014360023322383278033102301461785816
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW 0002100000000004401003201070
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD 110210110200000110100100940
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI’I AT MĀNOA 000100000000211110000210631
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON 5101101106003221003001112163
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO 2102101001003221104302101692 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 4001391391513042441102581152051141221636
UNIVERSITY OF
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY 107381492471118110622164541915111827382471255171098016967518123
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK 1837431317112203831656336812080307137772721605033814856369174772,5371,090454
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST 1341342422219417621410026151371401912118210411
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON 40085031041021065051111033151
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI 186436163254125313253301422031361042226119 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 25318313882156110939110599157761181081356748943
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES 210961161309101292141401361179092594
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI 1111210100021043154052131032224
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 110000220000220110000110770 UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 110100111100110100211111953
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE 32075066010011055053032031240
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN 000310110000100210000100830
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO 200110210100000000000110730
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE 22065022030011022000042020140
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL 17326664558086103801526683453287645025920
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO 3102102003102001001001001530
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON 3001040610900300730111151054101
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME 300120012201300900101170017228353
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 100000000100320110110110850
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON 1041131209825200001211210075057425
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 2700433298639161613354225333951185223422
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH 562631006551086341343451148181281094129645156114492555638
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 43098021020054066294054042302
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND 103316517421120511186116311351962910
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER 600141001460266118621080161021891122556
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO 1003103001004007202103002440
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO 30022054110021043040060027101
UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON 100000210320210000000000840
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 106131213114225423120450383491745332626014225
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA 100530300130043054052092045140 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 11003583441133100314237102532481042623714
UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS 100930211100000108100021025132
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA 83026160113018331917186113101594118589
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE 400231327312162930158024921330116457
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN 8201911203036113131211024114630205154
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS 000100000400100110100110920
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 2224205418213211310132083046276
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH 30063011051022097355153036224
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT 2115442304342751574138047366342342115022716127
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA 362181104647186738160801147186971355966424
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 101025141491533442249142161249130912387710
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO 000000220000000320100000640
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON 121063387251313873279286429531946423536815231
URSINUS COLLEGE 21022032020000010054131018101
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY 5103110230034332921454320114600233128
VASSAR COLLEGE 3001341131061040061084420055115
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY 1330278116208001241184021611431129304
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 15811580251208109608729501170100543
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 0002103113321100001001001163
VIRGINIA TECH 45101633696525478183824410604579835119149558226250
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY 100000421210000000000000731
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY 91017745109001320237221421310110238
WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY 630100107140000000011010023111
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY 1006303007002003001002002530
WASHINGTON COLLEGE 126143194041000022063033040222
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY 100221000000000100110320851
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS 4001642321133102420352118224152203178
Albert Einstein BethesdaChevy Chase Montgomery Blair
Richard Montgomery Walt Whitman Walter Johnson Winston Churchill Thomas S. Wootton TOTAL
LYDIA CHOPIVSKY BENSON
Lydia Benson is an award-winning Associate Broker (GRI) and Realtor® with Long & Foster, recipient of Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda and Washingtonian’s Best of Washingtonian numerous times, and the 2024 recipient of the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors® Gold Award.
Known for her honesty, con dentiality, and tireless work ethic, Lydia creates an unparalleled real estate experience by leveraging her decades of local knowledge and her genuine commitment to her clients.
Specialization: Luxury Properties, First-Time Homebuyers, Investment Properties. Licensed in DC | MD | VA.
PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE
PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE 2024-2025
Our area boasts a number of excellent private schools, but choosing the right one for your child may not always be easy. There are scores of good schools to choose from and a countless number of factors that you need to consider. Co-ed or single gender? A school with a religious affiliation or not? What’s the educational philosophy and approach?
Bethesda Magazine’s PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE will help you to find the school that’s the best fit. In the following pages, we provide essential information on 23 schools. You’ll find the information you need to narrow your search and to start your exploration in a targeted and effective way.
Montessori Society, Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools Founded: 1932
Bethesda Country Day School 5615 Beech Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 877-959-3747
BethesdaCountryDaySchool.com
Grades: 2 years - Kindergarten
Gender: Co-ed
Uniform: No
Bus transportation: No Founded: 1995
The Bethesda Montessori School 7611 Clarendon Road Bethesda, MD 20814
301-986-1260 bethesdamontessori.com
Lowell School
Grades: 3-6-year-olds, Pre-K & Accredited
Kindergarten
Gender: Coed
Total number of students: 80
Average class size: Offering three, multi-age Montessori classrooms
Religious affiliation: None
Grade foreign language first offered: Pre-K
Languages offered: French
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $13,900
Uniform: No
Bus transportation: No
Number of art studios: 1
Theater productions per year: 2
Music ensembles: 3
Accreditations/Affiliations: Montessori
Schools of Maryland, Accredited Kindergarten. Licensed by State of MD, Association Montessori Internationale, American Montessori Society
Edmund Burke 4101 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20008
Founded in 1965, Lowell School is a progressive co-ed prekindergarten through eighth-grade school in Washington, D.C. Through an individualized approach in which learning is joyful, Lowell equips children to think critically, engage purposefully and live authentically.
At Lowell, respect for children guides all we do. Our multidisciplinary academic environment and social-emotional curriculum are inextricably linked, leading to highly motivated learners with a strong sense of self-worth and efficacy who are prepared, both academically and socially, to navigate challenges and embrace future opportunities.
Our students engage in purposeful academic courses and project-based learning experiences, with equal emphasis on building conceptual understanding and developing creative, critical and analytical skills. Lowell’s innovative, expert and thoughtful educators design lessons integrated across subjects and guided by student interests and what’s happening in the world around them.
We teach our students to embrace the humanity, dignity and individuality of all, and partner with families to create a successful, dynamic learning community prepared to change the world.
Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools; Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Founded: 1968
Geneva Day School
11931 Seven Locks Road
Potomac, MD 20854
301-340-7704
genevadayschool.org
Grades: 2 years old-Kindergarten
Gender: Co-ed
Total number of students: 181
Average class size: Varies by age
Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 - varies by age
Ages 2-4, 14:3
Ages 3-4, 18:3
Kindergarten, 22:3
Religious affiliation: Non-denominational Grade foreign language first offered: 3 years old
Languages offered: Spanish and Chinese Enrichment available
Lowest tuition for 5-day half-day students: $8,860
Students receiving financial aid: 20%
Uniform: No
Bus transportation: No
Teacher retention rate: 98%
Accreditations/Affiliations: Maryland State Department of Education Office of Childcare, National Childcare Association, Maryland State Department of Education Office of Nonpublic Schools, Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education
Certified Green School, Maryland State
Childcare Association, National Association of Education for Young Children
Barrie School is a progressive independent school, serving students from 3 months to grade 12, that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation and responsibility through innovation in learning. Our intentional educational throughline—from Montessori (3 months to grade 5) to Project-Based Learning (grades 6 to 12)—cultivates learning that lasts. Offering challenging educational experiences that unlock intrinsic motivation and innovation in both students and faculty, our community fosters a deep sense of belonging and empowers and honors student voice and responsibility. Coming together in our truly diverse student body of engaged citizens confident to be themselves, bringing diverse and inclusive worldviews.
Located in Silver Spring, Md., Barrie School provides an extraordinary learning environment integrating local, national and global educational opportunities. Our 45-acre campus is home to the world-renowned Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies—one of the largest school-based teacher training programs in the country—and Barrie Camp, a Washington, D.C. area tradition since the 1950s.
• Safe, nurturing environment
• Enthusiastic and caring teachers
• Links to Learning curriculum
• Ongoing parent communication 5615 Beech Avenue, Bethesda
Interested
Wednesday, Sep 18 & Oct 2
Admission Tour
Lower School: 9 - 10:15a
Middle & Upper School: 11a - 12:15p
Saturday, Oct 19
Fall Admission Program
Lower School: 9 - 10:15a
Middle & Upper School: 11a - 12:15p
Following the program, stay for our annual Fall Festival, 1-4p! Fun for the whole family!
Accreditations/Affiliations: Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Maryland State Department of Education, Jesuit Province of Maryland
Founded: 1789
German International School
Washington D.C. 8617 Chateau Drive
Potomac, MD 20854
301-365-3807
giswashington.org
Grades: Age 2 – Grade 12
Gender: Co-ed
Total number of students: 530
Average class size: 18 (Elementary and Upper Schools)
Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
Religious affiliation: None
Programs: Strong focus on World Languages
and STEM
Grade foreign language first offered: German starting in Pre-K
Languages offered: German, English, French, Spanish, Latin
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $15,840 2-year-old (half day): $19,505 (full day also available); 3 & 4-year-old (half day): $15,840 (full-day also available); Kindergarten (5-year-old program): $23,315; Grade 1-6: $ 24,525; Grades 7-12: $ 25,370
Uniform: No
Bus transportation: DC, MD, NOVA Teacher retention rate: 90%
Music ensembles: Choir and orchestra, string orchestra, band
Accreditations/Affiliations: Accredited by the Federal Republic of Germany’s Central Office for Schools Abroad and approved by Maryland State Department of Education, Member of AISGW, Part of Network of 140 German Schools around the globe
Founded: 1961
Green
Acres School
11701 Danville Drive
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-881-4100
greenacres.org
Grades: Age 3–Grade 8
Gender: Gender Inclusive
Total number of students: 115
Average class size: 11
Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
Religious affiliation: None
Grade foreign language first offered: Pre-K
Languages offered: Spanish
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $30,430 (Pre-K, full day)
physical education, yoga, plus integrated speech/OT
Accreditations/Affiliations: State approved curriculum
Annual Applications per opening: Please inquire
Founded: 2004
Landon School 6101 Wilson Ln. Bethesda, MD 20817
301-320-3200
Landon.net
Grades: 3-12
Gender: Male
Lower School Enrollment: 180
Middle School Enrollment: 150
Upper School Enrollment: 370
Average class size: 14
Student/teacher ratio: 6:1
Languages offered: Chinese, French, Spanish, Latin
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $47,340
Annual tuition for grade 12: $52,360
Uniform: No uniform, yes dress code
Bus transportation: Yes
AP courses offered: No AP courses offered, but 24 honors and accelerated courses are available
US Varsity sports: Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Water Polo, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track and Field, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Wrestling, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Rugby, Tennis
Number of art studios: 12, including a new
woodworking studio
Music ensembles: 6
Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS
Founded: 1929
Lowell School
1640 Kalmia Road NW Washington, D.C. 20012
202-577-2000
lowellschool.org
Grades: PK–8
Gender: Co-ed
Total number of students: 320
Average class size: 16
Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
Religious affiliation: None
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $43,000 (Pre-Primary School)
Students receiving financial aid: 1/3
Uniform: No
Bus transportation: Yes
Languages: Beginning in Pre-Primary School, students are introduced to the Spanish language, and upon entering Primary School, it becomes part of their regular class schedule.
STEAM: Each division has a dedicated science lab, library, art studio, plus access to maker spaces.
Music and Theater: Students begin music education in Pre-Primary School, carrying through to Middle School when they can participate in performing groups such as an instrumental ensemble or pop band. Numerous performances are staged each
Edmund Burke School
At Edmund Burke School , we strive for balance among academic rigor, civic engagement and student well-being. We're a city school for sixth through 12th grade, drawing upon the vast resources of our nation's capital and bringing together students who are different from one another in many ways.
Burke students are diverse, kind, creative and witty—with a penchant for exploration. Our focus on access (and "no cut" policy) means they can pick up a new instrument, try out a new sport and delve into robotics or creative writing. Students can pursue subjects at a high level—from microbiology research to Spanish literature—while having space to explore new interests and time to enjoy their school years. Our faculty holds students to high expectations and appreciates them as individual, unique learners. Burke builds civic engagement programs into the school day, rather than requiring outside service hours, keeping students attuned to the broader world and how they might make positive change within it.
One block from the Metro (Red Line) | Morning bus service available
year in the campus’ Black Box Theatre and dance studio.
Physical Education: In addition to other important skills and activities, students in 1st–5th grade have regular swim rotations in Lowell’s indoor pool as part of their PE program, and Middle School students have swimming as an elective option.
Athletics: Lowell runs a comprehensive nocut program: Co-ed Cross Country (4th–8th grade), Boys and Girls Soccer (4th–5th grade, Middle School), Boys and Girls Basketball (4th–5th grade, Middle School), Girls Lacrosse (Middle School), Baseball (Middle School), Co-ed Jr. Track and Field (Kindergarten–5th grade), Co-ed Sr. Track and Field (Middle School), and Co-ed Swimming.
Founded: 1965
McLean School
Kindergarten-4: 11810 Falls Road
Grades 5-8: 8224 Lochinver Lane
Potomac, MD 20854
301-299-8277
mcleanschool.org
Grades: K-12
Gender: Co-ed
Total number of students: 495
SCHOOL PROFILE
Enrollment: 560
Average class size: 19
Student/Teacher Ratio: 1:15
Annual Tuition (grade 12): $26,370
Year Founded: 1961
Average class size: 10+
Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
Religious affiliation: None
Grade foreign language first offered: Grade 5 Languages offered: Spanish, Latin, American
Theater productions per year: 2 drama/ comedy per year, 2 musical per year, 2 musical concerts per division, talent shows
Music ensembles: Strings Ensemble, Jazz Band, Rock, Pop & Blues Band, Chorus Accreditations/Affiliations: Maryland
Department of Education, National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Association of Independent Schools in Greater Washington,The Black Student Fund, Latino Student Fund, International Dyslexia Association, Learning Disabilities Association, Secondary School Admission Test Board, Association
of Independent School Admission
Professionals, National Business Officers Association
Founded: 1954
Oneness-Family Montessori School
6701 Wisconsin Ave.
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
HIGH SCHOOL: 9411 Connecticut Ave. Kensington, MD 20895
301-652-7751
onenessfamily.org
Grades: Ages 2-Grade 12
Gender: Co-ed
Total number of students: 145
Average class size: 20
Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
Religious affiliation: Non-sectarian
Grade foreign language first offered: PS
Languages offered: Spanish, French, Italian, American Sign Language
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $23,600
Annual tuition for grade 12: $37,250
Students receiving financial aid: 29%
Uniform: No
Bus transportation: No
Number of art studios: 2
Theater productions per year: 1
Music ensembles: 2
Accreditations/Affiliations: International Montessori Council / American Montessori Society / NAIS
Located in idyllic Potomac, MD, our private, coeducational institution serves around 530 students from preschool, starting at age 2, through 12th grade. Our diverse student body shares an interest in German language and culture, creating a vibrant international community.
As the only full-time German day school in Washington, D.C., we offer a rigorous German curriculum infused with American elements. Graduates earn the prestigious German International Abitur (DIA) and a high school diploma, preparing them for top universities worldwide.
For motivated, academically strong students up to grade five with little or no German language skills, our FastTrack Program provides an accelerated path to language proficiency.
The German International School Washington D.C. is accredited by the German Ministry of Education and approved by the Maryland Department of Education. The German curriculum is renowned for its high academic standards. Join us for an Open House:
• Friday, November 8th, 2024: Preschool (2-4-year-old program)
• Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024: School Entry Level (5-year-old program)
• Tuesday, February 11th, 2025: Grades 1-12 Register at: www.giswashington.org/openhouse
Geneva Day School encourages a lifelong love of learning through exceptional classes and extraordinary programs for children aged two through kindergarten. Its spiraling curriculum is powered by STEAM and includes specialized art, environmental education, music, mindfulness and physical education. Staff are passionate and highly trained, including in the Geneva Method, which promotes student-led discovery of pre-academics.
In the words of our seasoned instructor, Mrs. Jay, “Geneva is a global village where staff are always ready to listen and children are loved, supported and encouraged to be their best.”
Sense-of-self flourishes as young scholars define their interests and see themselves as custodians of the environment. Accordingly, the Geneva Method celebrates student contri
butions, whether these occur while tending gardens, devising science experiments or en
gaging in field trips. Earth Day is every day.
As Potomac's hidden gem, Geneva is a Maryland Green School with a sprawling campus and nearby creek. An innovative "outdoor classroom,” bamboo forest, tree-stump obstacle course, Monarch Butterfly Waystation and thrilling playground invite adventure throughout all seasons. See you outside!
St. John’s College High School is an independent, Catholic, coeducational college preparatory school in the Lasallian tradition. Committed to academic excellence, St. John’s prepares students for lives of leadership, achievement and service to the community. Our graduates have a 100 percent college acceptance rate, and the class of 2024 collectively earned more than $45,500,000 in scholarships. Recent capital improvements to our 30-acre campus include the Center for Performance and Leadership (2020), the Cap Mona Family Student Center (2017), and the Donatelli Center for the Visual and Performing Arts (2016). Unique to the St. John’s experience are the Cadet Corps Leadership Program, the Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact, and state-ofthe-art athletic training facilities.
Throughout the years, St. John’s has become synonymous with excellence, diversity, leadership and service. Our mission and vision emphasize holistic personal growth and innovative thinking, which strengthens and continually transforms our school and alumni community.
Bus transportation: No
Teacher retention rate: 93%
Varsity sports: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, softball, cross country
Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, basketball, cross county, softball
Teacher retention rate: 90% for three consecutive years
Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic Grade foreign language first offered: Grade 6
Languages offered: Spanish
Specials: STEM Lab offers weekly interactive science and engineering lessons for all students Pre-K to Grade 8
Annual tuition (Pre-K): $11,425
Annual tuition (K-8): $13,000
Students receiving financial aid: 12%
Uniform: Yes
Bus transportation: No
On-site after school care available until 6 P.M. daily
Interscholastic Sports: Interscholastic CYO sports begin in Grade 3 and continue to grade 8, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, cross country and track & field Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 4
Accreditations/Affiliations: Archdiocese of Washington Founded: 1953
St. John’s College High School
2607 Military Road NW Chevy Chase, D.C. 20015 202-363-2316
stjohnschs.org
Grades: 9-12
Gender: Coed
Total number of students: 1,285
Average class size: 20
Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
Religious affiliation: Catholic/Lasallian
Tradition
Seniors with National Merit recognition: 11
Grade foreign language first offered: 9
Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $24,900
Annual tuition for grade 12: $24,900
Students receiving financial aid: 39%
Uniform: Yes
Bus transportation: Yes
Number of AP courses offered: 24
Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 77%
Varsity sports: baseball, basketball (boys and girls), crew, cross country/track, equestrian team, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey (boys and girls), lacrosse (boys and girls), rugby (boys JV and varsity and girls club), soccer (boys and girls), softball, swim and dive, tennis (boys and girls),
volleyball, wrestling
Number of art studios: 2
Theater productions per year: 2-3
Music ensembles: 20
Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, DENA Brothers of the Christian Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, National Catholic Education Association
Annual applications per opening: 4:1
Founded: 1851
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart 9101 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814
Middle School Interscholastic Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Swimming, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & field, Volleyball
Number of art studios: 9
Theater productions per year: 2 in Upper School, 2 in Middle School
Music ensembles: Upper school Heartfelt (a cappella), chorus, handbells, instrumental ensemble, band, orchestra, and strings Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS, Middle States Associations Of Colleges And Schools, Network Of Sacred Heart Schools, National Catholic Education Association, National Association Of Independent Schools, International Coalition of Girls' Schools, National Association Of Principals Of Schools For Girls, Association For Supervision And Curriculum Development, Independent Education, National Association For The Education Of Young Children Founded: 1923
Washington Episcopal School
5600 Little Falls Parkway
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-652-7878
w-e-s.org
Grades: PK3-Grade 8
Gender: Co-ed
Total number of students: 320
Average class size: 14
Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
Religious affiliation: Episcopal
Grade foreign language first offered: PK4
Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $17,000
Annual tuition for Grade 8: $42,000
Students receiving financial aid: 27%
Uniform: Yes
Bus transportation: No
Teacher retention rate: 8 years
Interscholastic Sports: Soccer, cross country, basketball, lacrosse, track and field
Number of art studios: 3
Theater productions per year: Every grade performs at least once/year for entire school Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of Independent Maryland Schools; Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington; Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association; National Association of Episcopal Schools; National Association of Independent Schools; Independent Education; Black and Latino Student Fund. Founded: 1986
“It’s a really unique school where the faculty has a deep understanding for what these kids need and they’ve created an environment for them to really grow and thrive.” – Maddux Parent
The Maddux School teaches young children to recognize and build on their unique strengths and learning styles. We’re a small, private, general education school that provides strong academics, a distinctive social learning curriculum, and differentiated instruction to children in pre-kindergarten through second grade.
Our structured classes with low student/teacher ratios are led by highly educated and experienced teachers. A speech language and occupational therapist are also key members of each teaching team to support students with language, social and executive function challenges.
Social opportunities and skill development are embedded in all activities throughout the day and across core subjects including math, language arts and science as well as in art, music, technology, physical education and yoga.
Surveyed parents attribute their children’s increased self-esteem, flexibility, self-advocacy and ability to make friends to their time at Maddux. “The Maddux School is a hidden gem!”
Landon School is a national leader in boys’ college preparatory education. A private, all-boys school serving grades three through 12, Landon is set on an expansive, 75-acre campus in Bethesda, Md., just outside the nation’s capital. Our program is designed intentionally for boys to thrive. Newly renovated spaces and facilities include our STEM center with state-of-the-art labs and our Applied Technology and Innovation academic department, emboldening boys to think critically and broadly. Our average class size is 14 students, 70 percent of our full-time faculty have advanced degrees, and 36 percent of students are students of color. We want each student to bring his energy, goodness, ideas, humor, creativity, curiosity and intensity to every class, performance, project, and practice. The men and women of Landon who will be his teachers, coaches and mentors will challenge him to bring and achieve his best.
Through accelerated and honors courses that exceed AP course standards, 22 arts offerings and 21 athletics options, and the commitment and high expectations of the entire Landon community, boys are prepared for college and lifelong success.
One look at the activity on our 75-acre campus illustrates Landon’s top priority: to create an experience that spurs
SCHOOL PROFILE
Enrollment: 120
Grades: Infants - transitional Kindergarten
Average class size: varies by age
Student/Teacher Ratio: varies by age
Year Founded: 1980
Georgetown Early School
Wisconsin
Love Where They Learn! With over 40 years of experience and 40,000 little footsteps walking through their doors, Georgetown Hill Early School is leading the childcare industry with its play-based, joyful approach to learning. Using its research-based P.L.A.N. (Play, Learning, Arts, and Nurturing) curriculum, Georgetown Hill Early School provides a child- and family-first environment in which happy teachers create happy children, and in return happy parents. Their whole-child approach to learning is rooted in early childhood best practice and is adapted to meet the changing needs of families and to support the growth and development of each child. Georgetown Hill Early School is a nonprofit organization and believes in giving back to the families and communities it serves. Georgetown Hill opened in Bethesda-Chevy Chase in 2021 and is now enrolling Infants – Transitional Kindergarten with enhanced health and safety protocols and a growing school family that can’t wait to meet you!
Founded in 1934, Green Acres School is among the nation’s foremost progressive schools. Firmly rooted in the belief that education is the engine for social change, founder Alice Mendham Powell envisioned and built a school that would give children a voice, empower them to think critically and inventively about real-world problems, and equip them with the skills they need to participate fully in a democracy.
This legacy of engaged citizenship and academic excellence continues today at Green Acres and is bolstered by the school’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, social justice, service learning and environmental stewardship.
Green Acres graduates find success in high school, college, and beyond, using their solid intellectual foundation, creativity and strong ethical framework to emerge as leaders in a wide variety of disciplines.
Located on 15 wooded acres in North Bethesda, Green Acres is a MAEOE Maryland Green School. Learning extends into an oasis of pristine forest, outdoor pathways, gardens, and streams—particularly advantageous for STEAM learning—as well as playgrounds, athletic fields, a greenhouse and an on-site pool.
In 1988, Oneness-Family School (OFS) Founder and Head of Upper School Andrew Kutt set out to create a school built upon Maria Montessori’s philosophy — where the center of the educational process is the student. Three decades later, what began with 10 students in a public school library is now a global family with thousands of alumni students following their dreams across the planet.
Oneness-Family Montessori School, which serves students in preschool through high school, and is home to students from more than 60 countries, is a family-focused school that encourages a strong partnership between school and home. Its learning program combines a research-based Montessori curriculum with an emphasis on well-being, community, character and lifelong learning.
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School is a Catholic, co-educational school that inspires students to excel, serve and love. Rooted in the Xaverian values of compassion and trust, Good Counsel provides a supportive environment in which students grow academically, personally and spiritually.
Academics: Advanced Placement courses • Global Programs: Exchange trips, classes, clubs • International Baccalaureate Program • Ryken Program for students with mild learning differences • STEM Program: top 2 percent of Project Lead the Way schools nationally
Community: • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program • Service curriculum, local and international • Spiritual retreats and Mass offerings • Small group advisories
Excellence: • 85 percent of faculty hold advanced degrees • 2024 college scholarship offerings > $45+ million • 13 consecutive D.C./MD/VA Speech and Debate Team titles • Several WCAC titles in the past decade • Award-winning visual, instrumental and choral programs
Facilities: • 51-acre campus in Olney, MD • 650 seat Performing Arts Center • 12 Science and State-of-the-art STEM labs • New turf field, baseball stadium and track
SCHOOL PROFILE
Enrollment: 144
Grades: PK-2
Average Class Size: 14
Student/Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Year Founded: 1944
The Primary Day School
7300 River Road • Bethesda, MD 20817 • 301-365-4355 theprimarydayschool.org
The Primary Day School is a nondenominational, diverse, coeducational, independent school for children in pre-kindergarten through grade 2. These are the four most crucial learning years of our students lives, a time when they are ready for quantum leaps of development. At Primary Day, everything we do focuses on helping young children flourish, both academically and emotionally, during this vitally important time of life.
The Primary Day curriculum is designed specifically to engage young learners. Children gain essential building blocks in reading, writing, phonovisual, mathematics, science, STEM, Spanish, social studies, music, physical education and art, creating a firm foundation for ongoing school success and continued personal growth. Primary Day provides enrichment after-care options for families.
Individual tours and parent interviews with our head of school are offered during the school day and open houses are hosted in the fall and winter. We also invite you to join our popular Ultimate STEM event. For updated information please see our website.
For additional information about Primary Day, please call 301-365-4355, email us at admission@theprimarydayschool.org or visit our website at www.theprimarydayschool.org
St. Jane de Chantal is a Catholic, coeducational elementary school in Bethesda, MD. Throughout the last seven decades, De Chantal teachers and families have educated and raised children as a community and look forward to continuing this tradition. We will use this school year to discover our history and celebrate our future.
The school has two classrooms per grade and an average of 20 students in each classroom. In recognition of academic excellence, The U.S. Department of Education has twice named De Chantal a Blue Ribbon School.
Although academics are a priority and teachers are dedicated to the educational success of each child, we also value and educate the whole child. De Chantal recognizes that our students will spend their childhood with us, and we strive to cultivate a sense of curiosity and discovery in the children.
Through proud traditions and a close, caring community, De Chantal educates students with strong values and academic excellence. De Chantal is the school where your child will grow in spirit and mind, the school where your child will be known and loved, and the school where you can be involved.
For more information about De Chantal and our admissions process please contact Christy Scango at cscango@dechantal.org or visit our website dechantal.org
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart empowers leaders to serve with faith, intellect and confidence. We are an all-girls, Catholic, independent school for grades one through 12, with a co-ed program for Pre-K through Kindergarten. Rooted in a 200-year tradition of Sacred Heart education and a global network of 41 countries and 150 schools, Stone Ridge educates the hearts and minds of our students so that they may grow in wisdom, faith, grace, purpose and integrity. The Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education guide us. With these Goals we commit to educate to a personal and active faith in God, a deep respect for intellectual values, a social awareness that impels to action, a building of community as a Christian value, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. Our beautiful 35acre campus is centrally located in Bethesda, Md. Bus transportation is available throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
Empowering leaders to serve with faith, intellect and confdence.
UPPER SCHOOL (Grades 9-12) Sunday, October 20, 2024
MIDDLE SCHOOL (Grades 5-8) Monday, November 11, 2024
LOWER SCHOOL (Pre-K-Grade 4) Visit our website for Gator Gatherings.
We are a Catholic, independent school for girls in grades 1-12, with co-educational Pre-K and Kindergarten, located in Bethesda, Maryland. Bus transportation is available throughout the Washington metropolitan area. www.stoneridgeschool.org
Washington Episcopal School (WES) nurtures kindness, creates confidence and prepares every child for success in the top high schools and beyond. Our school teaches values and puts the focus on joy-filled classrooms and experiential learning—WES students love coming to school.
Our PK3-through-grade 8 model assures that WES puts appropriate focus on students at each level, with our middle school students becoming leaders and role models in our purposefully small community.
In our early childhood program, children dive into hands-on activities that spark their cognitive, social, emotional and physical growth — while enjoying ample playtime. In elementary and middle school, students develop courage, humility and compassion as they learn to take risks, advocate for themselves and become inspiring trailblazers.
WES is properly known for adventure-packed study trips. Young students venture from apple orchards to the Chesapeake Bay. Older students take week-long trips to the desert southwest, Italy, France and Spain—creating unforgettable learning experiences beyond the classroom. Come to see this transformative education in action. Join us at an admission event! Call us today for more details.
Women who INSPIRE
From left: Marissa Mitchell, Simona Cabana, Cynthia Bryant, Anne Derse, Karyn Onyeneho and Rosario “Paola” Velasquez
Cynthia Bryant
Cynthia Bryant and her guide dog, Summer
At14, Cynthia Bryant was in the waiting room of a Kansas City, Missouri, hospital. Her mother, a philanthropist, and father, an internal medicine doctor, had been taking her to eye specialists across the Midwest, concerned about her peripheral vision. On that day, her mother was consulting yet another physician.
Suddently, a hospital social worker sidled up to the teenager with brochures about welfare and other government support programs. Just as the woman began telling her that she would need these services someday, Cynthia’s mother appeared and shooed the social worker away. There would be no talk of government assistance, her mother told her, and no matter what lay ahead, she would grow up to accomplish whatever goals she set for herself.
Not long after, Cynthia learned her diagnosis: a rare genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The disease slowly breaks down cells in the retina until all you can see are shadows of light. Having RP, she was told, meant that she’d eventually go blind.
Bryant has given variations of her speech via Zoom to audiences around the world, as well as in person in South Korea, throughout the U.S. and in venues closer to her Chevy Chase home. Her guide dog, Summer, a 9-year-old yellow Labrador retriever mix, is always with her. It’s Summer who gives her the freedom to walk with confdence, Bryant says. t’s Summer who sits at her feet as she delivers her speeches.
“It’s a cold wet morning; I can feel the dampness on my skin,” her “walks” often begin. She goes on to detail her journey from her townhouse in Chevy Chase to the Friendship Heights Metro station, including the scent of her favorite tree in bloom, the sounds of the “symphony of birds,” and noticing how the coos of doves and the drumming of woodpeckers give way to the whoosh of rushing cars and the crunch of shoes on roadway gravel.
Now 61, Bryant is a professional mediator and chairs the board of trustees of The Seeing ye, a nonproft based in Morristown, ew ersey, that is the oldest existing guide dog school in the world, according to its website.
Bryant enrolled in the program in her 40s, two decades after she’d been declared legally blind and several years after she’d begun using a cane. She’s the frst graduate of Seeing ye to serve as board chair in the organization’s 95-year history. She’s also the frst person of color to serve in the role, as well as the frst woman to assume the chairmanship since Dorothy Harrison Eustis, who co-founded the organization in 1929.
Bryant is also a sought-after public speaker who uses the tools she honed over her 23 years as an attorney with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the skills she’s perfected as a negotiator— both during her time at the FCC and since her retirement in 2022. Now her goal is to “build a bridge,” she says, between the sighted and the sightless, the Black community and white, and those who share disparate worldviews.
Her empathy speeches, as she calls them, conclude with “sensory mindfulness walks,” which aren’t walks at all, but almost poetic renditions of her typical morning stroll. She explains that 80% to 85% of what sighted people take in around them is through their eyes, and they are missing out on the joys that their other senses ofer.
—Cynthia Bryant
A native of Kansas City, Bryant relocated to Washington, D.C., at 37, when she could no longer see at night, because the city had public transportation and the Kennedy Center, and she knew she needed both, she says. She’d studied both music and French as an undergraduate and had grown up playing three instruments and watching the Kennedy Center Honors on television. By the time her vision had deteriorated enough to enroll in The Seeing Eye, she had already worked as a preschool teacher outside Boston, attended the University of Kansas School of Law, and served as an attorney with the Missouri Public Service Commission.
“She has a beautiful voice, and she has perfect pitch,” says Bryant’s friend Carrie Clark, who adds that at the end of Bryant’s speeches she’ll often “pick a song that has to do with [what] she’s spoken about, or something that she thinks will inspire people, and she’ll just sing the song.”
Bryant realized her gift of bringing people together during her early years at the FCC. She was representing Native American tribes in complaints against telecommunication carriers. It was so rewarding to get the two sides talking that she soon signed up for classes through the Harvard Negotiation Institute, entered a leadership program through Blacks in Government, and few to Georgia to interview former President Jimmy Carter about his negotiating strategies during the Camp David Accords.
Now she encourages people not to focus so much on what they see with their eyes; it can drive people apart. Instead, she says it’s important to consider where others are coming from and, fguratively, to walk in their shoes. “The only way to master the story,” she says, “is to get back to interaction through our other senses.”
Simona Cabana
Simona Cabana at Java Nation in Silver Spring
Simona
Cabana will never forget how she spent her frst month in the .S.—hiding behind the counter of the frst and only ava ation cofee shop and watching as the small staff interacted with the few patrons who walked through the door.
t was 2016, and Cabana was 20 years old and newly married. She’d ust arrived from her home country of Belarus and spoke broken nglish. Her husband, Henry, a general contractor, had built out the ensington shop four years earlier and hired a manager to run the place, but it hadn’t turned a profit. Henry was about to sell the business to a man who wanted to turn it into a Mexican restaurant— that was, unless his new wife wanted to take a crack at running it.
She did, she told him. But frst she had to learn the language, study what the business was doing wrong, and fgure out how to do it better.
Fast forward to today. Cabana, now 28, is president and C of a local coffee and restaurant empire. She’s grown ava ation to include four locations—in orth Bethesda, ensington, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg—plus a commissary in orth Bethesda and a roastery in Frederick. Her staff now numbers more than 130, she says, and includes both an e ecutive chef and a pastry chef who create an e tensive menu of cocktails, salads, entrees, desserts and breakfast pastries that are trucked daily to each restaurant. This year, she says, ava ation sales are e pected to e ceed 10 million.
Cabana arrived. “To be honest, we were having issues,” Hernandez says, but then Cabana took over and followed through on nearly every suggestion ofered by customers, including the addition of new menu items Cabana created, changing the cofee supplier, and eventually roasting her own beans in the back of the store, Hernandez says.
Cabana left her family home at 17 to move to Belarus’ capital city of Minsk, where she spent her days at the public library studying business strategies of successful entrepreneurs. While also freelancing as a graphic designer, a client introduced her to her future husband, who was in the U.S. and needed help with social media and menu design for his startup coffee venture. There was chemistry from the start, Cabana says, and soon Henry few to Belarus to meet her and her family. He ended up proposing on the trip, and the two have been together since.
“WhenyouareayoungCEO, Ithinkyouhave…tostay humbleaboutwhat[you] know[or]don’tknow.I neverstoplearning, never stopeducatingmyself, neverstoptryingto explorenewthings. ”
—Simona Cabana
Many of Cabana’s original employees have moved into leadership roles. A few had ties to small coffee farms in their home countries, and ava ation, with Cabana at the helm, has provided e uipment so these farms can grow the high end beans used in ava ation’s specialty brews. The company has even supported the villages where they are located, Cabana says, donating funds to one town after it was hit by landslides, and computers and uniforms to local orphanages.
“She made all the good changes,” says ava ation District Manager arla Hernandez, who was one of only fve employees at the ensington store when
Cabana says she had to make the store a success because “it was already like part of our little family.”
ight away “ became the barista, dishwasher, executive chef, food and beverage director. ’d take a shift, would put myself in a schedule, work in the back and the front, opening, closing … and when everyone was gone, ’d stay and roast until , 10 p.m.,” she says. “ took the sales like from 200 a day to 600 and from 1,200 to 2,400. And it basically started skyrocketing.”
Today, videos on large screen monitors run at every ava ation restaurant, showing the farms where it gets its specialty beans, and occasionally Cabana strolling through the felds with a farmhand or foreman. She likes the way the flms help bring customer awareness to the cofee growing process.
Still, the ensington resident isn’t resting on ava ation’s laurels. She’d like to start ofering classes to customers—instructing them on diferent blends and roasting techni ues—as well as entering ava ation’s proprietary cofee in national and international competitions. And she’d like to do more to help small coffee farmers around the world. ater this fall she will visit several small farms in l Salvador.
“When you are a young C , think you have to stay humble about what you know or don’t know,” she says. “ never stop learning, never stop educating myself, never stop trying to e plore new things.”
Anne Derse
Anne Derse at St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church
It’sa Sunday morning in May, and the Rev. Anne Derse, 70, is standing before about 150 parishioners at St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase. Tall and elegant, wearing a long white robe and an embroidered stole, she holds a leather-bound red and gold Gospel book high over her head, then cradles it in her arms to locate the page she wants, and begins reading from the Gospel of Mark in a voice that’s strong and clear— honed from years of public speaking in English, as well as French, Italian, Azerbaijani and Lithuanian.
For more than 30 years, Derse was a U.S. diplomat and Foreign Service o cer. She served as ambassador to Azerbaijan under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and ambassador to Lithuania under President Obama. During her tenure in that Baltic nation, she was instrumental in encouraging the Lithuanian government to criminalize domestic violence against women, promoting LGBTQ+ and other human rights issues, and lobbying the political leadership to address the tragic legacy of the Holocaust in Lithuania.
Largely due to her efforts, Lithuania passed a historic restitution bill, awarding millions of dollars for Jewish property that had been seized by the Nazi government in Germany. It was only the third European country, after Germany and Austria, to pass such a bill. A “door is opening, and an awareness is gradually replacing ignorance,” she told a Lithuanian news outlet at the time.
The Bethesda resident has since become a passionate proponent of interfaith engagement and cooperation among religious groups that call Montgomery County home. As St. John’s Norwood’s minister for community engagement, she has led multifaith vigils—for gun-violence prevention, victims of COVID19, and most recently for peace and humanity, where she welcomed faith leaders from across the spectrum in ofering prayers and words of solace that were intentionally nonpolitical. She’s a regular at rallies and other events in support of any group whose basic human rights are being threatened.
Derse has also been the impetus for projects helping asylum-seeking families from Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East settle in the county and for establishing Nourishing Bethesda, a food distribution nonprofit that feeds nearly 5,000 people each month.
“She’s mesmerizing,” says longtime friend and colleague Nancy Adams, a retired U.S. government trade negotiator who has known Derse since the 1990s, when Derse and her husband, Hank, were stationed in Asia with their four young children. “She’s got such a skill from her years in diplomacy … she’s a motivator [who] helps people recognize what they can achieve together,” Adams says. “When she speaks … it’s just with such a sense of authority, [yet] it’s not dictative, it’s really inspirational.”
Derse was also among a small group of diplomats who established the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and she served as the fnal .S. commissioner on the Tripartite Gold Commission in Belgium, working with colleagues from the United Kingdom and France to adjudicate claims of gold stolen by Adolf Hitler’s Germany from central banks across Europe. Even her roles closer to home were impactful. From 20052006, she served as director for biodefense policy at the Homeland Security Council at the White House under George W. Bush, helping to write the President’s Plan for Fighting Pandemic nfuenza. “ t was a darn good plan,” she says. “And of course, when [President Donald] Trump came in, he threw it out.”
Derse retired from the State Department in 2012 and in 2016 she returned to school to become a deacon in the Episcopal Church. She was ordained in 2018 at the age of 64.
Derse says it wasn’t such a stretch to go from career diplomat to church deacon and community leader. Even during her time in the Foreign Service, she says, “the things that touched my heart were the things that helped change people’s lives. … It was the human stuf that spoke to me.”
Still, her second career came to her as an epiphany. A few years after she returned from her fnal overseas assignment, she was idling in her car at a red light at the intersection of Bethesda’s Bradley Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue and thinking, What am I going to do with the rest of my life? Then she looked up and saw the tower of St. John’s.
She pulled into the parking lot and went inside to see if the priest happened to be there. He was. “You could say it was impulsive, you could say it was a spur of the moment,” Derse says. “Or you could say I was guided to do that.”
Marissa Mitchell
Marissa Mitchell on set at FOX 5
Marissa
Mitchell knew at the age of 9 that she wanted to be a journalist. “Unlike other kids that age, I didn’t run home and watch cartoons. I watched my local news and The Oprah Winfrey Show,” she says. “I wanted to be just like those women on television who delivered information that mattered.”
Today the four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist is FOX 5 DC’s main morning anchor and co-host of the news and lifestyle show Good Day DC. She’s also one of the most altruistic on-air personalities in the Washington, D.C., area, donating hundreds of her of duty hours to charitable causes, from women’s empowerment to raising awareness for missing Black youths “who don’t get the on-air coverage that they deserve,” she says.
Mitchell, 39, arrived in the D.C. area in September 2020 from the Fo a liate in Atlanta and was recruited almost immediately to emcee online charitable functions and lend her presence at 5K and 10K runs. “I do have a bubbly personality … and I think it really stood out at a time [when] people needed to feel special and [be] seen and heard,” she says, referring to the COVID-19 crisis.
violence) to gatherings in support of the arts in D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood to events here in Montgomery County. “She’s not just this distinguished journalist and media personality, but she [is] someone who e emplifes virtues of resilience and grace and determination,” Green says. “She always wants to shine the light on [other] people.”
Mitchell got her journalistic start as a teenager in Atlanta, co-hosting her high school’s televised morning news show, the same show anchored by television personality Ryan Seacrest a decade earlier. When it was time for college, she was ofered a full tuition scholarship to Emory University, not far from her home, where she majored in journalism and political science. After graduation and a couple of advertising and newspaper jobs in Atlanta, she was awarded another full-tuition scholarship, this time from the McCormick Foundation, to Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Illinois, where she earned her master’s degree.
“Todeveloptrustandtobe effective, youhavetobe apartofthecommunity thatyoureporton, and youshouldwanttobe.”
—Marissa Mitchell
As lockdowns ended, requests for her time only grew. Then and now, the Silver Spring resident has continued to ofer a resounding yes to nearly every appeal. “It was just a natural connection that just happened,” she says.
Among the frst to reach out was philanthropist, motivational speaker and entrepreneur Tasheka Green. Weeks after seeing Mitchell on air for the frst time, Green emailed her to ask if she’d emcee the Deborah C. fer Bulgin Memorial Foundation’s annual gala, named in memory of Green’s mother, who died of stomach cancer at the age of 53. The gala was being held online that year due to the pandemic. “I was just drawn to [Mitchell’s] passion. … I saw so much love, so much life, so much purpose in her,” Green says.
Green shared with Mitchell that the foundation awards a scholarship at the gala to a woman who has improved the lives of others so that she can continue with her professional education. “I shared the context and background … and [Mitchell] was like, ‘What a great way to honor and celebrate your mom’s legacy, by awarding women who give back to their community. … I would love to be a part,’ ” Green recalls.
Since then, Mitchell has participated in hundreds of events, from Prince George’s County’s Dancing With the Stars (raising thousands of dollars to fght domestic
On-air reporting jobs followed: Chattanooga, Tennessee; then in Birmingham, Alabama; and later at Fox 5 in Atlanta, where she stayed for four and a half years before being ofered a full-time anchor position in D.C.
Over the course of her career, she’s covered events from the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march on Selma to the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. She has interviewed celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Clint Eastwood to wellness guru Deepak Chopra. Many of her stories have earned national recognition, including her celebrityflled tribute to the late “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin, which earned her a Salute to Excellence Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. She’s also been inducted into Emory’s Hall of Fame, and its 40 Under 40, which “celebrates young alumni who represent the very best in achievement and service,” according to the university.
The stories that mean the most to her, though, are those that show how regular people can inspire others, she says. This summer she won a Capital Emmy award for a discussion series she produced and hosted on mental health awareness, and earlier this year she introduced the weekly Fox 5 feature Motivation with Marissa, where she profles local women who have overcome tremendous odds. She brought the idea to fruition “in hopes that [their] stories will inspire and empower others,” she says. “To develop trust and to be efective, you have to be a part of the community that you report on, and you should want to be.”
Karyn Onyeneho
Karyn Onyeneho at the National Institutes of Health
Itwas 2014, and Karyn Onyeneho was feeling overwhelmed. “I remember in the parking lot walking to my car in the rain,” she recalls. “I didn’t even want to put up my umbrella. I was like, I don’t know if I can do this.”
At the time, she was holding down a full-time, highsecurity clearance position with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and driving almost daily from Silver Spring to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, to earn her master’s degree in health informatics, a three-year program she was determined to complete in one year. She’d already graduated magna cum laude from Howard University, earning a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and management on a full scholarship in half the time of most students.
“I know, it’s crazy … but I do thrive in challenging situations,” says Onyeneho, who went on to earn her Ph.D. from Howard in nutritional sciences in 2022, graduating at the top of her class while working full time at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda.
this is a disease that impacts many people, particularly people of color … we actually are born with genes that predispose us to this disease,” she says. “That’s really what led me to want to continue to stay in the space of genomics.”
After raising money through GoFundMe to travel to Botswana as a doctoral candidate to compare dietary patterns of African and African American adults as risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, she took a job in 2018 with NIH’s All of Us Research Program, a historic initiative focused on treating every individual using precision medicine. As she moved into leadership roles at NIH, she found herself frustrated that there weren’t more resources or nutritional interventions tailored to people of color.
Now 41 and living in Burtonsville, Onyeneho is one of the nation’s leaders in the felds of human genetics and experimental nutrition. The frst in her family to earn a Ph.D., she is senior advisor for federal policy on genomic data sharing and chair of the Data Access Committee at NIH’s National Institute on Aging (NIA).
It’s a complicated title, as many of hers have been. Su ce it to say she’s spent much of her adult life focused on improving the health outcomes of people from every walk of life.
Long before she became a geneticist and nutrition scientist, it was clear that she was going to make an impact, says her mentor, Charles Kenny, who taught her early on at Prince George’s Community College. Even then, he says, “She was leaps and bounds beyond the other students in the class.”
For the past 10 years, Onyeneho’s focus has been on the BIPOC community, which includes Black people, indigenous populations and people of color. She got her motivation after her dad’s mother died of Type 2 diabetes and hadn’t been well enough in her later years to travel from her native Nigeria to the U.S. for treatments. Her mom’s father succumbed to the same disease years earlier.
Onyeneho, a first-generation Nigerian American, started investigating the genetic determinants of Type 2 diabetes in adults of African ancestry and the expressed genes that contribute to the disease. “I realized, wow, so
—Karyn Onyeneho
On her own, she founded a website, Color of Genes, that continues to gain traction in the feld. She hopes it one day will serve as a digital health directory for people across the BIPOC community to connect with BIPOC providers who can help them understand their genetic disease predisposition to diabetes and other diseases, and can address cultural and language barriers that create obstacles to appropriate care.
“I thought, well, what if I were to develop an informational web page that … sheds light on … what is genomics, what is genetic research why is the feld limited in representation across diferent racial and ethnic groups, [and] how can we bridge that gap.”
For example, she says, “My grandmother … didn’t speak fuent nglish. t would have been great if she could have had a provider that … [spoke] Igbo [a language spoken in southeastern Nigeria.]”
Profled in Glamour magazine as one of its 2022 College Women of the Year, Onyeneho called herself a maverick for change. She still sees herself that way. As a woman and a Nigerian American, “I’m like a unicorn in the genomic space,” she says.
“There are … not a lot of … people of color who are … geneticists or even genetic counselors,” she adds, and that means there are too few people in the feld who understand the cultural values that make certain communities hesitant to join clinical trials or donate blood for genomic analysis. If we better understood these communities’ cultural beliefs, perhaps we could better engage these communities, she says.
“I lost two grandparents to the same disease on different sides of my family. … If not for anything, maybe I can save someone else’s grandpa or grandma.”
Rosario ‘Paola’ Velasquez
Rosario “Paola” Velasquez at Silver Spring’s Jackson Road Elementary School
Assoon as Paola Velasquez opens the classroom door, a swarm of kindergartners drape their arms around her in a tight embrace. Little girls with box braids and pigtails, little boys with cornrows and close-cropped Afros— some with shy smiles, others with excited laughs— they quickly pile on, and the hug circle around their principal grows bigger and bigger. The same thing happens in nearly every classroom she enters.
t’s been fve years since elas uez, 44, took over the reins of Jackson Road Elementary School in Silver Spring’s White Oak neighborhood. It’s a Title 1 school with a minority population of more than 95%, where more than 75% of the students qualify for free meals. She started in the role only months before the pandemic hit. Since she’s been at the helm, the school rose from a 3-star rating to a 4 star, according to the Maryland State Department of Education, making it one of only four Title 1 elementary schools in the county (out of 40, according to elas uez) to earn a 4 star rating for the 2022 23 school year, the most current rating year available.
“Many schools throughout the state decreased a star, but we increased,” she says.
When Velasquez graduated from Seneca Valley High School in Germantown in 1998, she watched as other students went of to college. She hadn’t been instructed how to sign up for SATs, fll out college applications or plan for her future. Instead, she took a job as an aide at a day care center, saved money to buy a car, then to pay for classes at Montgomery College, and then to earn her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Maryland, College Park.
While working as a second grade teacher at Whetstone Elementary School in Gaithersburg, she took evening classes to earn her master’s degree in educational leadership and administration, and was propelled toward the principal track, she says, by something one of her professors, a retired MCPS principal, told her: When you have a classroom of 26 or 27 kids, you can impact that many students a year when you are a principal, you can impact an entire school’s worth of students.
The school now ofers free evening English language classes for parents and guardians (along with free child care) a soccer program two private practice therapists who administer one-on-one mental health services to students at no charge a dentist who cleans students’ teeth for free and an optometrist who provides complimentary vision checks and eyeglasses, says Chris Callisto, Jackson Road’s Community School Liaison.
During the 2023 24 school year, ackson oad opened a food pantry, and it began sending bags of food home on Fridays to 80 families. “When you are a child … and your basic needs aren’t being met because of poverty, you’re not thinking so much about going to college … you’re more worried about getting something to eat or clothing or making sure that you’re not going to be homeless,” Velasquez says.
Velasquez knows what it’s like to grow up poor in Montgomery County. She came here from Peru with her parents and three brothers when she was 8. All six lived in the basement of a relative’s house in Germantown while her dad worked as a janitor and painter, and her mom cleaned houses. Her parents saved enough money to move into an apartment, and eventually to buy a small home in Germantown.
—Paola Velasquez
She worked at Weller Road Elementary School in Silver Spring and at Jackson Road, before being named the assistant principal at Germantown’s Sally K. Ride Elementary, and principal intern at Poolesville Elementary. When the top spot opened at Jackson Road, she applied and was selected.
Now the Germantown resident and the single mom of a 15-year-old boy conducts her meetings in English and Spanish so that new families feel welcome, says staf development teacher Jacqueline Cody. And she doesn’t spend her school days behind her desk. “She is in classrooms, responding to support calls and meeting with parents,” Cody says. “This may not sound so signifcant, but I have worked for several principals, and I can tell you that it is.”
nder elas uez’s leadership, the staf receives extra trauma response training because so many Jackson Road students require extra emotional support. “This is something we have invested a lot of time in this year,” Cody says, “because she saw the need and created the space for us to do this.”
“Sometimes, you know, we have kids who … are having a hard time, they’re going through … a crisis, basically [and] it can take … hours out of my day for me to talk to that child,” Velasquez says. “They’re not ready to learn.”
But her goal is to keep them learning and all the while feeling confdent and supported. After all, she says, “they’re going to be the ones who are going to be leading us in the future.”
CULTURE WATCH
Adventure Theatre MTC
SHE PERSISTED
OCT. 4- NOV. 3
A musical full of history and inspiration! Fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. Tickets $27 each adventuretheatre-mtc.org | (301) 634-2270
Imagination Stage
AWARD-WINNING PROFESSIONAL THEATRE, CLASSES, AND CAMPS FOR CHILDREN
FALL CLASSES for ages 1-18 Our programs nurture and empower young people of all abilities in a fun and inclusive environment. Imagination Stage is a great place to make new friends, explore new interests and delve deeper into existing ones. Classes are offered in acting, creative drama, dance, filmmaking, and more. REGISTER TODAY!
Maryland Youth Ballet
COME DANCE WITH US!
2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR – ENROLL TODAY!
Maryland Youth Ballet offers a comprehensive Classical Ballet training program for Children, Youth, and Pre-Professionals ages 2-18 as well as an Extension Program for teens. Classes include Ballet, Pointe, Classical Variations, Partnering, Pilates, Modern, Jazz, and separate classes for boys and/or male identifying students. Exceptional training, experienced faculty, state of the art facility, and professional-caliber performance opportunities. Now Enrolling for the 2024-2025 School Year (some scholarships are available). Audition required for new students 8+.
marylandyouthballet.org | (301) 608-2232
SEPT. 18 – OCT. 27
From the stories of A.A. Milne
Dramatized by Le Clanché du Rand; Music by Allan J. Friedman; Lyrics by A.A. Milne and Kristin Sergel; Directed by Christopher Michael Richardson
A hilarious musical about everyone’s favorite bear! Winnie the Pooh from the 100 Acre Wood is surrounded by Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl in this delightful and gentle musical. Best for ages 3+, Buy your tickets today!
PETITE ROUGE: A CAJUN RED RIDING HOOD DEC. 11 – MARCH 7 (PLAN A HOLIDAY OUTING!)
A classic fairytale set to a bayou beat! Our plucky heroine—now a red-robed little duck—and her ‘fraidy cat friend Te Jean embark on a perilous journey through New Orleans. Best for ages 5+.
imaginationstage.org (301) 280-1660
WINNIE THE POOH
CULTURE WATCH
Akhmedova Ballet Academy (ABA)
PREMIER BALLET SCHOOL!
ABA is dedicated to providing the finest quality ballet training utilizing the Vaganova method, a system of training that is consistent, challenging, inspiring and highly successful. Training daily under Jacqueline Akhmedova’s artistic direction, and her professional faculty’s careful guidance and support, students develop the necessary skills to fully discover and realize their greatest individual potential. akhmedovaballet.org | (301) 593-6262 Contact@AkhmedovaBallet.org
National Philharmonic RACHMANINOFF FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 AT 7:30 PM AT THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE
40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
National Philharmonic opens it’s 40th Anniversary Season on September 14 at The Music Center at Strathmore with Rachmaninoff Festival, featuring three outstanding piano soloists under the baton of guest conductor Joseph Young. Oleg Volkov performs the richly expressive Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Grammy Award Winner Daniil Trifonov brings Rachmaninoff ’s Piano Concerto No. 1 to life, and Sergei Babayan ends the evening with the virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 3. Tickets starting at $2 . All Kids. All Free. All the Time.
Art studios are open year-round by appointment. Meet the artists, see where they work, and learn about their mediums. Spend the day in the country! Follow our map to reach each unique destination as you explore the beauty of Maryland’s countryside. FREE! countrysideartisans.com | art@countrysideartisans.com
Glen Echo Park
ECHO ARTS FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 29 FROM 12 – 5 PM
Join us for Echo Arts Festival at Glen Echo Park! Enjoy live music, dance and movement, captivating art demonstrations, and explore art galleries & open studios. Don’t miss the final carousel rides of the 2024 season. Indulge in delicious options from various food trucks. It’s a vibrant celebration of creativity and community!
glenechopark.org/echoarts | (301) 634 – 2222
ArFALLts 2024
PREVIEW
PHOTO BY GREG STALEY
From thought-provoking exhibitions to appearances by Hollywood celebrities,
it’s shaping up to be a busy season
for arts lovers across the county
BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE
SEPT. 5-29 The Trawick Prize: Bethesda
Contemporary Art Awards
This annual exhibition features pieces by finalists in The Trawick Prize competition, which awards $10,000 to the best in show. It’s open to artists from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., working in any media. Among this year’s finalists is James Terrell’s “The Last Supper” (left). Past exhibitions have included large-scale sculptures, video installations and performance art, as well as paintings, drawings and photography. An opening reception is planned for Sept. 13 at Gallery B bethesda.org
SEPT. 12-DEC.
6 Faces of the Forest: Frontline of Resilience
Rock Creek Conservancy presents this exhibition of large-scale botanical fiber sculptures (pictured) and small drawings by artist Sophia McCrocklin at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda. An opening reception is planned for Sept. 12. A symposium, “If the Forest Could Talk, What Would it Say?,” with the artist and other panelists is scheduled for Oct. 3, and a discussion about the future of Rock Creek Park moderated by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Dist. 8) is slated for Nov. 25. rockcreekconservancy.org
LITERATURE
SEPT. 28 F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival
OCT. 2-23 Synchronicity
In one image by Olney photographer Kim Keller, a model in a picture on the side of a bus appears to nearly kick a bystander in the head. In another, a man wearing a Star Wars stormtrooper helmet casually crosses a city intersection along with tourists in shorts and T-shirts. Keller uses her camera to capture scenes like these that happen at random but seem to communicate something meaningful. Her street photography will be on display in an exhibition at Artists & Makers Studios in Rockville. An opening reception is planned for Oct. 4. artistsandmakersstudios.com
Two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward is the Fitzgerald Award honoree at this annual festival that celebrates F. Scott Fitzgerald and other prominent American authors with readings, author discussions, writing workshops, awards and book signings. Ward, the author of Salvage the Bones and Sing, Unburied, Sing among her four novels, and an English professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, will give a reading at the event. Other highlights include readings and remarks by keynote speaker David Ignatius, author and Washington Post foreign affairs columnist, and special guest Kiese Laymon, author of the novel Long Division and a professor of English and creative writing at Rice University in Houston. Events take place at the Rockville campus of Montgomery College fitzgeraldfestival.com
COURTESY KIM KELLER
SEPT. 11-OCT. 6 Sojourners
Revolving around a love triangle among three young Nigerian immigrants in Texas in the 1970s, this show is the first in playwright Mfoniso Udofia’s projected nine-part multigenerational Ufot Cycle, which will examine the Nigerian American experience through the eyes of the Ufot family. In Sojourners, at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre, the characters must decide whether to return to Nigeria after finishing their education or stay in America and make a life for themselves. roundhousetheatre.org
SEPT. 18-OCT. 27 Winnie the Pooh A.A. Milne’s classic character is joined by Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl in this gentle musical for children age 3 and older at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. Set during one busy day in the Hundred Acre Wood, there’s a Heffalump to catch, Eeyore’s tail to find and a misunderstanding between Rabbit and Kanga to sort out. imaginationstage.org
SEPT. 27-OCT. 20 Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground
With the presidential election fast approaching, this one-man show at Olney Theatre Center looks back to a time in history, but also speaks to the present. Starring Tony Award winner John Rubinstein (pictured), it’s set in 1962 as President Dwight Eisenhower finds out he’s been ranked toward the bottom of a list of the best presidents in history. From his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he defends his life and career, pointing out the leadership a president must project and the responsibilities they must shoulder. olneytheatre.org
OCT. 4-NOV. 3 She Persisted
Based on the book by Chelsea Clinton, this time-traveling musical at Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo follows fourth grader Naomi’s field trip to a women’s history museum where she encounters inspirational women—including Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner and Sonia Sotomayor—who overcame barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. The show is recommended for all ages. adventuretheatre-mtc.org
OCT. 19-NOV. 3 Astro Boy and the God of Comics
The iconic manga character Astro Boy comes to the stage at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre in this retro-futuristic production presented by Flying V Theatre. Puppets, illustrations and live actors will blend to tell a multimedia story of artist and cartoonist Osamu Tezuka and his creation through 10 “episodes.” The show is recommended for age 13 and older due to possible adult language and references to topics such as death and war. flyingvtheatre.com
OCT. 24-JAN. 5 Disney’s Frozen
Sure, you’ve seen the animated movie a million times. But if you think have an idea of what to expect from Olney Theatre Center’s production of the Disney hit, “let it go.” Starring two women of color including Anna (Alex De Bard), this production directed by Alan Muraoka of Sesame Street aims to please adults as well as kids. The theater’s website says the musical would probably receive a PG rating if it were a film. olneytheatre.org
NOV. 20-DEC. 22 A Hanukkah Carol, or Gelt Trip! The Musical
This world premiere at Round House Theatre in Bethesda puts a Hanukkah spin on A Christmas Carol. Millennial influencer Chava Kanipshin is visited by a series of ghosts who lead her through Hanukkahs past, present and future to reconnect with her spirit of generosity, Jewish identity and supporters in real life, not just online. roundhousetheatre.org
DEC. 11-MARCH 7 Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood
It’s Little Red Riding Hood but with a Cajun twist in this update of the classic tale at Bethesda’s Imagination Stage Petite Rouge, a red-robed duck, and her cat set off to bring Grand-mere some gumbo, but they encounter a Big Bad Gator who chases them through New Orleans. Expect Zydeco music and a chorus of swamp dwellers in this show that’s best for age 5 and older. imaginationstage.org
DEC. 6-JAN. 5 ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
Traditionally, not a creature stirs on Christmas Eve, not even a mouse. But that’s not the case in this tribute to the holiday season at Glen Echo’s Adventure Theatre MTC. After Santa missed his house last year, a mouse goes on a wild adventure with an elf and a spunky little girl. The show is appropriate for all ages. adventuretheatre-mtc.org
COMEDY & VARIETY
SEPT. 10 Mikey Day and
Ego Nwodim
The two Saturday Night Live cast members are joined by Los Angeles-based writer and comedian Amy Silverberg at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center in Rockville for a night of stand-up comedy. Day started at SNL as a writer and went on to become a cast member, playing President Joe Biden in a 2023 Halloween sketch, and cracking up fellow cast member Heidi Gardner as the Butt-Head to guest host Ryan Gosling’s Beavis in a sketch earlier this year. He’s also the host of the show Is It Cake? on Netflix. In addition to SNL, Nwodim, a Baltimore native, has appeared in the movies Players, Spin Me Round and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile montgomerycollege.edu/events/robert-e-parilla-performing-arts-center/guest-artist-series.html
MUSIC
NOV. 7 Giancarlo Esposito
Known for his roles as terrifying drug kingpin Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and the dangerous Imperial leader Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, Esposito comes to Rockville’s Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center for a moderated discussion on his nearly five-decade career as a film, television and stage actor, director and producer. He’ll discuss the hurdles people of color face in the industry and how he embraced his racial identity in his acting. montgomerycollege.edu/events/ robert-e-parilla-performing-artscenter/guest-artist-series.html
DEC. 4 A Swingin’ Little Christmas! Starring Jane Lynch
If you like your holidays flavored with some mid-century Christmas kitsch,
SEPT. 13 BSO Fusion—And I Love Her: The Beatles Reimagined
In this concert at The Music Center at Strathmore, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Steve Hackman, performs a musical tribute to the Fab Four, the women who influenced them and the unforgettable characters they created in their songs. bsomusic.org
OCT. 5 Meshell Ndegeocello
The culmination of Strathmore’s series marking the 100th birthday of writer James Baldwin, this concert at The Music Center at Strathmore features the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, joined by her band and guest performers. Inspired by Baldwin’s use of writing to empower others, Ndegeocello utilizes her music, which draws on rock, hip-hop, R&B and spoken word, to engage with and pay tribute to his work. strathmore.org
MUSIC
SEPT. 22 Rosanne Cash
The American roots music icon and daughter of Johnny Cash comes to The Music Center at Strathmore for a concert marking the re-release of her album The Wheel and 30 years of stories and songs. A four-time Grammy Award winner, she’s also an author and the first female composer to win the MacDowell Medal, given to “artists who have made exceptional contributions to American culture.” strathmore.org
OCT. 9 Neko Case
The singer-songwriter’s career has stretched over decades and musical genres, drawing from country, folk, indie rock, pop and punk. Known for her clear contralto voice and cryptic lyrics, she has released seven solo studio albums as well as collaborated with indie rock band The New Pornographers and with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs in their group Case/ Lang/Veirs. With a career-spanning retrospective album released in 2022 and a memoir due out in January, she visits The Music Center at Strathmore on her tour this fall. strathmore.org
OCT. 12 Tori Kelly
The one-time American Idol contestant and Grammy Award winner stops by The Fillmore Silver Spring on her Purple Skies tour supporting her album TORI which features pop music inspired by tunes from the late 1990s and early 2000s. In addition to releasing five albums, Kelly’s also known for voicing the elephant Meena in the animated movies Sing and Sing 2. fillmoresilverspring.com
OCT. 18 Judah & the Lion
Formed in 2011, the folk-rock group is made up of Judah Akers and Brian Macdonald, who met while attending college at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Their concert at The Fillmore Silver Spring is in support of their latest album, The Process, which is based on different stages of grief and was written after Akers faced a tough stretch in his life, including a divorce and the deaths of family members.
fillmoresilverspring.com
MUSIC
NOV. 1 Judy Collins and Madeleine Peyroux
Collins (left), a folk legend, will perform her 1967 album Wildflowers in its entirety at The Music Center at Strathmore. Included on the album is her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” for which Collins won a Grammy. Sharing the bill, Peyroux (right), a jazz vocalist, will perform hits from her album Careless Love and other recent releases. strathmore.org
NOV. 9 Tyler Hubbard
One half of the country duo Florida Georgia Line, Hubbard is touring solo after the breakup of the pair in 2022. He swings by The Fillmore Silver Spring
NOV. 15-16 Dru Hill
Before Sisqo was rapping about thongs, he was singing with Dru Hill, the R&B group from Baltimore that became famous in the 1990s for songs such as “In My Bed,” “Never Make a Promise” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” The group will perform two shows featuring original and newer members at the Bethesda Theater bethesdatheater.com
NOV. 30 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
An international cast of dancers in lavish costumes stars onstage along with puppets and acrobats in this traditional take on the classic Tchaikovsky ballet at The Music Center at Strathmore strathmore.org
DEC. 13 BSO: Cirque Nutcracker
Troupe Vertigo blends elements of circus acrobatics, dance and theater in this performance of The Nutcracker backed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at The Music Center at Strathmore bsomusic.org
SEPT.
19-OCT.
10 AFI Latin American Film Festival
Set to coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year, the festival features movies from Latin American countries as well as Spain and Portugal at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring. Last year’s showcase offered more than 40 films. Some screenings include Q&As with filmmakers and embassy-sponsored receptions. afisilver.afi.com/silver/laff
OCT.
11-24
Noir City: DC
This festival at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring features a curated collection of films noir.
This year, the festival presents a series of double features, pairing American and British noirs with thematically linked foreign-language movies. Eddie Muller, a writer, film historian and Turner Classic Movies host, will introduce select screenings. Muller is founder of the Film Noir Foundation, which restores and preserves movies from the genre. Proceeds from the festival go to the foundation. afisilver.afi.com
DEC. 4-22 AFI European Union Film Showcase
You don’t need a passport to see the best films from Europe this season; just head to Silver Spring. The annual AFI European Union Film Showcase, now in its 37th year, features the best movies from across the continent at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Last year’s films included Academy Award contenders and U.S. premieres. Select screenings include Q&A sessions with filmmakers. afisilver.afi.com
A scene from the film Sujo
A scene from Smog
ROSANNE CASH
Sun, Sept 22
Thirty years of stories and songs
MARIZA
Thu, Oct 3
Portuguese fado icon
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO: NO MORE WATER/THE GOSPEL OF JAMES BALDWIN
Sat, Oct 5
Theatrical tribute though jazz, neo-soul, and spoken word
NEKO CASE WITH IMAAD WASIF
Wed, Oct 9
Folk-rock resonating with honesty and storytelling
AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS
Fri, Oct 18
Celebration of Cuba’s musical heritage
RICHARD
THOMPSON
SHIP TO SHORE ELECTRIC FULL BAND TOUR WITH KACY & CLAYTON
Sun, Oct 20
Early innovator of British folk rock
MALEVO
Sun, Oct 27
Modern Argentine malambo
Nightly, Sept 6–Oct 6
In this free outdoor installation, moving images transform trees on Strathmore’s 16-acre campus into dynamic, sculptural monuments paying homage to the achievements and social impact of six individuals who work in climate, environmental stewardship, or resource justice in the DMV.
L–R: Afro-Cuban All Stars, Mariza, Rosanne Cash by Pamela Springsteen, Malevo, Richard Thompson, Neko Case, Meshell Ndegeocello by Andre Wagner
Talk to Ted Leonsis and it quickly becomes clear that the titan of Washington, D.C., sports thinks big. The Potomac resident has always been at the forefront of change. As an undergraduate in the 1970s at Georgetown University, he says, he used the only computer on campus to build an algorithm to determine when Ernest Hemingway wrote The Old Man and the Sea. In his 20s, he founded LIST, a personal computing magazine that he sold two years later for millions. After he started and sold another company, this one to America Online, he joined AOL and helped turn it into a behemoth. He sent AOL’s first Instant Message, in 1993, to his wife, Lynn: “Don’t be scared ... it is me. Love you and miss you.”
“He really anticipates where things are going, not just next year, but five years and 10 years from now. So he is always trying to push the envelope,” says his son, Zach, president of media and new enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, his father’s umbrella company that owns the NBA’s Wizards, WNBA’s Mystics and NHL’s Capitals, among other properties. “He lives by a motto of, ‘If you are not growing and advancing, you’re dying.’ ”
Ted Leonsis, who chairs both the NBA and NHL media committees, thought he was again ahead of the curve when he announced at a splashy press conference last December that he was moving his Wizards and Caps across the Potomac River to a soon-to-be-built entertainment district. It
FROM: Brooklyn, New York
LIVES IN: Potomac
AGE: 68
COLLEGE: Bachelor’s degree in American studies from Georgetown University
OCCUPATION: Founder, chairman, managing partner and chief executive officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Previously president and vice chairman of AOL.
Ted Leonsis at Monumental Sports & Entertainment headquarters in Washington, D.C.
would, he envisioned, enrich the community and the teams—and, presumably, himself. Leonsis, who doesn’t so much answer questions as use them as launching pads to explore much larger ideas, has long championed the idea that the DMV—the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia—are not three distinct entities, but rather one massive “super community” that runs from Delaware south to Richmond.
“Worldwide, there are going to be 10 super-cities,” he says. “There’ll be four in North America. We have the ingredients: the airports, the industry, the sports teams, the universities. But you need to pull it all together. We need to be one of those four.”
Evidently it’s a concept that some have yet to embrace, which makes it easy to see why he was at least partially blindsided by heavy opposition to the move to Virginia. Longtime Washington Times sports columnist Thom Loverro wrote that Leonsis’ performance at the press conference “came of like Transparent Ted was dancing on the District’s grave.” Ouch.
When politics and public opinion quashed the plan 15 weeks later, it was a rare loss for a man not used to coming up short, at least not of the court. The day after the Virginia deal died, Monumental announced that it had reached an agreement with the District in which the city will spend more than $500 million to keep the Wizards and Capitals at an eventually renovated Capital One Arena in Chinatown. (The company says it plans to spend at least $300 million on the project as well.)
“If we hadn’t decided to try to go to Virginia, I don’t think that the city would have reacted positively the way they [did] to create a next-generation kind of partnership,” Leonsis says. “Because it’s not just about the money to rehab the building. There’s a new crime bill that was passed. There’s a new organizational structure put in place around what should we do in downtown D.C. The Metro has been reinvigorated, and we’re all working together to try and restart, reimagine, reinvigorate downtown D.C. So I think we will look back at this and see it was very catalytic to big change in D.C.”
Bethesda Magazine interviewed Leonsis at his o ce in Capital ne Arena in ovember, emailed him follow-up questions in January, and spoke with him via Zoom in May. The interviews have been combined and lightly edited for clarity and length.
What went wrong with the Virginia deal?
I remember when I had my last meeting with [Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser]. I said, ‘This is going to this committee in Virginia, and I’ve been told that when they approve something—it’s all in private, it’s not open to the public—that 100% of the time the deal has gone through. And that’s why this is being announced this week. The governor has confdence in this. But we should stay close because you never know what’s going to happen.’ I also told the mayor, ‘I’m not going anywhere. My investment company Revolution is focused on D.C., [as is] my philanthropy at Georgetown and my work with D.C. [College Access Program].’ I said to the mayor, ‘Let’s be nice, let’s take the high road.’
I was very surprised by the politics in Virginia. I had always thought of Virginia as a well-managed, business-focused state. Now I can say that it was easier and more
rational to do business with the mayor and the council in D.C. than it was to deal with people in Virginia. I had one meeting with [Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas] and was told, ‘Don’t tell anybody about the meeting. No tweeting. No grandstanding.’ And I got home that night and she put up a tweet of a graveyard with [the arena deal] being buried in it. [Laughs]
That was not a typical way of recruiting a $6 billion company that would drive a lot of revenues for the state. It was surprising. My belief is that policy and partnership will lead to prosperity, and we were not getting that in Virginia. The mayor did a great job, and I’m proud of her for saying, ‘You shouldn’t leave. Here’s what we can do for you. Here’s how we can work together.’ And so they won the deal fair and square, and Virginia lost the deal.
Did you anticipate the level of criticism you were going to take when you announced the move?
No. I think I underestimated, ‘You’re abandoning D.C.,’ because I really didn’t believe that. This 70-acre plot of land of which we were taking the frst 12 acres is positioned as being right across from
A teenage Ted with his high school trophies
Washington National Airport. And the publication that was covering this the most was the Washington Business Journal, and they’re headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. And so I misjudged, ‘You’re abandoning Washington by moving 3½ miles away.’ And I was wrong in that. So, you know, lesson learned.
When you read or heard some of those criticisms, did it hurt personally?
I’m a grown-up. I understand the game. I think I’ll look back at this year and say, ‘Let’s see. You had three teams make the playofs. You got a deal with the city for $500-plus million and a partnership and services agreement to move forward. Your Cava investment in a D.C.-based company was the o. 1 P for the year. Your family’s healthy. You have another grandchild on the way.’ had a hell of a great year. But I understand that some people in the media felt this was a uicy sub ect to go after. have to live with it, and have to live with these people and communicate with these people. And everyone has their problems. I’ll use, as an example, Bradley Beal. He was one of our Wizards players. He had a no-trade contract, and he wanted to be traded. He went to Phoenix. When we announced we were moving, he found it necessary to get online and say, ‘You’re making a big mistake. You shouldn’t be moving.’ I thought that was gratuitous, but I didn’t say anything. They made the playofs and got swept in the frst round. And there’s a lot of criticism of Bradley Beal. That’s how life is, right? You can criticize. Can you take the criticism back? t’s the world we live in.
There are many different ways to make money—you know a lot of them. Why sports?
It’s not about money. I think the social responsibility and the higher calling of sports are to bring a community closer together. The making of these memories between fathers and sons, that was ingrained in me really early. I was a very poor kid growing up in Brooklyn, New York. My dad was a waiter. On occasion, I’d get to go to a Mets game. Occasionally, I’d get to go to a Jets game. When the Mets won the World Series
in 1 6 , we lived in an apartment house and people poured out and were beeping their horns and hugging. t’s indelible. f you don’t understand that part of the e uation, you won’t be a good owner.
We bring 3 million people a year into Capital ne Arena . A third are from D.C., a third are from Maryland, a third are from irginia. When we won the Stanley Cup in 2018 , we’d go on the road and open up the arena. Twenty thousand people would come in and watch the game on television. Fifty thousand people were outside watching the game. There was no crime. Love was in the air.
When we had our parade when we won the Stanley Cup, there were hundreds of thousands of people wearing red along the National Mall. It was the most politically, socially divided our community had ever been. We were the only thing anyone agreed on. won’t defne my ownership of teams on what’s the valuation of the team. t’ll be, what impact did we have on the community and how many rings did you win?
Are you interested in buying the Nationals? I have high interest in consolidating sports teams in our region. It can include the Nationals. It can include D.C. United. The media landscape has changed dramatically over the last fve years. And media is a ma or revenue driver for teams and leagues. bought our network from Comcast. It’s now called the Monumental Sports Network. It’s available on cable, but we’ve gone direct to consumer, where people can subscribe to watch the game who don’t have cable, which is an imperative because cable subscriptions are almost down 50% because young people don’t want to be tethered to a cable. They’re wireless and consume media differently. So if you want to go direct to consumer, you’re going to be in a subscription business.
Owning a baseball team would double the amount of games and be year round. You can see from a business standpoint, that’s important. But why it’s important for the team is, how can you defne yourself as a big market team? How can you
attract free agents? How can you keep really good young players from going somewhere else? Which we have proven we do with my teams. Alex Ovechkin didn’t leave to go to a hockey market. He stayed and made it a hockey market. John Wall, Bradley Beal, the first generation players that we drafted very high in our rebuild, they didn’t go and leave us in free agency. We were able to pay them.
So I look at the business side as a way to generate the resources and dollars to position us as a big, important market, where I think we should be. We want to be a destination where players want to come, and you need to have the resources to do it.
“I think I underestimated, ‘You’re abandoning D.C.,’ because I really didn’t believe that.” —TED LEONSIS
We don’t want to buy a baseball team so I can get programming on the network. We want to buy a team to get programming on the network to build a big business to invest into each of the teams so that we can win and compete for championships. Fans really reject the notion of, we can’t compete with the ew York Yankees, we can’t compete with the Montreal Canadiens. f you get tainted with that as an ownership group, it’s very hard to bounce back from.
How’d you find your way to Georgetown University as an undergraduate?
We moved from Brooklyn to owell, Massachusetts, my junior year in high school. My neighborhood in Brooklyn was getting very drug-ridden and violent. I didn’t have a car, so had someone drop me of at the library to try and find books on how to make money. found a book on landscaping, and it had a section on how
to mow lawns. There was an area in walking distance from us with big houses and lawns. And literally knocked on people’s doors. Can you imagine doing something like that today?
People would answer. This one man answered on a Saturday, and introduced myself and said, ’m looking to work for the summer. I thought maybe you’d consider me mowing your lawn.’ He was kind of taken aback and said, Have you ever mowed a lawn?’ I said, ‘No, but I’ve read the book.’ He laughed and said, ’m proud of you for knocking on the door. You got a ob.’ very week would mow his lawn. At the end of the summer he said, ‘Are you thinking of going to college?’ said, ‘Well, yes and no. No one in my family’s gone to college. Maybe I’ll go to a community college.’ He said, Well, ’m involved with Georgetown.’ I had no idea where it was. He said, ’ll get you some info.’ And I’ll never forget—it was a card that had a pen and ink drawing on the front. n the back you filled out your name and address, and they would send you the application. Nothing online, obviously. A couple of weeks later got this packet of information. flled out the application. He did a letter of recommendation, and was accepted at Georgetown. The frst time I ever came to Washington, D.C., was the frst time ever saw the university. got off a Greyhound bus on ew York Avenue, got in a ta i with my two dufel bags, drove up M Street and went, Wow.’ I mean, it was awesome. went to my frst Caps game as a student at Georgetown in 1974. I started my company in Florida, but moved back here full time in 1 2, when A bought my company. This is home.
Let’s talk about the Wizards. Do you use the word ‘rebuilding’ to describe what they’re going through?
Yeah. I’m not afraid of saying rebuild.
How tough has it been to watch the losing?
Well, we were losing a lot the last two seasons. Winning in sports is the hardest achievement in business. The reason it’s so hard to win a championship, if that’s
“I came from humble beginnings, and being the first in my family to attend college changed my life’s trajectory. I want to help to do that for others.”
—TED LEONSIS
what you define your success as, is the alchemy of having the right infrastructure: minor league system, development system, assistant coaches, trainers, head coach, general manager. Just bringing all those parts of an organization together. And then health. You can have the best load management systems, nutritionists, and then a player gets hurt. If it’s a star player, it’s very hard to replace that talent. I have [12] championship rings. We’ve won fve American Hockey eague championships with Hershey. We won the Stanley Cup in ’18. In the WNBA, the Mystics won a championship. [The video game] NBA 2K—[esports are] relatively new, but it’s on SP , professional players—we won back to back championships. We brought arena football back to the community. We had a team in Baltimore and a team here where we won the championship.
When we don’t make the playofs, feel great social responsibility. I let the fans down, right? Because they’re investing so much time, so much passion, so much money. And you’re totally aligned in what you want as your outcome. But there can only be one winner, and everyone else is a loser. So my goal is to make playof caliber teams. Sometimes when say we want to make the playofs, get criticized. He only wants to make the playofs.’ go, Well, last time looked, the only way you can win a Stanley Cup or an NBA championship is to qualify for the playofs.’
The last few years with the Wizards we thought we had playof caliber teams with
highly compensated players, highly compensated coaches, great infrastructure, but the team wasn’t getting there. So you say, We got to try something diferent.’
It’s interesting when people want rebuilds. I’ve been through rebuilds with the Caps and the frst time with the Wizards. They’re really hard and painful, and they force you to sit through interviews like this. [Laughs]
There’s been a lot of publicity around the Qatar Investment Authority’s reported $200 million investment in Monumental Sports, which was the first of its kind in the major American professional leagues. How do you respond to critics who say that you are enabling Qatar to bolster its international reputation through sportswashing?
There’s misinformation on what this deal is, so I appreciate the chance to clear it up. nstitutional investors, like Q A, are highly regulated by the leagues and have zero visibility into our day-to-day operations. They are passive investors, not partners. They view our business as a great long-term asset which will accrue value over long periods of time. So that’s not an applicable concept to how our relationship with Q A is structured.
What is your philosophy on and the current focus of your philanthropy?
We must leave things better than we found them and give more than we take. I try to lead this company as a business committed to a double bottom line—fscally responsible and socially responsible. Through my eonsis Family Foundation, the Monumental Sports ntertainment Foundation, and direct personal giving, I’m actively involved with dozens of nonprofts. Many, like D.C. Central itchen and the Capital Area Food Bank, are focused on stopping the cycle of hunger and poverty.
But where really want to make an impact is in helping students gain admission [to] and then graduate from college. I came from humble beginnings, and being the first in my family to attend college changed my life’s trajectory. I want to help to do that for others. I serve as board chair
“Winning
of the D.C. College Access Program [DCCAP], which has fostered 14,000 graduates and awarded $55 million in scholarships to D.C. students. We are trying to break the cycle of poverty by getting frst generation, underserved children to graduate from high school and then go to and graduate from college. We have a very dynamic program where we help our students prepare for college. ... Our goal is to remove all angst related to the cost of college for these students and their families.
We began a partnership with UMass Lowell, the college [in the] town where I lived with my parents before I came to D.C. to attend Georgetown. Last year we saw the first group of DC-CAP students at UMass Lowell make it to graduation. Nineteen of the 20 original students graduated, which was breathtakingly successful. They are taking demanding classes, so we really celebrate that.
Why did you move your personal residence from Great Falls, Virginia, to Montgomery County?
We bought the Marwood estate [in Potomac in 2011], and my wife brought it back to its grandeur, if you will. I was very touched and moved by the history of it. A member of the Pulitzer family built it, and then Joseph Kennedy lived there. Then the home became FDR’s Summer White House. It’s part of the historic register.
We have the greatest place in that the Potomac River comes right down to our house, and then it turns and goes directly to Great Falls, Virginia. You sit outside and you can hear the water. It’s beautiful. It’s spectacular. My grandchildren were here with my daughter and her husband from London. We took the grandkids and we went to [Great Falls Park]. Because I’m [over] 65, they sold me a national park card for $20. I can
now visit every national park. I thought that was funny.
It’s like you’re way out in the country; there’s peace, there’s solitude, there’s natural beauty. And then you can go to your little town. I’m extroverted. I know all my neighbors. I get my beard trim at George’s barbershop [in Potomac Village]. It hasn’t changed since the ’70s. I have found Maryland to be a fantastic place. We’ve been there now 10 years.
Do you think about legacy? And if so, what would you want yours to be?
I won’t be around to read my obituary. But I hope the obituary in 25 years is, he won multiple Stanley Cups and championships, but he’s best known for helping 10,000 kids graduate from college debtfree. I guarantee you in my obituary that I was going to move [the teams] to Virginia will never be mentioned.
In 1983, after a scary incident in a plane, you wrote a list of 101 things to do in your lifetime. How many are you up to?
Ninety-two.
Have you gotten a hole-in-one yet?
No, and I swear I was just thinking of that. Going to outer space? That’s doable. Working on the list has been fun. I don’t want to defne myself on it.
Are you looking into going to space?
This is funny. Richard Branson read an article that had the list. I had met him at a couple of things. My assistant says, ‘Richard Branson wants to talk to you tomorrow.’ This was like [a year and a half] ago. He goes, ‘I hear you want to go in outer space.’ I go, ‘Oh yeah, you saw that?’ He goes, ‘You can come with me because I’m going.’ And I go, ‘Wow, that’s fantastic, thanks.’ He goes, ‘It’s $60 million.’ Just threw that out. ‘And you have to send me 30 right away to reserve your space. And if you fail the physical it’s nonrefundable.’
I think I’m going to wait.
Mike Unger is a writer and editor who grew up in Montgomery County and lives in Baltimore.
in sports is the hardest achievement in business,” Leonsis says.
September/October 2008
“All of our covers had a creative problem to solve. ‘Public vs Private Schools’ was one of my favorites. Our model was a young man whose parents knew [Editor and Publisher] Steve Hull. He came to our office the day after he arrived back from being a summer camp counselor and had not had a haircut since he left. The hair was perfect. First, we had him pose as a public school kid dressed in a hoodie, jeans, backpack and lots of messy hair. Then, before we put him in a navy blazer, tie and khakis, our stylist actually cut his hair on set to look more collegiate as a private school student and we Photoshopped the images in postproduction. I think he agreed to do this without really knowing what all was involved, but he was a great sport.”
—Maire McArdle, design director 2004-2018
November/December 2011
“Montgomery County, for all its affluence, also has a very large and growing population of lowincome people. This cover story about income inequality opened a lot of eyes but we struggled with how to illustrate it. Laura Goode, then deputy art director at the magazine, came up with this simple, but powerful idea. The juxtaposition of the coffee cups in different modes can be representative of that great divide—of those of us who are fortunate enough to buy a $5 latte and those who are using the cup to get change so they can just scrape by.”
May/June 2023
“For this cover, we had to schedule a second photo shoot to fix some details. We wanted Citrine, our cover model, to wear the exact same outfit, but she showed up wearing something completely different. We all silently panicked. Fortunately she did bring the black-and-white dress she wore in the original shoot and changed. She was a total natural in front of the camera. After the food was put on the table, we had to take the photos quickly so it would keep looking fresh. We saved the messiest food for the end— like ribs—where she kind of smeared the sauce on her face. We didn’t use any of those photos, but it was fun to play around and have those outtakes.”
Ellen Minsavage, current art director (then senior designer)
BOB GRAVES
301.538.9337 | o 301.975.9500
Bob.Graves@LNF.com
Bethesda Top Producer 2020-2024
Bob has been working in the Maryland real estate industry for 35 years. Having lived most of his life in Montgomery County, he has developed a deep understanding of the local real estate market and has helped numerous clients make life-changing moves. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Bob has successfully helped buyers and sellers navigate the constantly changing market. Whether you are interested in a starter house or a luxury estate, he has the expertise to guide you through every step of the buying or selling process. He is committed to providing his clients with top-notch service and personal attention, ensuring that their unique needs and goals are met.
Bob is a Gold Team member of Long & Foster Real Estate, a liated with North Potomac O ce in Maryland. Najam, a long time Realtor®, is an experienced decorator, stager and creator of special deals for her clients.
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Ilene Gordon, Mireille Pioppo, Pat Karta, Wendy Banner, Julia Fortin, Gail Gordon, Ashley Vonada Back row: Emily Moritt, Makenzie Powell, Michelle Teichbreg, Steve Schuck, Mary Bunch, Greg Schuck, Jody Aucamp
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Inject your kitchen with a shot of vibrant color.
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A sleek, swoon-worthy Bethesda porch
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE
Wallpaper is back, and better than ever—plus, other big design trends popping up in local homes. PAGE 164
PHOTO BY ROBERT RADIFERA PHOTOGRAPHY
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CKITCHENOLORFEST
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Beige, white and black? So boring! There’s an appliance shade to suit every decor and personality.
BY CAROLYN WEBER
1 Euro Chic
The bold, sculptural, 48 inch Portofno wall ventilation hood from SM G is made in taly and inspired by the vibrant colors of the country’s coastal Mediterranean villages. t’s available in bright orange, red, yellow and stainless steel fnishes. t features two operating modes, four speeds and four D lights. $2,199.95 at Williams Sonoma, 4824 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-718-3071; williamsonoma.com
2 Cofee Talk
Skip the cafe and make all your favorite espresso drinks in the comfort of home. The semiautomatic espresso maker from itchenAid, pictured in the uniper color option, features a Burr grinder with 15 grinding levels. t comes with a portaflter, tamper, four flter baskets, milk pitcher and a cleaning brush. $699.95 at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202364-6100; crateandbarrel.com
3 Keep Your Cool
For the serious collector or fre uent entertainer, the True Residential 30-inch glass door wine column chills and displays up to 150 bottles. Two independent cooling zones with dual evaporators can be ad usted from 40 to 65 degrees. There are 14 color options, including safron, and si hardware fnishes. $13,399 through Appliance Distributors Unlimited, 8501 Grovemont Circle, Gaithersburg, 240-650-6000; adu.com
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4 In Hot Water
Brew your favorite warm drinks on cool autumn days with the Smart Kettle Luxe from Breville. Five settings are each programmed for the ideal water temperature to bring out the optimal taste of French press cofee and various teas. t comes in four colors, including Damson Blue. $199.95 at Bloomingdale’s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-744-3700; bloomingdales.com
5 Now You’re Cooking
This showstopping San Marzano red commercial-style range begs to be the centerpiece of the kitchen. The 48-inch, freestanding, dual-fuel gas cooker from Viking has six sealed burners, a self-cleaning double oven and a griddle, and is available in 13 other colors. $22,599 through Best Buy, 1200 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-984-1479; bestbuy.com
6 True Blue
BlueStar appliances can be customized with more than 1,000 color choices and 10 trim options, or even custom color matches. This 30-inch electric double wall oven in blue features nine cooking modes, an oversize full-color touch screen, and a built-in temperature-controlled baking stone. $10,095 at ABW Appliances, 5526 Nicholson Lane, North Bethesda, 301-770-8579; abwappliances.com
Airy Oasis
A sleek porch makes a popular gathering place for family and friends BY WENDY A. JORDAN
Ever since Reza Akhavi, 49, moved into his new custom-built home in Bethesda in April 2023, the screened porch and adjacent terraces have been buzzing with activity. Akhavi, a fnance executive, often entertains guests, he says, and “everyone makes a beeline” to that back-of-house oasis.
Luke Olson, a senior associate with GTM Architects of Bethesda, says the frm designed the structure with multiple tiers to make the most of the tight, sloping lot. The 291-square-foot covered porch is on the main level, and two steps down is an open-air dining terrace. (Not pictured: a partially covered terrace farther down with a grill, pizza oven and frepit, and a second foor deck atop the porch.)
Akhavi had two priorities for the porch and terraces, says Tyler Abrams, vice president of project management for Sandy Spring Builders in Bethesda: “a comfortable and fun space for family and friends” that’s able to absorb heavy use, and “a modern aesthetic.”
The result is “a clean design” incorporating multiple gathering areas, says Jennifer Wagner Schmidt of JWS Interiors in Ashburn, Virginia, who worked on the project. The porch has the same lofty ceiling height as the indoor living area. Two sets of 11-foot-tall Western Window Systems glass doors—one of the family room,
the other of the kitchen, and each consisting of four panels— slide open and closed on tracks. When fully open, the panels are stacked to one side to create a wide entry to the porch.
Motorized retractable Fenetex porch screens keep the bugs out. Abrams says they also keep out most of the rain and hold in some heat. Slim Infratech heaters recessed into the ceiling warm the porch on cool days, and similar units heat the terraces.
Akhavi chose practical materials and a classic black and white palette for the house. Black is used for window and door trim, the porch fan with lighting from Modern Forms, and other details. Much of the terrace trim is black painted fber cement, which has the look and durability of metal but costs less. The white furniture includes stain-resistant upholstery on the custom-made Croft House sofa from os Angeles. The cofee table was ordered online from AllModern.com. The complementary flooring— thermal bluestone—is smooth and nonslip.
The porch’s wall and ceiling are sapele. This weather-resistant wood also wraps some of the house exterior.
The porch and terraces “get the most use” at his house yearround, Akhavi says. He is not surprised. “If they have a choice,” he says, “most people would elect to sit outside.”
PHOTO BY MICHAEL KRESS
Reza Akhavi relaxes on his screened porch, which is popular with guests.
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ON TREND
An all-black house stuns, bold wallpaper makes a splash, and the ‘butler’s pantry’ goes beyond Downton Abbey—look for these HGTV-worthy moves in a home near you
BY CAROLYN WEBER
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty
The idea for a butler’s pantry in Melissa Abrams and Lewis Fermaglich’s 1918 Dutch Gambrel-style home in Chevy Chase came out of the design process for a renovation and extension they embarked on three years ago. The new addition, which includes a light-filled kitchen and breakfast room, a family room and a mudroom, was designed by Bethesda-based Muse Kirwan Architects and built by FineCraft Contractors in Gaithersburg.
The term “butler’s pantry” can conjure visions of old movies with domestic stafers polishing silver in the back room of a grand English manor. Today, with the sustained popularity of open concept foor plans and showy kitchens, the inclusion of an e tra space to handle the inevitable overfow is gaining traction. Local homeowners are incorporating these hardworking spots into new home and renovation plans. “Requests for butler’s pantries have been building over the last decade, but rose in popularity in 2020, when people were spending much more time at home and buying [groceries] in bulk,” says Niko Papaheraklis, business manager and director of promotions and marketing at FineCraft Contractors.
A modern butler’s pantry, or supplemental pantry, can be the place for a second dishwasher, lesser-used small appliances, a juice or espresso bar, or storage for china, crystal, wine and cocktail supplies. Redirecting kids or guests to a supplemental pantry to grab a drink or a snack also keeps people out of the cook’s way. Whether it’s a dedicated room or a tricked-out passageway between a kitchen and dining room that’s used as a staging area for entertaining, a butler’s pantry is on a lot of people’s wish lists as the next residential must-have.
The architects on the Abrams-Fermaglich project suggested converting the home’s original kitchen to a storage area with a wet bar. “The old kitchen is a logical place for a new supplemental pantry,” says William Kirwan, a principal at Muse Kirwan. The plumbing was already there, making it a perfect
Opposite: Wallpaper makes a statement in Theresa and Les Carnegie’s Bethesda home. Above and right: A bold blue butler’s pantry in Melissa Abrams and Lewis Fermaglich’s Chevy Chase home opens onto a hallway.
Wallpaper is deployed to great effect in several rooms in the Carnegies’ home, whether as a statement maker or a subtler backdrop for other design touches.
spot for the cofee station. The galley style nook fea tures uartz countertops, glass front wall cabinets to display stemware, and an under counter beverage refrigerator. A 48 inch wide cabinet, with shelves up top and si pull out drawers on the bottom, holds all of the family’s dry goods. “The butler’s pantry is the perfect size and is such a well designed, func tional space,” Fermaglich says. “With three kids, we all use it daily.”
The pantry opens to a hallway that connects the old and the new portion of the house. While the couple opted against closing of the pantry with doors, pantries can have traditional or pocket doors. “ t all depends on how formally the clients want to live, and in this case they wanted visibility back to the new kitchen,” irwan says.
Design wise, pantries typically take cues from the style of the kitchen, but have a separate char acter and sometimes a touch of glamour. For the Abrams Fermaglich home, designer Tracey Morris of Gillis nteriors in Potomac had the walls, cabinets and trim painted the same deep blue as the kitchen island, and used brass hardware and a hammered nickel bar sink. Abrams and Fermaglich wanted the renovated areas to connect with the age and style of the home, so Morris added more sparkle with an anti ued mirror backsplash. “ t looks like a throw back, and love it,” Fermaglich says. “ t’s one of my favorite things in the house.”
Dramatic Decor
This is a good time to be an interior designer Post pandemic homeowners, tired of staring at beige walls, are ready to embrace color, pattern and te ture in their homes. nterior design trends often trickle down from fashion, and after years of mini malism, bolder styles are making a comeback on the runway and in the living room. “Designers are going bonkers with wallpaper, and consumers are embracing it,” says Sally Steponkus of Sally Ste ponkus nteriors in the Spring alley neighborhood of pper orthwest D.C. “ t’s not enriching to live in a white bo , and many people are realizing that they’d rather be surrounded by cheerful prints and color,” she says.
ven in a relatively conservative market like Montgomery County, homeowners are taking more interior design risks. Steponkus has worked with Theresa and es Carnegie for more than eight years on their Bethesda home and was part of the team when the 51 year old attorneys decided to add on. “They’re such trusting clients who have a clear point of view—or point of blue,’ since the whole house is done in varying shades of Theresa’s favor ite color,” the designer says.
PHOTOS BY ROBERT RADIFERA PHOTOGRAPHY
Lindsay Lucas
When it comes to real estate, Lindsay Lucas—a reputable DMV Realtor—will always fnd a way to deliver the best results for her clients. Whether you’re a frst-time buyer or a seasoned seller, Lindsay leverages a full-service, strategic system that puts your interests frst. As a lifelong resident of the DC area, Lindsay offers extensive insight into its many vibrant neighborhoods—from the bustling streets of Downtown DC, to the scenic pathways of Bethesda, where she calls home. She loves helping others fnd their next home, just as she loves being there for clients as they navigate such a transformative life milestone. Get in touch with Lindsay today to discover the real estate solution that’s right for you.
Wendy Lord is an experienced and dedicated real estate agent who is committed to providing a positive buying or selling experience for each of her clients. With a background in commercial lending and asset management, she brings over 30 years of expertise to her role as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Wendy strives to provide the best personalized service to each and every one of her clients along their real estate journey, whether it is buying, selling, or both. Her personalized marketing plan is tailored to each home, including social media, print ads, and a strong referral network to streamline the process. She collaborates with a range of partners, including fnancial experts, title companies, renovation/repair contractors, downsizing and organizing professionals, and estate sales specialists. As a long-term resident of Maryland, Wendy is actively involved in the community, serving on the Board of the Fox Hills West Citizens Association. In her leisure time, she enjoys tennis, golf, skiing, and taking walks with her neighbors, embracing her neighborhood where she and her son reside.
In the Carnegies’ laundry room, designer Sally Steponkus chose a large-scale buffalo check wallpaper and a medium-size floral print fabric for the Roman shade, and covered the bench cushion in a tiny pattern.
A growing number of Steponkus’ clients, including the Carnegies, are asking for wallpaper. “You get a lot of bang for your buck, and there are so many more options than there used to be,” she says. The wallpaper drove the color scheme in Theresa’s home o ce, where she works several days a week. The botanical print, dotted with birds, is soft, feminine and creates a pretty Zoom background. “I wanted to envelop her in a restful shade of blue,” Steponkus says.
The ceiling is adorned with a decorative treatment to add interest and texture. Wood strips were applied in a traditional trellis pattern and painted in Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray. Painting the trim the same color as the walls (or in this case, wallpaper) is also a notable trend. Steponkus had the French doors, windows, baseboards and crown molding all coated in Parma Gray. “It’s about saturating the room,” she says. Instead of the stark contrast of white trim, it’s a soft, seamless transition to the ceiling.
Steponkus employed a similar technique in the home’s walk-in pantry, transforming it into a little jewel bo . The small one of room was an opportunity for
the designer to have some fun. “My plan was to make it outrageous,” Steponkus says. She covered the walls and ceiling in a graphic wallpaper, and had the cabinetry, molding and open shelving painted a matching French blue. “It’s almost like looking at a little blueberry,” she says. The light f ture and the freezer are also bathed in the color. “ t can be closed of with pocket doors, so it’s not a public space, and we could be a bit more daring,” she adds.
The key to mixing prints within one room is balancing the scale so things don’t overwhelm the eye. “A good rule is to have one large, one medium and one small print,” Steponkus says. She also recommends taking one element from the wallpaper and repeating that shape in the curtains or pillows for a consistent feel. She collaborated with Silver Spring-based Aidan Design for the renovation and cheerful redecoration of the Carnegies’ laundry room. Steponkus chose a large scale bufalo check wallpaper, a medium size foral print fabric for the Roman shade, and covered the bench cushion in a tiny pattern. “Attention to detail, layering and carefully calculated coordination are important in making all of these schemes come together,” she says.
PHOTOS BY ROBERT RADIFERA PHOTOGRAPHY
Paint It Black
American neighborhoods are looking more colorful as homeowners opt for dark, rich exterior hues. According to paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore, deep blues, greens and charcoals are rising in popularity. “Dark siding, particularly black, creates a striking look, bringing a modern touch to a home’s exterior,” says Arianna Barone, color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore. “It feels understated and provides a nice balance for those who want to make a statement without shouting.”
Color played a major role in transforming the home of Olivia Ellis Randolph and her husband, Isham Randolph, from boring to bold. In 2012, they bought their 1,700-square-foot, 1928 white clapboard house in “as is” condition. “It lacked character and wasn’t our aesthetic,” she says. But they loved the neighborhood, just steps over the D.C. line from Takoma Park, Maryland, because it’s walkable and close to all the town’s amenities.
The chopped up foor plan and diffcult transitions to the outdoors were problematic for the pair. Remodeling was always in the cards, but life moved on; they had two children in a short period of time and were busy with work. sham, 48, is a documentary flm producer, and Olivia, 47, is the manager of Takoma Radio (WOWD-FM), the community station in Takoma Park.
Then came the pandemic. “COVID happened and we were trapped inside with two energetic small kids, and I couldn’t live like that anymore,” Ellis Randolph says. The renovation began in 2021, and architect Colleen Healey of Colleen Healey Architecture in Northwest D.C. reworked the foor plan, opening walls and creating easy access to a new front porch and rear screened porch. She used large singlepane windows to food the interior with light and create the illusion of more space.
Healey was restricted by the home’s location on a corner lot, so she found ways to make small but impactful extensions to the two-story house—on the back and front and one side—for a total of 700 extra square feet. The result was a series of steep-pitched roofs with solar panels to take advantage of the most
Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield offers clients throughout MD, VA, DC, and even internationally the benefit of more than 90 years of combined experience in family law. We have extensive experience with numerous circumstances that can complicate family disputes, and we provide a wide range of dispute resolution options that allow us to customize our approach to each client’s unique needs.
“Dark siding, particularly black, creates a striking look, bringing a modern touch to a home’s exterior. It feels understated and provides a nice balance for those who want to make a statement without shouting.”
Arianna Barone, color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore
benefcial orientations. The roof forms are straightforward, but the homeowners and architect wanted to enhance the new fa ade’s modern simplicity by painting it black. nside, llis andolph painted the entire main level a warm peachy tone, so it wasn’t surprising that she was eager to make a color statement on the e terior. She was inspired by contemporary ordic houses. “ ’d see photos of houses with very dark siding and think, Can we do that here? We’re not in the woods, we’re not blending into anything,” she says. She wanted to go for it.
Isham and Olivia Ellis Randolph’s house in the Takoma neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
PHOTOS BY COLLEEN HEALEY
But frst, she had to get her husband on board. His priority was eco e ciency, so the team debated whether a dark color would absorb e tra heat and be counterproductive to their sustainability goals. “After some research, we concluded that the solar gain in winter would help warm the house and ofset any heat gain in the summer, when we had an increased energy supply from the solar panels,” Healey says.
The HardiePlank lap siding is painted in Ben amin Moore’s Graphite with no contrasting accent colors. The windows are black, the stair railings are black, and so is the hardware on the glass frame entry door. The look is sleek and subtle, and the front porch and massive win dows ofer a welcoming and friendly face on the street.
Despite the dramatic paint choice, the home has famil iar farmhouse inspired roof gables and respects its sur roundings. “The color isn’t stark—it’s uplifting and gives our home elegance and character,” llis andolph says. Feedback from her neighbors has been positive, and the house elicits reactions from strangers, too. She catches peo ple driving by slowly to gaze at the uni ue e terior. She considers it a compliment. “ ur kids love it, too, and are so proud of it,” she says.
Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design.
Lots of windows let the sunshine in.
JUNE’S MOST EXPENSIVE
HOME SALES
A peek at one of the area’s most expensive recently sold houses
SALE PRICE:
$8.6 million
LIST PRICE: $9 million
Address: 2909 44th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
Days on Market: 1
Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6
Address: 15325 Masonwood Drive, North Potomac 20878
Days on Market: 1,048
Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 7
Full/Half Baths: 9/4
Data provided by
SALE PRICE:
$6.28 million
LIST PRICE: $6.6 million
Address: 9113 Burning Tree Road, Bethesda 20817
Days on Market: 54
Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Bedrooms: 7
Full/Half Baths: 9/4
SALE PRICE: $4 million
LIST PRICE: $4 million
Address: 7106 Arrowood Road, Bethesda 20817
Days on Market: 6
Listing Agency: Premier Properties Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 5/1
SALE PRICE:
$3.69 million
LIST PRICE: $3.69 million
Address: 5706 Sherier Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
Days on Market: 3
Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 6/1
SALE PRICE:
$3.5 million
LIST PRICE: $3.5 million
Address: 5010 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda 20814
Days on Market: 77
Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 4/3
SALE PRICE:
$3.38 million
LIST PRICE: $3.45 million
Address: 5020 Palisade Lane NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
Days on Market: 54
Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 4/1
SALE PRICE:
$3.16 million
LIST PRICE: $3.3 million
Address: 11230 Huntover Drive, North Bethesda 20852
Days on Market: 25
Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 5/1
SALE PRICE: $3.15 million
LIST PRICE: $3.15 million
Address: 3708 Dunlop St., Chevy Chase 20815
Days on Market: 181
Listing Agency: RLAH @properties
Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 5/2
SALE PRICE: $3.14 million
LIST PRICE: $3.18 million
Address: 6940 Winterberry Lane, Bethesda 20817
Days on Market: 1
Listing Agency: Haverford Realty
Bedrooms: 7
Full/Half Baths: 6/2
SALE PRICE: $3.05 million
LIST PRICE: $3.2 million
Address: 6710 Greentree Road, Bethesda 20817
Days on Market: 3
Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 5/1
SALE PRICE:
$3.02 million
LIST PRICE: $2.89 million
Address: 7201 Summit Ave., Chevy Chase 20815
Days on Market: 4
Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 4/1
SALE PRICE:
$3 million
LIST PRICE: $3.05 million
Address: 6209 Brookside Drive, Chevy Chase 20815
Days on Market: 17
Listing Agency: H.A. Gill & Son Bedrooms: 4
Full/Half Baths: 4/1
SALE PRICE:
$2.9 million
LIST PRICE: $3 million
Address: 7601 Marbury Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 188
Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 6/1
SALE PRICE:
$2.85 million
LIST PRICE: $2.85 million
Address: 4806 Grantham Ave., Chevy Chase 20815
Days on Market: 0
Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6
Full/Half Baths: 5/1
SALE PRICE:
$2.85 million
LIST PRICE: $2.6 million
Address: 3310 35th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 2
Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 4
Full/Half Baths: 3/1
SALE PRICE:
$2.85 million
LIST PRICE: $2.85 million
Address: 8101 Custer Road, Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 5
Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5
Full/Half Baths: 5/1
ZIP CODE
REAL ESTATE TRENDS
20015
20832 (Olney)
20855
20850 (Rockville)
20851 (Rockville)
20878 (Gaithersburg/North
20815 (Chevy
20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)
20879 (Gaithersburg)
20853 (Rockville)
20882 (Gaithersburg)
20854
20886 (Gaithersburg)
20895 (Kensington)
Number
20902 (Silver Spring) Number
20904 (Silver Spring)
20901 (Silver Spring)
20903 (Silver Spring)
20910 (Silver Spring) Number of
Information courtesy of Bright MLS, as of July 24, 2024. The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 85,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve more than 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls. com. Note: This information includes single-family homes sold from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, as of July 24, 2024, excluding sales where sellers have withe d er i ion to ad erti e or ro ote n or ation ou d be inde endent eri ed e ort re erence data ro ided b o ing i e a o ing anagement and market stats technology provider to the residential real estate industry. Some sale and list prices have been rounded.
Home Experts
Douglas Construction Group (DCG)
DOUG MONSEIN, FOUNDER
Awards & Honors
Industry Expert, Home & Design Magazine
Best Green Builder (only builder ever), Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda Readers Poll
A Top Vote Getter, Best Builder, Best of Bethesda Readers Poll
8429 Fox Run
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-983-6947
doug@dcghomes.com
DCGHomes.com
Q W hat makes the homes you build unique and
A Every home we build is unique, and well over half are custom. When we collaborate directly with the homeowner, each home's individuality comes to life, truly taking on our client's personality. Listening in today's digital world is a lost art, but not at DCG—we deliver what our clients envision, not what we think they want.
We have built more than 215 new homes in the Bethesda area, all based on a foundation of integrity. Past and current clients are our best ambassadors. They will attest to our exceptional communication, organized and stress-free process with quality craftsmen and vendors. Our primary goal is for our clients to enjoy their home-building experience.
Q W hat are people asking for in their new and custom
A B ethesda homeowners are well-informed, setting their own standards and trends. We have been adding design and engineering touches in homes for years, as the rest of the industry plays catch-up on lots of elements. The pandemic clearly shifted preferences that still exist to more private athome features as more people are working remotely.
We believe that green building should be an everyday standard, and this is important to owners. It starts with the building envelope, which includes framing, windows, exterior doors and the insulation package.
Warm tones and wallpaper accents are trending, and brass, brush brass and matte black finishes are also popular. Quartzite is the new favorite. Grander mud rooms, covered porches and freestanding tubs in the primary bath add eyecatching elegance to homes.
MICHAEL VENTURA
Dana Rice Group
Awards & Honors
Faces of Washingtonian 2024
Washingtonian Top 100 Agent and Elite Producer Team
RealTrends No. 1 Small Team by Volume in Maryland, No. 3 Small Team by Volume in the DMV Region
5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815
202-669-6908
dana.rice@compass.com DanaRiceGroup.com
Q W hat makes your client experience unique?
A A t Dana Rice Group, our clients come first. Premium customer service is our highest priority. We're professional, communicative, proactive and reliable, but more than anything, we get people. We delight in the details, however small they may be, and have a knack for anticipating clients' needs. Our mantra is, "New week, new market." Like anything in life, the critical element of buying or selling is timing. The nuances of buyer behavior can change almost weekly, which is why we entrench ourselves in the ever-changing market conditions. For us, expertise results from a continuous pursuit of information, the capacity to apply it quickly and accurately, and an unrivaled instinct that keeps us a step ahead.
Q W hat is your best tip for people looking to sell?
A W e don't typically price a property for sale until one or two days before it goes on the market because contract activity the weekend before could change strategy for the following week for both buyers and sellers.
Q W hat do you love most about what you do?
A M y favorite aspect of being a Realtor is sharing my knowledge in real-time. I love when a client texts me after dinner, I can just imagine them sitting on the couch with their family, finally getting a moment to peruse the real estate websites, and they want to know the latest. That is a complete vote of confidence in what we do, and we want to be part of those conversations because that's when people are dreaming and making big plans.
Trent & Co at Compass Real Estate
TRENT HEMINGER AND MARY NOONE
With more than 90 years of collective real estate expertise, Trent & Co is one of the top teams in the DMV. Team leader and longtime Top Producer Trent Heminger has been recognized consistently as one of "America's Best Real Estate Agents" and a "Top Agent" in the Washington Metro Area.
Licensed in D.C. | MD | VA 5471 Wisconsin Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 : 301-2 -1001 240-461-3 2 TrentAndCo.com
Q How do the recent NAR settlements and buyer agency laws impact real estate transactions in Montgomery
A A s a Montgomery County resident, you're in a unique position. Maryland is one of only 16 states where buyer representation is enshrined in law, a testament to our consumer-driven approach. The advocacy of an experienced buyer's agent is invaluable, offering protection and insight that can save a buyer far more than they ever pay for hiring their agent. We love helping our buyer clients find the best home with the best possible terms!
The NAR settlement requires that MLS listings no longer show compensation offers for buyer's brokers. As before, buyers still have options: buyer’s brokers can be paid by the buyer, seller or listing brokerage. We understand that making a major purchase like a home involves navigating
complex laws and market conditions. Our team's extensive experience gives you the edge you need to make informed decisions and negotiate effectively.
Q
A A n experienced full-service team like ours ensures comprehensive support throughout your home-buying journey. With us, you can access personalized, expert guidance, exclusive properties not yet on the market, and a network of trusted service providers, enabling us to solve any issues that arise quickly and effectively. Whether you need help finding the perfect neighborhood, advice on local amenities or interior design, or insights into your investment's value, we're committed to your success and available whenever you need us. With Trent & Co, your goals become our mission.
Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
Sandy Spring Builders, the area’s premier custom homebuilder, is an integrated, full-service team with more than 40 years of experience in bringing our client’s vision to life. Our vast portfolio of well-built homes makes a lasting impression, proven by myriad awards including “Best of Bethesda” every year since its inception.
4705 West Virginia Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814
301-913-5995
SandySpringBuilders.com
Q Why choose Sandy Spring Builders?
A W ith more than 40 years in homebuilding, our experience in the industry is unparalleled. We are full-service, and our talented team is passionate, knowledgeable and experienced. Our vast portfolio shows that we can build anything. We work toward our clients' goals financially and architecturally and are part of the team from the beginning. And we want to be your "Builder for Life," often building second and third homes for clients.
Q W hat brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
A O ur beautiful homes and excellent reputation. We can drive all over the area and are incredibly proud to see our projects everywhere. We take great pleasure in bringing prospective clients into finished homes and hearing our homeowners speak
so enthusiastically about their homes and working with us. We value our clients and become friends with many of them. Most importantly, we love what we do and are able to give back to our community.
Q W hat are your buyers demanding these days?
A Cl ients still want great design and prefer open floor plans. Function is important— elevators for empty-nesters, mudrooms with cubbies and informal powder rooms for families. We call it "livability" and understand it better than most. Many clients are tech-savvy and desire a smart home with the ability to control lighting, music, security and HVAC systems from a cell phone or laptop. The use of solar panels/roofs and electric car chargers have become more popular. Our team streamlines the often daunting custom homebuilding process, guiding clients effortlessly through each step.
Pinehurst Design Build
At Pinehurst Design Build, experience and trust are the bedrock of our company. Our mission is to help clients reimagine their homes and provide a seamless remodeling experience, resulting in a new, harmonious space you love coming home to.
Q What sets Pinehurst Design Build apart from other renovation companies in the area?
A E xtensive experience, a reputation built on trust, and, most importantly, our client-centered approach. With more than 40 years in the industry, we have cultivated design and construction expertise and assembled a team of seasoned professionals, including architects, project managers, interior designers and lead carpenters. Our design-build methodology, which encompasses planning, design and construction under one contract, ensures a streamlined renovation process. This approach fosters collaboration, innovation and teamwork, resulting in a stress-free, even enjoyable experience for our clients. From simple bathroom remodels to complex whole-house renovations, Pinehurst Design Build consistently delivers exceptional results.
Q How do you work with clients to bring their vision to life?
A O ur clients are at the heart of every renovation. We begin the process by understanding their vision and goals, recognizing that they are the driving force behind the project. Next, our team explores various floor plans to meet their needs and material selections to bring the project to life. Once the designs are approved, we finalize the contract and assign a dedicated project manager and lead carpenter to manage the project to completion. It's that simple. We take great pride and satisfaction in guiding each job into a tangible reality and witnessing our clients' reactions to their transformed space.
Q What is the most important lesson you've learned about home renovations over your career?
A Setting realistic expectations is essential for a mutually successful renovation. From the start, we ensure transparency about budgets, construction timelines and potential disruptions to daily life.
Banner Team
The Banner Team is an award-winning real estate powerhouse with a national reputation. Specializing in luxury and upper-bracket properties across the DMV, their impressive track record dates back over three decades. Implementing a teamoriented approach to every transaction, The Banner Team's commitment to excellence ensures clients receive unparalleled dedication throughout their bu ing or e ing ourne
7373 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 1700 20 14
L&F: 240-497-1700
Direct: 301-365-9090
info@BannerTeam.com BannerTeam.com
Q W hat sets The Banner Team apart from other realty teams in the area?
A W ith in-team listing and closing coordinators, a sales manager and a fulltime marketing director to promote our listings and team, we offer unparalleled support for both our agents and clients. The Banner Team takes care of every detail, from staging and preparing homes for sale to editing photos and videos, attending showings and managing all transaction details after ratification to ensure a smooth settlement—all at no extra cost.
Q
A W e understand that every transaction is unique, and client motivations vary, but all clients value transparency. We anticipate potential issues and communicate them clearly to educate
our clients, preparing them for the inevitable ups and downs of the real estate process. For example, inspection issues can be identified and avoided for sellers in advance through pre-inspection. This proactive approach ensures our clients feel confident and well-informed throughout their transaction.
Q W hat is one piece of advice you seller?
A Ge t good representation! Despite recent NAR settlements, having knowledgeable agents on both sides is crucial. A good buyer's agent ensures a smoother transaction, eases buyer concerns and facilitates a well-managed process. Therefore, sellers should continue to price their homes to include buyer agent compensation.
Kitchen Tune-Up
STEPHANIE AND DAVID VORDICK, OWNERS
The Kitchen Tune-Up team transforms kitchens with cabinet refacing, cabinet painting, Tune-Ups and new cabinets with less inconvenience, mess, dust, noise and money than traditional remodels. With a focus on respect, trust and communication, owners Stephanie and David Vordick want to change your expectations for how easy a kitchen update can be.
Bethesda | Potomac | Gaithersburg 240-221-5460
teambethesda@kitchentuneup.com KitchenTuneUp.com
Q Can I refresh my outdated kitchen without the inconvenience of a traditional remodel?
A I f you have a functional layout and decent-quality cabinets, cabinet refacing quickly updates and upgrades your kitchen’s style and feel. Existing cabinets get new custom-made drawer fronts and doors with soft-close hinges, new decorative hardware, and matching veneer or paint on the boxes. New counters, backsplash tile, lighting, and accessories, like pullout trays, complete the transformation without disrupting your day-to-day life.
Q Can I refresh my outdated kitchen without the inconvenience of a traditional remodel?
A R efacing saves time and money, reduces noise, dust and headaches, and avoids expensive surprises. Refacing projects can save half the cost of replacing cabinets, leaving more money for updating appliances and counters. Refacing projects may include adding new cabinets (like enlarging an island or converting a desk area), but fewer layout and structural changes also keep costs down. Our scheduling avoids downtime and gets your new kitchen back to you in no more than two weeks, and usually in five days or less. Refacing also offers the option to keep existing counters or replace them later.
Q A ny other easy updates?
A I f you like the details of your cabinet doors and they are in good shape, consider professional painting. Adding or changing the decorative hardware always makes a huge difference. And if your stained wood cabinets have seen better days, bring them back to life with our one-day Tune-Up.
Cheltenham Interiors
ISABEL (ISY) JACKSON, OWNER AND PRESIDENT
Cheltenham Interiors founder Isy Jackson brings a legacy of design expertise spanning three generations. With an art history degree from University College London (U.K.) and a master's degree in interior architecture from George Washington University, Isy specializes in custom features and o e reno ation i ingetc aga ine contributor er de ign are celebrated for their curated elegance and ar oniou a ea
4520 Harling Ln. Bethesda, MD 20814
202-999-9910
Cheltenham-Interiors.com
Q What is your design philosophy, and how do you personalize each project?
A I integrate traditional and modern elements to reflect clients' unique stories and personalities. Whether creating a purely traditional British style or juxtaposing classic rooms with sleek, contemporary designs, I seamlessly adapt to individual preferences with versatility and precision. My multicultural background, shaped by residencies in Italy and Dubai, enhances my aesthetic sensibilities, bringing a profound understanding of cultural nuances to my designs.
I nspired by my mentor Kelley Proxmire, renowned for her mastery of British and American classical design, I value showcasing clients' collections and effectively infusing color and fabric to enrich spaces. Kelley also taught me the significance of the entry hall, designed to create a memorable first impression without compromising functionality. I am attentive to feng shui principles whenever
possible, ensuring harmonious and welcoming spaces.
Every project begins with a deep understanding of my client's vision and making sure that each detail mirrors their unique narrative.
Q How would your clients describe you?
A C lients often tell me they appreciate my ability to understand their style preferences without imposing my own.
A recent Potomac client thanked me for bringing vibrant color indoors and establishing a cohesive theme throughout their home while maintaining unique, surprising elements in each space. "Her keen insights and creativity helped create a WOW factor," they noted.
A nother client recently commended my expertise in designing functional and inviting children's spaces, highlighting my commitment to blending form and function—a skill honed during my tenure in commercial design.
hat Sets Hopkins & Porter Apart from Other Design/Build Companies in the Area?
A S ince 1977, Hopkins & Porter has been transforming homes and bringing clients' remodeling visions to life with innovative solutions, top-quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship. We prioritize collaboration and communication; by actively listening and sharing ideas, we guide our clients seamlessly through the remodeling process, addressing any concerns promptly and professionally.
Every project is assigned an onsite project manager who ensures daily progress and open communication. At Hopkins & Porter, we never cut corners, and our attention to detail fosters supportive and trusting client relationships. Committed to exceeding clients' expectations with every project, we stand by our work with comprehensive warranties and followup throughout the build and beyond. Experience the Hopkins & Porter difference.
A W orking with Armstrong Construction means entering a partnership—a seamless collaboration between visionary designers and skilled craftsmen. As a premier boutique firm, we focus on architectural excellence and precise execution. By taking on a select number of projects, we provide each client and project with unparalleled attention and dedication. Guided by precision and a commitment to detail, we transform blueprints into breathtaking realities. With decades of combined experience and a trusted network of trades and vendors who understand our high standards, we navigate every project from concept to completion, ensuring functional and stunning results.
Q
A C hoose a contractor you trust, collaborate on scope and budget, invest in upfront planning and be patient. This ensures a smoother process and successful outcome.
Rockville Interiors
TOM, DAN & ILAN FULOP
Honors & Awards
Designers’ Top Choice-Window Treatments, Home & Design Magazine
Bethesda Magazine Winner, Best Custom Window Treatments and Drapes, 2020
Best of DC Design DC, Modern Luxury Magazine
5414 Randolph Road
Rockville, MD 20852
301-424-1900
hello@rockvilleinteriors.com
rockvilleinteriors.com
Q Can I operate my blinds through an app?
A A bsolutely! With our motorized shades, we can install an app on your mobile devices enabling you to move your window treatments with the touch of a button. Operate shades individually, room-by-room or in the whole house simultaneously. The app even has a scheduling feature so you can program the shades to move automatically throughout the day whenever you want. Best of all, the app connects with other smart home platforms such as Alexa so when you walk in the house with your hands full just say “Alexa, Kitchen Shades Open” and live a little easier.
Q W hat does your design and installation process look like?
A U nlike many other interior companies, we can set you up with one of our designers for a free consultation either at your home or in our showroom. Our designers bring their deep knowledge of the industry and their great eyes for design as well as their experience with fabric and material options and hardware choices, and work with you to design the perfect look and feel.
When you're happy with your design choices, our installers will measure your spaces and double-check for accuracy. Then, our in-house fabricators put together everything according to your vision and ready it for installation. Installation is scheduled and finished to your complete satisfaction. Our warranties cover you for a substantial time, as well.
Taste of Bethesda 2024
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 • 11AM TO 4PM
The Taste of Bethesda food and music festival takes place in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle along Norfolk, St. Elmo, Cordell and Del Ray Avenues. The festival site is three blocks from the Bethesda Metro.
188
Little Miner Taco and more tasty morsels
YOUR GUIDE TO EATING AND DRINKING WELL
188
Stone Silo Brewery is a modern rustic taproom.
Grilled branzino with quinoa, avocado, tomatoes and chipotle vinaigrette is a standout at the new Lime & Cilantro in Silver Spring. PAGE 190
PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY
BY JACQUELINE MENDELSOHN
DISCOVERY
Inspired by the laid-back country setting of wineries and farm breweries, longtime Damascus couple Don and Susan Katzenberger purchased a neighboring plot to their home four years ago to build Stone Silo Brewery, which opened in January. The property’s original stone silo, dating back to 1931, stands tall abutting the brewery’s modern rustic taproom. Gaze at the fields from a barstool perched by panoramic windows or settle into a leather-backed chair facing the gas fireplace. Weather permitting, guests can enjoy the property alfresco at the adults-only pavilion or at the picnic tables—a good spot for families and four-legged visitors. Choose from 14 beers on tap, plus a variety of seasonally inspired hard seltzers. First-time visitors should try the Nehemiah Nectar, a tangerine hazy IPA named after the property’s original landowner, Nehemiah Moxley. Although the brewery does not serve food, expect a rotating roster of food trucks Thursday through Sunday; see the website for the latest schedule, which also includes live music on weekend evenings. The Katzenbergers also encourage guests to bring in food along with blankets and chairs.
Little Miner Taco, a scratch kitchen serving up Mexican-inspired plates, expanded to its third location in the D.C. area with the opening of a permanent restaurant in Rockville in July after vacating its space at Pike & Rose’s The Block Foodhall, which closed in April. Bright red, orange and white walls adorned with cacti welcome customers for lunch or dinner at the fast-casual establishment, which seats up to 30. Stop by on a Tuesday to take advantage of ever-popular specials on taco dishes such as chicken tinga, grilled tiger shrimp, and jackfruit, among others. Don’t miss the standout birria de res queso tacos made with slow-braised beef, salsa roja, jack cheese, onion and cilantro wrapped in a crispy corn tortilla served with a side of beef consomme. If you’re craving something other than tacos, the diverse menu offers a wide range of options, from crispy “munchwraps” and quesadillas to empanadas and loaded fries. Feeding a crowd? Check out the traveling Taco Picnic Box for two, four or six, ranging from $50 to $150, which includes your choice of proteins, handmade tortillas, a selection of toppings and housemade salsas, sides such as street corn or rice and beans, beverages and a sweet treat such as cinnamon churros with dulce de leche dip or mini mangonadas, a tangy Mexican dessert made with mango chunks, tajin, lime and chimoy.
39 Maryland Ave., Rockville, littleminertaco.com
Pinch of Wisdom
“Embrace your failures in the kitchen and learn from them. Cooking is a lifelong journey; every step you don’t get quite right the first time is that much more gratifying when you perfect it in the future.”
—ERIC
MCKAMEY, EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE SALT LINE IN BETHESDA
COMINGS
Paladar Latin Kitchen, a Latin fusion restaurant and rum bar, closed its Gaithersburg location in May.
Carmen’s Italian Ice, which offers more than 60 homemade flavors, is expected to open its third location in Kensington soon.
The D.C.-based neighborhood pub Duke’s Grocery is set to expand to its first Maryland outpost in Potomac this fall.
The owners of Taco Bar El Guero, Ixtapalapa and La Gula Mexicana plan to open Mayan Monkey Brewing Co. in Gaithersburg this fall.
The new Westbard Square in Bethesda will welcome Piccoli Piatti Pizzeria, Silver and Sons BBQ and Tatte Bakery in the fall.
Check out Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation's newly designed website to:
• Discover funding and incentive opportunities for your business;
• Access a variety of data that can help businesses make better informed decisions; and
• Connect with Economic Development Specialists who can help you access valuable resources to grow and expand your business in Montgomery County, Md.
A crispy fish taco with shaved cabbage, pickled red onions and spicy aioli
LATIN
DREAMS
AtLime & Cilantro offers a homespun setting for chef Danny Chavez’s delicious modern Latin fare
BY DAVID HAGEDORN • PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY
Lime & Cilantro, which opened in Silver Spring in May, a server pours a deeply verdant aguachile (chili water) around ultra-thin slices of branzino decorated with dainty dollops of avocado crema and tiny pickled spheres of cucumber and radish. The sauce, zesty from jalapenos, transforms the raw fish into a delightful ceviche imbued with—no surprise here—lime and cilantro. The dish is a study in modern art with hallmarks of refinement found at the fanciest of fine-dining restaurants. But Lime & Cilantro is a no-frills spot offering tacos and tortas (sandwiches) as part of its contemporary Latin fare.
Chef and co-owner Danny Chavez, 36, was born in El Salvador. When he was 12, he moved to Windsor, Connecticut, to live with his father, a chef in an Italian restaurant. Under his dad’s tutelage, he trained over the years on every station, starting as a dishwasher and winding up as the sous-chef. When his maternal grandmother died in 2012, Chavez went to D.C. to help his mother, Maria Torres, and two siblings. A friend tipped him of to a ob at the iaison Hotel (now YOTEL Washington D.C.) as a banquet cook at its restaurant, Art and Soul, where he worked his way up to line cook, sous-chef and, after returning from brief stints at D.C. restaurants Plume and Gravitas, executive chef. He left in February 2024 and opened Lime & Cilantro with Fathi Sarsouri, who had been Art and Soul’s food and beverage director. The two had been looking to strike out on their own, Chavez says, and when a pal told them about the availability of their current space, he contacted the landlords and signed the deal
FAVORITE DISHES: Branzino crudo with aguachile; fish tacos; pan-seared branzino with quinoa salad; roasted chicken breast with red pozole; tres leches bread pudding
PRICES: Starters: $9 to $14; Tacos: $4.75 or $5.50; Tortas: $12 to $15; Entrees: $20 to $28; Desserts: $6 to $8
LIBATIONS: At press time, the restaurant had recently received its beer and wine license. It also offers espresso drinks, soft drinks, excellent not-too-sweet homemade lemonade and iced horchata made from Chavez’s mother’s recipe, mixing cashew milk, filtered water, cloves and cinnamon with a sweetened powder made from morro seeds (morro is a fruit native to Central America and resembling a shiny green coconut).
SERVICE: Affable, attentive and knowledgeable
The branzino crudo tops sliced fish with lime-and-cilantro aguachile, sliced red onions, avocado crema and little pickled spheres of cucumber and radish.
that day. “We thought it was the perfect location for our modern Latin concept because there was nothing like it in that area,” he says.
The business partners rolled up their sleeves, scrubbed the former fried chicken joint from stem to stern and prettifed the 1,700 s uare foot, 40 seat space on a shoestring budget, with design help from Chavez’s fanc e, Sarah einecke. Walls, painted in of white and sage green, are decorated with collections of basketry and wooden spoons. Narrow pinewood planks of varying lengths line the walls horizontally with small wooden shelves protruding between them to hold fowerpots of cascading fau fora. Woven baskets on each table hold cutlery, paper napkins and salt and pepper shakers.
Chavez, wearing a black T-shirt and apron, can be spotted in the open kitchen in the back of the restaurant standing under two large copper heat lamps as he puts fnishing touches on dishes. n addition to the branzino crudo, start with guacamole brightened with plenty of lime juice and topped with ueso fresco, pickled red onions, chili oil and cilantro sprigs. Then move on to a round, flaky empanada flled with chicken that has been braised in a mole of dried peppers (guajillos, pastillas, poblanos and fery, smoky chipotles), chocolate, sesame seeds, corn tortillas, cinnamon and cloves. Chavez pulls and shreds the chicken and mixes it with caramelized onions to add a hint of sweetness to the already
flavor-packed filling. The pie is served with dollops of chipotle aioli and striations of dark green chimichurri, a South American salsa that, in Chavez’s version, includes ramps in addition to more traditional herbs, including cilantro, chives, parsley and garlic.
Another starter, a hummus made with 75 corn and 25 chickpeas and served with roasted corn salsa, is a good idea that, with boosting of some of its ingredients—perhaps more lemon juice, cumin and chili oil—could turn into a great one. The homemade potato chips that accompany it are fab, though. The “not-yourclassic” Caesar salad (it has corn and avocado in it) could also beneft from a boost of e tra anchovies and garlic in its timid buttermilk chipotle dressing.
Chavez ofers four kinds of tacos, all made with corn tortillas pressed and griddled to order, including al pastor (adobo-marinated pork butt sliced and cooked on the fattop griddle and served with fermented pineapple salsa enhanced with Korean gochu ang, a fermented red chili paste), carne asada (griddled fank steak that has been marinated in a puree of guajillo peppers, soy sauce, chili oil and a paste made with annatto seeds, garlic and spices) and a vegetarian option made with sauteed mushrooms (maitake, cremini and button), refried beans, charred broccolini and whipped goat cheese. The standout, though, is the fsh taco, thick batons of perfectly cooked and moist fried sea bass lightly coated with crispy cornmeal and beer batter and crowned with pickled cabbage and chipotle aioli. (The slaw,
Roasted chicken breast with pozole, kale, corn, radish, cilantro, cucumber and chorizo
Chef Danny Chavez puts the finishing touches on his branzino crudo.
touched with oregano, is the recipe Chavez’s mom uses to accompany her pupusas.)
Among the entrees, a marvelous choice is the roasted chicken breast with a red, chili-based sauce called pozole. To make the sauce, Chavez simmers chicken stock, garlic, bay leaves, chipotles and charred poblano, guajillo and jalapeno peppers for 90 minutes and purees the mixture after removing the bay leaves. To assemble the dish, chicken breasts are brined overnight, then pan-seared to order with garlic, thyme and butter and enrobed with pozole that has been sauteed with browned and rendered chorizo sausage, corn and kale. A final spritz of lime juices adds just the right touch of acid. The chicken is tender and juicy, its sauce layered with complexity.
For another entree, Chavez braises seared short ribs for 10 hours in the deep, rich mole used for the chicken empanadas. The tender beef then gets glazed with more mole and served with wild rice, kale, pickled cabbage, queso fresco and a swirl of chili oil. The result is luxuriant and rib-sticking.
Pan-seared branzino basted with lemon, butter and thyme and accompanied by a kale, quinoa and avocado
salad dressed with chipotle tamari vinaigrette is also a winner. I have high hopes for tamales—one corn, the other chicken—but fnd them a tad bland and stodgy and their fllings skimpy.
Tortas, lightly pressed sandwiches flled with mortadella, herb-crusted pork, pastrami-spiced chicken, or mushrooms and broccolini, are not a strong suit at Lime Cilantro. Do try the fufy cheesecake with rhubarb jam and caramel sauce or the rich tres leches bread pudding with macerated berries for dessert.
Chavez won my heart moments after I sat down for my frst meal at ime Cilantro and eyed a dog’s menu alongside the fare for humans. “There’s a veterinarian next door to the restaurant and I’m a dog lover with two dogs,” he says. ferings include grilled, unseasoned fank steak tips, “awoof con pollo” (braised chicken with rice and veggies) and “bon a pet treat” (popsicles made with peanut butter, banana and yogurt). Chavez says you have 30 minutes to get the popsicles home before they melt. The restaurant has no outdoor seating except a two-top right in front of the building.
A sign on one of Lime & Cilantro’s walls says, “Vive tus Sueños,” which means “Live your dreams” in Spanish. It’s heartening to see Chavez living his.
Brightview’s award-winning communities engage residents while supporting their changing needs. Safety enhancements, wellness programs, and personal care services empower residents to live full, rewarding lives with confidence.
What will you do today? At Brightview, it’s entirely up to you! Pursue your creative passions, socialize at happy hour, enjoy an outing, rejuvenate in our salon, take in a concert, or simply relax in your apartment home. Whatever you want to do, you can do it with Brightview.
Our associates have two words for you: why not? Each day, residents explore new interests and embark on new adventures. Want to try a new cuisine? Take up a new hobby? Cross “zip-lining” o your list? Why not?
A peek at fall’s best blazers
Wizarding magic in Staunton, Virginia
SHOPPING, TRAVEL, WELLNESS AND MORE
PHOTO BY AMANDA GILLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
These newlyweds left their Poolesville farm wedding in a golf cart.
SHARP OBJECTS
PURPLE REIGN
J. McLaughlin “Marlowe” blazer, $398 at J. McLaughlin, 4851 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-9515272; 10243 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-263-3304, jmclaughlin.com
Located within walking distance of Luray, Virginia’s historic downtown near the Shenandoah River, the circa 1931 Mimslyn Inn was purchased earlier this year by a new ownership group. They plan to conduct an occasional symposium and tour of Civil War actions in the area, and have also added specialty spirits to the inn’s oferings.
Mimslyn’s e pansive grounds are home to walking paths, a hammock garden, frepits, 10 guest cottages, two homes (available as rentals) and 45 guest rooms and suites in the grand manor-style main house. Grab a good book from the inn’s library and rela by the freplace in the frst foor living room.
Guest rooms are appointed with classic furnishings and large windows overlooking the landscape. Following on the heels of recent main foor and dining room renovations, guest rooms are slated for updates in the year ahead.
Mimslyn’s Speakeasy estaurant and Bar ofers casual Southern cuisine and weekly live entertainment. The on site Circa ’31 estaurant is open for breakfast, Sunday brunch bufet and dinner oferings include orthern talian specialities such as a delicious porcini mushroom sauce over chicken and couscous. Visit the new patio bar for a weekend afternoon lunch.
Popular nearby attractions include Shenandoah ational Park, uray Caverns, ew Market Battlefeld, uray oo (a home for rescued animals), the Shenandoah Spirits Trail and the uray Hawksbill Greenway, a paved irginia Bird and Wildlife Trail. Rates start at $199. —Christine Koubek Flynn
The Mimslyn Inn, 401 W. Main St., Luray, Virginia, 540-743-5105, mimslyninn.com
Clockwise from top: Downtown Luray; The Speakeasy Restaurant and Bar at Mimslyn Inn; Circa ’31 at Mimslyn Inn
Luray Caverns
Bay Haven
Tucked away on a secluded cove on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, The Oaks Waterfront Hotel emerged from a $10 million-plus renovation in May 2023 that included the original circa-1748 building and other structures, as well as the grounds. Furnishings in warm whites and seaside blues, along with gleaming wood foors, give the hotel a coastal vibe that carries through to the outdoors, thanks to new porches, patios, beautiful landscaping, frepits and an old dock transformed into a pavilion for outdoor dining and watching movies under the stars.
While weekends are often booked with wedding guests, weekdays make for a peaceful getaway or even a remote work retreat—think laptop on a terrace overlooking the water, a midday stroll along the property’s winding brick path and an evening bath in an oversize soaking tub.
The 11 rooms and suites include king or queen beds, elegant tiled bathrooms with heated foors, robes and Apple T . Select rooms and all four of the cottages on the property have soaking tubs, private patios and water views. One of the cottages also includes a full kitchen and freplace.
Dinner is currently available in The Oak Room on Wednesday and Thursday evenings with a menu featuring soups, salads, burgers, a veggie panini, and fish-and-chips made from Maryland blue catfish with malt vinegar aiol i. Alternately, a driver can transport guests, gratis, to shops and restaurants in nearby St. Michaels, Oxford and Easton. (Harley Peet, executive chef of Bas Rouge in Easton, recently earned a prestigious ames Beard Award.)
Book the hotel’s 40-foot Hinckley Picnic Boat for a scenic fall sunset cruise or to explore an Eastern Shore town. Midweek rates begin at $389 per night and include breakfast served in the dining room, plus complimentary use of bicycles, kayaks and paddleboards. —C.K.F.
The Oaks Waterfront Hotel, 25876 Royal Oak Road, Easton, Maryland, 410-7455053, the-oaks.com
Complimentary bicycles provided by the hotel
Waterfront views from the hotel grounds
A cottage with a full kitchen and fireplace
The Oaks Waterfront Hotel
Discover Elkins
Opened in February in Elkins, West Virginia, the six-story, brick Tygart Hotel is modern in decor while also giving a nod to the past. Local art on display throughout the lobby and guest room foors refects the area’s bygone days.
The historic property is an ideal base from which to explore this Appalachian mountain town and nearby Monongahela ational Forest trails, fora and fauna. While no two of the 56 guest rooms and suites are alike, you’ll fnd rooms with a king, a queen or two queen beds dressed in quality linens, bathrooms with roomy walk in showers, fat screen T s and large desks.
Dine on-site at Oxley House Cocktail Bar and Restaurant for American fare such as fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits. f property, visit the lkins Depot Welcome Center for details on the Durbin Greenbrier alley ailroad, which ofers a variety of scenic rides on vintage trains to see wildlife, waterfalls and sweeping mountain views.
Big Timber Brewing, just a block from the hotel, is the place for local beer. Byrd’s House of Donuts serves sugary treats, sweet tea and an array of other comfort foods. Hotel guests receive a complimentary day pass to the lkins YMCA, ust a couple minutes’ walk from the hotel.
Rates begin at $131 and include a breakfast of fresh fruit, locally made doughnuts, yogurt, eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits with gravy. —C.K.F.
Tygart Hotel, part of the Ascend Hotel Collection, 206 Davis Ave., Elkins, West Virginia, 304-924-4279, tygarthotel.com
TOP: COURTESY CITY OF ELKINS; LEFT: TYGART HOTEL
Fried green tomatoes Downtown Elkins
A room at the Tygart Hotel
WELCOMING FINE ART CONSIGNMENTS
UPCOMING FINE ART AUCTIONS
Post War and Contemporary Art
September 25
Prints and Multiples
September 26
19th Century European Art and Old Masters
October 10
Impressionist and Modern Art
October 28
Western and Contemporary Native American Art
November 12
American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists
December 8
IN STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, THE QUEEN CITY MISCHIEF & MAGIC FESTIVAL CHARMS ATTENDEES
By Christine Koubek Flynn
ll the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” If William Shakespeare’s famous line holds true, there may be no better place to play your part than Staunton, irginia. About 150 miles from Bethesda, this Shenandoah Valley city with a population of roughly 25,000 boasts a cultural scene that rivals much larger locales.
The American Shakespeare Center and its Blackfriars Playhouse—the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater—is here, along with comedy shows, open mic nights, live music and the annual Queen City Mischief Magic festival, which attracts more than 20,000 people, including Potterheads (aka Harry Potter aficionados) and festivalgoers of all ages who love a good cosplay.
My now grown oldest son and devoured the Harry Potter books, then movies, when he was a young teen. With each new book we grew more enamored with J.K. Rowling’s characters, especially as we learned Snape’s backstory, and that he’s not as evil as he seems, and how even the kind and seemingly all knowing Albus Dumbledore made his mistakes and had his regrets. And of course, the epic story of friendship that has the power to conquer huge obstacles.
It’s that power of friendship—between business owners, individuals and city staf—that puts a palpable magic in Staunton’s transformation into a bewitching village each fall. The festival, scheduled for Sept. 28 and 29 this year, is
a fan event not a liated with Warner Bros. and features dozens of activities; some require tickets, but many are free. Last year’s festival included Quidditch matches, a snake show, a “Beware of ow Flying wls Avian Show,” potions classes, a wand shop, wizarding workshops and an adults only dance party. And you don’t need to be a wizarding fan to enjoy it, as my traveling companion discovered.
Sarah Lynch, owner of local restaurant Baja Bean, dreamed up the festival in 2016. After reading the Harry Potter series with her son, Henry, in the years after the hullabaloo surrounding the release of several books had settled down, she had her shot to celebrate in real time when the eighth story in the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was set to come out on uly 31, 2016, the birthday of both Harry and owling. ynch contacted the owners of Staunton’s beloved Puferbellies Toys Books with an idea. Together, they set a goal to get a minimum of eight downtown stores with some kind of themed participation in order for Puferbellies to do a midnight book release at Baja Bean, where Lynch promised to supply the party and a birthday cake. n April of that year, ynch began asking business owners if they wanted to plan themed events at their stores and restaurants. By July, Lynch says, there were 70 participants. “ t all felt like that scene in Cinderella where the dress, coach, etc. materialize magically—birds sewing and mice poofng into coachmen,” ynch says. “ t really still feels like that most years.”
The Queen City Mischief & Magic festival features cosplay and interactive events.
City staf got involved after a Facebook announcement was posted two weeks ahead of the event. The post had 25,000 shares and 100,000 interactions within a couple of days, ynch says. The city closed festival streets to tra c to keep people safe and continues to provide support.
ast year, the two day Queen City Mischief Magic festi val featured more than a dozen blocks of immersive fun. rec ommend e ploring the night before to get your bearings. We wandered downtown, tasty nonalcoholic “butterbeer” inspired drinks in hand (some places got into the act on Friday), and pass ing under decorations strung high above the street that looked like life size witches with black fowing fabric. Staunton’s down town, with its beautiful old architecture—from a building with a big red brick turret to a 1 03 beau arts style bank building con structed of granite—is an ideal setting to create a magical world.
The ne t morning’s steady rain didn’t deter townspeople and visitors from dressing as their favorite characters and gathering at the train station for the festival’s frst arrival.
a red carpet was rolled out for costumed professors arriving. A family dressed as owling created characters—a young boy as Draco, his father as Snape, and the boy’s siblings as Harry Potter and Dobby the elf—
wandered through the ovial crowd, which was flled with peo ple in costumes. The police were in on the fun, giving out sticker badges between crowd cheers and boos, depending on which faculty member disembarked. The characters made their way to Beverley Street, where you could meet them and take photos. We e plored the wharf area dubbed “Do Good Alley” located alongside Staunton’s weekly farmers market. t was full of tented booths where you could make crafts or buy items. You know you’re in “Do Good Alley” when you spot an iconic ir ginia “ ” sign with a pair of Harry Potter style spectacles set atop the “ .”
Many of the stores and restaurants near this part of the festi val ofered activities, too. We popped into ssentially en, where we watched people blend essential oils and add a crystal of their choosing in potions class, each “wizard” leaving with a custom scent. A short walk from there, Sunspots Studios held a blow your own glass prophecy orb workshop. ven without a work shop, the store is a must see for the beautiful glass wands blown around copper handles.
ater that afternoon, we returned to the station to watch as a man dressed as Hagrid welcomed students arriving by train (there were four train arrival events during the festival). olun teers Craig and Melanie Brimhall, dressed as Albus Dumbledore and Professor Minerva McGonagall respectively, oversee the
PHOTOS
Kids await a train arrival.
A cast member dressed as Dolores Umbridge
A festivalgoer dressed as Alastor Moody
Cauldrons and “potions” set a magical mood.
compares to what’s next.
TIPS
Scan QR codes printed on cards located throughout the festival for a map and the schedule, or visit the website (queen citymagic.com). Check the festival’s Facebook page ( facebook.com/queencity magic) for the latest on activities and for any weather-related revisions. The rainy Saturday in 2023 forced modifications in the Quidditch schedule and resulted in the cancellation of an evening dance party event, but most of the show went on. Street and garage parking are available around the festival’s perimeter, though it’s sometimes tricky to get a spot. Free parking and shuttle service are available farther away.
Look for a blue-shirted “prefect”—the volunteers who escort characters through the festival and roam the streets to assist festivalgoers—if you get lost, require a bathroom or just need a photo assist.
EXPLORE
Check out some of Staunton’s most popular attractions, including the American Shakespeare Center (americanshake spearecenter.com), the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum (woodrow wilson.org), and, outside Staunton’s city limits, the peaceful Harmony Harvest Farm (hhfshop.com), a 20-acre site in Weyers Cave that offers pick-your-own flowers, farm tours, workshops and a farm shop.
STAY
The Blackburn Inn , within walking distance of the festival, opened in 2018 after the Jeffersonian-style building received a modern artsy decor makeover that highlighted its vaulted ceilings, original heart pine floors and a reproduction antique drafting table that serves as the reception desk. Guest rooms include pillowtop beds and spacious marble bathrooms, some with soaking tubs. Rates begin at $249. 301 Greenville Ave., 540-712-0601, blackburn-inn.com
Family- and pet-friendly Tru by Hilton Staunton is right off I-81, about 2½ miles from town. The hotel’s minimalist-style guest rooms have pegs, rather than closets, for hanging clothes. You’ll also find
comfy lobby seating, board games, a complimentary breakfast and wizard-themed decor galore. Rates begin at $419. 120 Crossing Way, 540-213-4000, hilton.com/ en/hotels/shdstru-tru-staunton
Next door to Tru, the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Staunton offers similarly wellrated accommodations, with a bit more in the way of amenities and an upscale vibe. Rates begin at $500. 114 Crossing Way, 540-213-4100, marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ shdfs-fairfield-inn-and-suites-staunton
EATS
Festival organizer Sarah Lynch’s restaurant, Baja Bean, is right in the mix on Beverley Street. The Mexican menu includes freshly made salsa and hot sauces. Visit their website for details on live music and dance party nights. 9 W. Beverley St., bajabean.com
Marino’s Lunch is a Staunton restaurant tradition that goes beyond lunch, serving breakfast (with a full bar) through dinner (think wings, hot dogs, burgers and fried green tomatoes), and doubles as a music venue with jam sessions. Visit their website for dates and times. 901 N. Augusta St., marinoslunch.com
Pizza Luca, a new and quickly popular entrant into Staunton’s dining scene created by Justin Hershey, chef-owner of nearby Chicano Boy Taco, offers brickfired pizzas, pastas, salads and other Italian American favorites. 213A N. Lewis St., pizza-luca.com
Remedy Burger looks like the place where a grown Quidditch crew would gather for a postgame cocktail at the bar and specialty burgers, such as a housemade vegetarian broccoli/Parmesan burger with American cheese, pickles, white onion, iceberg lettuce and the special Remedy Sauce on a sesame bun, or one of the many popular beefy choices.
12 E. Beverley St., remedyburger.com
Head to Reunion Bakery & Espresso sooner rather than later (to avoid sellouts) for coffee and baked goods. This locally o wned and operated bakery’s fare includes delicious quiches, muffins and a selection of festival-themed treats. 26 S. New St., reunionbakery.com
festival’s characters and work throughout the year to recruit and train a cast of roughly 90 people. “This town is magic,” Lynch says as she describes the Brimhalls’ work and the hundreds of other volunteers.
“Our minds are blown every year with what these creative creatures come up with to make sure our visitors feel like they are in another world.” When asked if there are any changes in store for the 2024 event, Lynch says, “This is the Year of the Dragon, so I think you’ll see some surprises along those lines.” There were already plans for dragon-themed elements when organizers realized the Chinese zodiac matched up.
Trinity Episcopal Church’s grand dining hall-style evening banquet (with its head table of costumed characters) is worth booking in advance. The 2023 menu included shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and shortbread cookies. Arrive early to snag a seat
BY
The scene at the Queen City Mischief & Magic festival
Festival attendees dressed as Harry Potter and Hagrid
at your favorite Hogwarts house-inspired table with settings that included a wand and protective charm. Pick up a self-guided interior tour brochure to learn about the stories behind the church’s gorgeous stained glass windows. Check trinitystaunton.org for pricing and times.
On Sunday, Staunton stores and venues were open again for activities. We meandered down the hill to catch a Quidditch match. While many participants practice ahead of time for the games, there are opportunities for festivalgoers to try their hand at it, too (visit queencitymagic.com for details). Kids competed to get balls through rings and capture the golden snitch. People cheered and jockeyed for better viewing positions around the playing feld (a parking lot not far from the train station). It was easy to spot characters roving solo and in groups.
As I wandered around the sidelines, I glimpsed a woman dressed as Professor Trelawney, the eccentric divination teacher with Coke-bottle glasses who was played brilliantly by actress mma Thompson in the third Harry Potter flm. She’s one of my favorites—a hippie chick who teaches fortune-telling. I hoped to get some intel on how the 2023 event compared to the previous one, but all she said was, “Even in the rain yesterday, there were many for our arrival,” then leaned down to meet my dog. “And who is this beautiful, magical creature?”
As was the case for all the characters I’d met or watched, she was fully in character in her speech and mannerisms. I decided to ask a simple question about the festival. “Do you think the rain had a big impact on this year’s attendance?”
She smiled and granted a divination of sorts: “You know what they say: The show must go on.”
Christine Koubek Flynn reports on mid-Atlantic travel in the magazine’s Traveler’s Notebook column. She has written for The Washington Post and Coastal Living among others, and she teaches writing workshops at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda.
Flow GO WITH THE
This couple’s 130-guest Poolesville farm wedding was an eclectic affair, right down to a ringing exit By Dana Gerber
THE COUPLE: Dan Haber, 31, grew up in Rockville and graduated from Thomas S. Wootton High School. He works as a contractor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Megan Humes Haber, 30, grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. She works as an operations impact and knowledge manager at the Centre for Public Impact. They live in Mount Rainier, Maryland, with their cat, Luna.
HOW THEY MET: The pair matched on the dating app Cofee Meets Bagel in 2017 and went on their frst date to Compass ose in Washington, D.C. There, they bonded over their shared passion for travel, athletics—and bucking convention. “We talked about all the things you’re not supposed to talk about, like religion and politics,” recalls Dan. “ verything checked of.”
THE PROPOSAL: Dan proposed during a hike in “absolutely nowhere Pennsylvania,” recalls Megan, while they were on a trip in October 2020. “I was looking at a bird through binoculars, and when I put the binoculars down, Dan was kneeling and reached for my hand,” she says. Even though he had forgotten to retrieve the ring from his backpack before popping the question, the answer was still “yes.”
THE CEREMONY: The couple wed at Aix La Chapelle Farm in Poolesville on Sept. 4, 2022, with about 130 guests present. Even though neither Dan nor Megan is very religious, they decided to have a “Jew-ish ceremony,” Megan says, to honor Dan’s cultural background—they signed the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract, and said “I do” under a chuppah.
THE VENUE: Choosing Aix La Chapelle Farm, the pair says, was as much about practicality as it was about beauty. “The most important thing to me was the fow of the space,” Megan says. At Ai , she says, “I could picture how things—and we—would be moving through the space through the night,” from the ceremony in the peach orchard, to dinner in an outdoor tent, to dancing in the “dairy barn” space. The bucolic setting was another big draw. “We wanted something where you couldn’t hear any tra c and with a little bit of a view into the distance somewhere,” says the groom.
THE RECEPTION: After a two-year engagement amid the pandemic, the pair was more than ready to celebrate once it came time for the big day. “This is a party frst and foremost, we want it to feel like that,” says the bride. ideo cameras foated around for guests to record selfe style clips with well wishes for the newlyweds, and heart shaped seed packets served as the party favors. For the newlyweds’ exit, guests held wagon bows strewn with string lights and bells to create an archway for the couple to walk through, and a surprise awaited them on the other side. “All of a sudden, a golf cart shows up with cans tied behind it and my brother saying, ‘Get in!’ ” recalls Dan. “So we drove of into the darkness.”
THE DECOR: The couple took advantage of the venue’s homey decor, from the mismatched antique chairs at the dinner tables to the clusters of seating areas meant to create “opportunities for intimate conversations,” Megan says. The pair’s forals—lively bou uets of sunfowers, circus roses and blue thistle—added to the eclectic
atmosphere and captured Megan’s vision of a “root vegetable chic” color scheme. “The end of summer harvest going into fall felt very natural,” she says.
THE OUTFITS: The bride tried on a lot of dresses before picking out a backless gown with an “antique, vintage-y feel to it” from the (now-closed) I Do I Do Wedding Gowns boutique in Gaithersburg. “When I put it on, it was like, That’s what I was looking for,” she says. Dan, meanwhile, donned a navy blue suit with a burnt orange tie to match Megan’s bridesmaids’ dresses.
THE MUSIC: Megan and Dan’s frst dance was to “Let Loose” by Mt. Joy, but they really let loose when the sixpiece band played “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon, a tune that “got us through the pandemic with two of our really good friends we lived with for a year when things were bleak,” Megan says. “It came on, and we all just ran screaming to the dance foor and umping around.”
THE FOOD: The pair wanted what Megan describes as a “vegetable-forward but not vegetarian” menu to accommodate all their guests’ dietary restrictions. “We were really trying to make sure everyone would be able to be full,” she says, and the selection—a fall harvest salad, chicken with tomatoes and artichokes, eggplants atop edamame hummus and a butternut squash ravioli—did not disappoint. But the most memorable part of the meal, the newlyweds say, was not the fare but the fact that it was served family-style, in big bowls at every table.
“Everyone got more of what they like. Everyone got to try everything. People got to talk with their tables to pass the food around,” Dan says. “It solved every single problem.”
THE DESSERT: After the feast, guests trotted over to the farm’s cafe-style bakery, where glass display cases showed of sweet treats such as salted caramel cheesecake and key lime dessert “shots,” fruit skewers and chocolate-dipped marshmallows. “It looked so cute,” says Megan of the setup.
THE HONEYMOON: The pair left for a 10-day trip to Portugal the day after the wedding. “Especially because we’d already lived together, we’d already bought our house together, that was the big distinction between getting married and our normal life,” says the bride. A travel agent helped them plan the European excursion, which included trips to Lisbon, the Douro Valley and the Algarve.
VENDORS: Band, Da Vinci Strings and DC Fusion of Washington Talent; catering, Catering by Seasons forist, Davinci Florist; hair and makeup, Veux Beauty; hotel, Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center; photographer, Amanda Gilley Photography; shuttle service, MJ Valet; tent, Allied Event Solutions; venue, Aix La Chapelle Farm; videographer, TLIC Media
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The ‘Sex Detective’
A Bethesda urologist helps
patients of all genders
solve
their medical issues, from low libido to fatigue
On a morning in June, Bethesda urologist Rachel Rubin, 39, is pondering where to hang a clock depicting the anatomy of the pelvic foor. “Should this go in my o ce or in the lobby?” she asks one of her colleagues as she stands in front of shelves full of vibrators, bobbleheads, mugs with uirky sayings referencing reproductive health, and both anatomically correct and smiling cartoony models of the clitoris. A pillow on a chair is embroidered with “give me the estrogen and nobody gets hurt.”
ubin, who okingly calls herself “Dr. achel ubin, Se Detective,” wants people to talk openly about se , but more importantly she wants them to understand how it uni uely affects each person. She has
PHOTO
BY
LINDSEY MAX
BY GINNY BIXBY
built a following of more than 62,000 on nstagram for her candid posts about seual health and is an outspoken advocate against gender disparities in research on se ual and reproductive health and anatomy. A proponent of hormone replacement therapy, she’s often a source in national and international news reports about menopause research, and she regularly speaks on panels about women’s se ual health.
ubin lives in Chevy Chase with her husband, Michael Gerber (who has written for Bethesda Magazine), and their children, who are 5 and 7. She started her medical career at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and became interested in how se ual health is sel-
dom discussed during most appointments with doctors.
After deciding to pursue urology, ubin received a fellowship in 2016 at San Diego Se ual Medicine, a multidisciplinary health care facility at Alvarado Hospital. During the fellowship, which focused on women’s se ual health and changed the tra ectory of her career, ubin took to social media, tweeting about the research her colleagues were doing and trying to e plain it to a broader audience. Her online presence took of.
“ t’s not ust important to do the research, but it is really important to translate the research and describe the research,” ubin says. “We complain a lot that there’s not enough research, and
With more than 62,000 followers on Instagram, Dr. Rachel Rubin focuses on educating people on sexual and reproductive health.
I agree … we’re very far behind. But we’re not even using the basic research that we do have to help people.”
At her Bethesda practice, Rubin and her colleagues work with patients of all genders and backgrounds to reach their optimal sexual and reproductive health and solve the mysteries of everything from low libido to severe pain. While her social media posts are popular with women going through menopause—a key topic of her content—she has treated children as young as 7, and her oldest patient is 98.
One patient came in with “horrible, horrible” pelvic pain and clitoral pain that she’d experienced for three years, Rubin says. She and her colleagues were able to help with a combination of local hormones, pelvic foor physical therapy and other treatments, but it turned out that an issue in her spine was causing nerve pain.
urinary tracts. The problem is, we have this idea that OB-GYNs are supposed to take care of everything that goes on with a woman, but they’re not trained to do everything that goes on with a woman, nor should they be responsible for all of these issues. So urologists are really focused often on quality of life issues, issues with urination, issues with sexual health, and we are board certifed to take care of men and women. It’s just the misogyny of our society where we are better trained at taking care of men than we are women, which is a huge problem, which is what we’re trying to change.
We deal with issues of libido, arousal, orgasm and pain. And so if you have any of those problems, and many people have those problems … that’s when you invest in coming to see us.
“Her pain went away with a nerve block and she ultimately had minimally invasive spine surgery. Her pain is completely gone,” Rubin says. “It wasn’t me that was going to cure this person’s pain. But it was me thinking outside the box, working up the parts that I knew how to work up and then using my network and my colleagues to be able to validate this person’s experience and say it’s not normal to have three years of clitoral pain. How can we make this better for you?”
Rubin says most cases aren’t that extreme. She believes urology work can save marriages and that “seeing a specialist is expensive, but it is cheaper than divorce.” Her practice does not accept insurance.
“It could be someone with erectile dysfunction who has reliable erections again and feels great. It can be someone who lost their ability to have an orgasm and we are able to help that happen again, that makes them want to be more intimate with their partner, and that’s super pleasurable to take away someone’s pain,” Rubin says.
Bethesda Magazine spoke to Rubin about her work. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
When people hear the word urologist, they’re not necessarily thinking about their sexual or gynecological health. How do those things go hand in hand?
Urologists take care of the genitals and
While you can’t diagnose through an Instagram post, do you think your social media encourages people to talk to their doctors about their sexual health?
It helps empower the patients to advocate for themselves and to be able to sa y, ‘Wait a minute, during this 10minute visit where I got gaslit and didn’t get taken seriously, maybe this doctor, it’s not their expertise. Maybe I should see someone who actually cares a lot about this.’ The person who has 30 patients a day and is dealing with cancer may not have the interest in your libido and may not have the time to deeply dive into your libido.
When your patients come in, are there things that they are afraid to ask?
It is very scary to come in to the sex doctor and also talk for that amount of time about yourself. Most people have never done that before, but when you connect with someone who genuinely cares and wants to hear it, it really releases a lot of that anxiety. There’s also always the patient who is so afraid that I’m going to tell them this is all in your head, this isn’t real, you’re not experiencing this. I’ve done this for a long time and I’ve never said those words before. Why? Because there’s always biology to help explain what’s happening to the person. Also your brain is a part of your biology, so understanding that is really important.
Menopause isn’t new, but it seems to be something we’re talking more frankly about now. Why is that, and why are some aspects just now being researched?
Menopause is having a little moment right now, and I’m grateful for my social media ‘posse’ because we are bringing awareness loudly. What’s also happening is journalists are becoming perimenopausal and they are writing about it. The New York Times has written about it. The Washington Post has written about it. It’s getting picked up—there are a lot more articles and stories. This is nothing new. But it’s just our ability to have these conversations. There’s a new term, NFLM, it’s ‘Not Feeling Like Myself.’ Women in their late 30s and 40s that are just like wait a minute, all of a sudden I want to go to the allergist and the neurologist and the cardiologist and the orthopedist. All of a sudden I have all these doctors, now what is going on? And you’re not so unlucky that you have 100 things going on. Your body is sort of doing puberty in reverse, and there is a wild fuctuation in the hormones that the ovaries make.
How can people best empower themselves to take charge of their sexual health?
We need education, and it’s important to fnd the health care professionals who really want to help you. I give people a mirror and I give them a tour of their own genitals, and I say this is your labia majora, this is your labia minora, this is your clitoris, this is your pelvic foor. t is what I love about my job. I have the smartest, most impressive D.C.-area people, and not a single one of them doesn’t learn when we do that together, where I teach them very basic facts about their body parts and how they work. Having that tour is incredibly benefcial so that if something were to hurt, you know where it’s hurting, you can then look and you know.
I think education is so important because sometimes we’re embarrassed. We feel like we have come this far in life and think, ‘I should know this, so I can’t ask that question, oh, I can’t ask my friends this question, that’s too embarrassing.’ That’s where having the trusted sources is so important.
What Employers Need to Know About the Noncompete Ban
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule on noncompete clauses will take e ect on September 4, 2024, and will impact for-profit employers. This rule stops most employers from using noncompete clauses, which are agreements that prevent workers from taking jobs with competing businesses after they leave their current job.
Employers must:
• Inform workers, except certain senior executives who may be exempted, that their noncompete clauses will no longer be enforced. The FTC provides a sample notice for this purpose.
• Ensure they fully understand the new rule.
• Review their current agreements to ensure that they aren’t in violation.
• Strategize with an employment law attorney at Stein Sperling to remain competitive while complying with the FTC guidelines in their future hirings.
The rule defines “workers” broadly, including employees, independent contractors, and others. Most existing noncompete agreements will no longer be valid after September 4th, except for certain senior executives which is defined as someone who earns more than $151,164 per year and has a policymaking role.
After September 4th, employers cannot issue new noncompete agreements, including those to senior executives, but there are exceptions. One such exception includes agreements entered into as a result of the sale of a business.
Other types of agreements, like confidentiality and nonsolicitation agreements, are not a ected by the rule. However, if a nonsolicitation agreement acts like a noncompete, it may also be unenforceable.
Employers should review their existing noncompete, confidentiality, and nonsolicitation agreements to make sure they comply with the new rule and prepare necessary communications for their workers. Stein Sperling can help with this review and preparation.
DARLA MCCLURE Principal Business & Employment Law
Darla J. McClure is a business and employment law attorney, with an emphasis on helping management navigate the employment law landscape. She assists businesses on a wide range of legal issues faced in day-to-day operations, including compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and dra ing employment policies, handbooks, and contracts. Darla also advises clients on general corporate matters such as contract review, preparation, and business transitions. 301-340-2020 www.steinsperling.com
S TEIN SPERLING
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What I Learned From My Most Important Student
Jermaine Williams, 45, has been president of Montgomery College since 2022. He lives in Gaithersburg with his wife, Maggie, and their two sons, Jackson and Malcolm. He’s proud of the achievements of the community college’s overwhelming di er e tudent bod a o ic e identi e a r t generation college students and 36% of whom report food insecurity issues. Helping those young scholars succeed drives this lifelong educator, but of all the students he has taught, the most important one is the most surprising.
It starts with something I see every day, and that’s my name. Jermaine F. Williams. That ‘F’ is the middle name of my father, so it’s a family name. What a lot of people don’t know, and I’m about to share with you, is my middle name is actually spelled wrong. Yes, it’s my father’s middle name, but it’s spelled incorrectly. Because when I was born and it was time to give me a name, my father thought that’s how it was spelled.
My middle name is supposed to be Francis. But it is spelled F-R-A-N-C-I-A-S.
“I THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE MY PARENTS PUT ON EDUCATION—NEITHER OF THEM WERE COLLEGE GRADUATES BY THE TIME I WAS.”
—JERMAINE WILLIAMS
My father was illiterate. As a middle schooler, I and others helped him learn how to read. It didn’t hit me as much as a young person, helping your father learn how to read, but it hit me harder when I was older and I found my path. Why did I have this desire to be in education? Why do I do what I do? What’s this desire to help others leverage education as a way to obtain individual economic and social mobility and ignite intergenerational mobility?
In those moments, I think about supporting my father. I think about this Southern Black man who came up from North Carolina during the Great Migration, married a Northern white woman, and had to traverse so much of what our society has to ofer in terms of race and socioeconomic status—in terms of everything that is said, and unsaid. And I think about how he earned a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees.
I think about the level of importance my parents put on education neither of them were college graduates by the time I was, so my brother and were frst generation college students . There’s a reason why I’m at a college where 50% of students are self identifed as frst gen.
The impact teaching my father to read has had on me, how it resonates, is something that has stayed with me even before I realized it and could name it. It is embedded deep within the fabric of my ethos, and I truly believe it drove me to make lifechanging decisions as became more educated and could fnally put a name on it.
