Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

I’ve seen so many memes going around Facebook that make fun of women in their 30s and 40s and our early bedtimes.

One of my favorites says “One day you’re 23 enjoying happy hour in a crowded bar, the next you’re in your 30s avoiding social events and watching murder documentaries to relax.” Truer words have never been spoken. So if you’re in the mood to leave the house and be social, here are some ladies night ideas to try out:

• Music Venues: Jammin Java has an 80s night, which includes food and drinks, or the 80s coverband the Legwarmers at State Theater in Falls Church. The State Theater also has 90s night in August.
• If art and wine are more your thing, try Muse Paintbar in Mosaic.
• Trivia night might be another low key option if the neon side ponytails are not your thing. You could try Lost Dog, Blackfinn, Caboose Commons, Art’s Tavern or Paddy’s Bar for trivia.
• If you’re looking for moral support to try a new exercise class, there are a few Spin classes, Purre Barre, Orange Theory, Crossift on Mill Street, or tons of Yoga options.
• Another artistic option is Board & Brush, where you can create your own wood sign.
• There’s a hidden gem among Vienna called the Culinaria Cooking School, where you can sign up for a cooking class.

I would LOVE to hear from you on ideas or topics for future posts. What are you looking for and/or what info do you need?

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

We meet with federal employees and government contractors who are facing issues in the security clearance process.

They often ask our attorneys at what point they should consult with a security clearance attorney to assist, advise or represent them. The usual response is that an individual with a potential security concern should do so as soon as possible. Generally, the earlier that a person with possible security concerns consults with a security clearance lawyer, the better the odds become in avoiding a potential adverse outcome.

What Does a Security Clearance Lawyer Do?

There are a number of ways that an experienced lawyer in security clearance law can help someone with security concerns. It is often the case that they can advise an individual regarding potential strategies before a security clearance problem develops.

We have found that most individuals have a good sense as to whether or not they may have a security concern (e.g. recent drug use, bankruptcy, foreign contacts) as they prepare to complete their security clearance forms like the e-QIP, SF-86 and/or different various of the SF-85. The earlier advice is sought when there is an issue, the more that can be possibly done to mitigate the concern.

Clearance lawyers also advise individuals during the investigative process and during any security clearance responses or appeals.

Delays Can Hurt the Ability to Mitigate Security Concerns

One of the major issues that we see in the clearance process is where an individual has waited too long to consider or in starting to address a potential security clearance concern until it may be too late.

Sometimes, individuals who have had financial issues which could have been explained or refuted initially, wait too long thinking that if they lose during the clearance hearing or personal appearance that they will just retain an attorney further on in the appeals process. This is usually the worst strategy.

When people with serious security concerns have waited too long to address them, or gone through an in person response without representation, it is usually too late to do much on further appeal. One example I remember is a case where a government contractor had an alleged debt that was overdue, didn’t respond with evidence that it was not his debt thinking that he could appeal it after the administrative judge had ruled.

The debt was clearly not his, but because the clearance appeal could only be based on the evidence already presented, the clearance could not be saved.

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Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

2200 Journet Drive, Dunn Loring
3 BR/3.5 BA
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $799,999
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

501 Creek Crossing Road NE, Vienna
4 BR/3 BA
Agent: Fairfax Realty Select
Listed: $815,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

8432 Hollis Lane, Vienna
4 BR/3 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
Listed: $815,000
Open: Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

8527 Minerva Court, Vienna
5 BR/3.5 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $899,999
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

2162 Westglen Court, Vienna
5 BR/5.5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,149,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

2403 Sagarmal Court, Dunn Loring
4 BR/4.5 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
Listed: $1,300,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

601 Park Street SE, Vienna
6 BR/6.5 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
Listed: $1,690,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.

• 2117 Hutchison Grove Court, Falls Church, VA — $600,000
• 8736 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, VA — $678,500
• 1360 Snow Meadow Lane, Mclean, VA — $959,999
• 7721 Lear Road, Mclean, VA — $1,050,000
• 2202 Harithy Drive, Dunn Loring, VA — $1,050,000
• 2054 Arch Drive, Falls Church, VA — $1,495,000

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

The working professionals who pursue the Arlington-based Executive MBA at Virginia Tech get a rich education in the fundamentals of business — accounting and finance, marketing, operations, ethics, communications and leadership.

But woven around those foundation courses are “experiential modules” designed to accelerate development in four essential and current areas:

• Business analytics
• Entrepreneurship & innovation
• Leadership & governance
• Global business

Each module includes two concentration classes plus a “big experience” course that puts the learning to work immediately, says Barbara Hoopes, academic director for Virginia Tech MBA Programs.

Corporate leaders are brought in “to provide guidance and bring real-life projects to students,” adds Parviz Ghandforoush, associate dean for graduate programs in the Pamplin College of Business.

What does this look like on the ground? For the analytics module, which covers BI and data mining along with marketing analytics, Hoopes brought in four software vendors — Microsoft, Qlik, SAS and Tableau — to provide access to their products and act as coaches.

Students addressed pressing issues with U.S. infrastructure using publicly available data to analyze Congressional airport funding and its relationship to economic growth, identify causal factors for large utility outages and predict hazard classifications of dams in order to prioritize inspections.

Hoopes asserts that students really “need to understand how data can be used to support their decision-making.” That means “learning how to tell a story that convinces others” — in other words, traversing that last mile between the data scientist and the people at the very top.

Ghandforoush notes that students often arrive with an expectation that the data work they will do during their MBA is a throw-away “because they don’t need it or they have analysts at work who will do this for them.” And yet faculty hear back from former skeptics that those lessons turned out to be the most valuable in the program “because they’re actually using it at work and they’ve seen the results.”

That’s just what Virginia Tech had in mind when it undertook its redesign of the MBA for working professionals. “It’s not like students graduate and four or five years later we will hear if they have benefited from their MBA,” he concludes. “This is like a laboratory. We get to watch this as it’s happening right before our eyes.”

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

Different experiences can put you in a certain mood.

Last Friday I was fortunate enough to tour the Sotheby’s Auction House in New York City. If you have never been to the auction house, it’s worth the trip. You are surrounded by the best and the experience is unparalleled. Much of the art we saw on Friday has been in private collections up to this point so the only opportunity to see the art prior to this auction has been in a picture.

On view last week were a number of Picasso paintings likely to sell for as much as $30 million, a bottle of whiskey expected to sell for up to $100,000 and a Monet painting that elicited audible gasps from my group that will likely sell for $75 million. All that beauty and the price tags associated with it put me in a mood for opulence.

This week’s feature is a magnificent home renovated by BOWA. The home has now been reduced in price by nearly $500,000 since it came on market. Check out the separate carriage house, yet another stunning yard and pool (this column officially has a trend), and the best gym in town. When you live in a home this lavish, you shouldn’t have to work out with strangers.

7301 Dulany Drive McLean (Reduced $250,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7913 Foxhound Road McLean (Reduced $61,000) 
• 9998 Blackberry Lane Great Falls (Reduced $151,000)
• 2353 Chadlington Road Falls Church (Reduced $20,000)
• 601 Park Street SE Vienna (Reduced $59,000) 
• 6928 Butternut Court McLean (Reduced $40,000) 
• 1214 Kelley Street SW Vienna (Reduced $24,910)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: I work in Tysons and often drive through the Town of Vienna. How’s the housing market in Vienna and what it’s like living there?

Answer: Vienna is a suburban neighborhood located about three miles from Tysons. The Town of Vienna has been changing and improving over the past years while still maintaining its original charm and “small town” feel. It’s beautiful, full of friendly people and rich with life.

Here’s What Makes Vienna A Great Place To Live:

Location — It’s located minutes away from Tysons. It has its own Metro Station (last stop in the orange line) with 2 large parking garages, and it is located just a few minutes away from I-66 which provides quick access to 495 and can take you to D.C. in 25 minutes. You can get to Dulles Airport in 20 minutes. Overall, a great location!

Active Community — I lived in Vienna for a few years and I loved the great community atmosphere. The town holds parades and festivals throughout the year on Maple Avenue and Church Street. Viva Vienna! and Oktoberfest are my favorite. Here’s the full calendar.

There are parks and community facilities to meet citizen’s recreational needs. The Vienna Community Center is under renovation but it will reopen this fall.

Cyclists can take the W&OD Trail, a 45 mile trail that goes from Shirlington to Purcellville. Located right off the trail, you’ll find Caboose Tavern serving great beer made on site and delicious bites.

We can’t forget the amazing Wolf Trap for outdoor concerts! And of course, there’s a dog park.

Shops and Restaurants — Perfect place for foodies!

Must try: Taco Bamba (2 tacos and a draft for $12, yes please!), Yama (Sushi), Red Galanga; Vienna staples like The Vienna Inn, and Amphora; Date night places like Bazin’s on Church, Maple Ave (awesome brunch, and check their daily specials), and Clarity.

The Pear Tree Cottage, my favorite shop for antiques and design, has been in business for 5 years and it contributes to the community’s charm. There’s Bard’s Alley for books (and café and wine bar); and Whole Foods with the best fresh seafood selection. Vienna truly has it all.

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Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

Quite possibly my favorite weekend to be a Vienna resident happens on Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27) — ViVa Vienna!

The event spans both sides of Church Street from Lawyers Road to Mill Street, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (until 6 p.m. on Monday). You’ll find rides and games for kids, all the fair food you can eat, live music and entertainment. On Sunday and Monday you’ll also see Church Street lined with booths/vendors.

My family ends up going at least 2 days because it’s so much fun and my kids love it! Here’s are some tips to help you enjoy the wonderful chaos ViVa Vienna brings!

• If you’re not a fan of crowds, go on Saturday before the vendors set up. It’s a little calmer, a little less crowded and you’ll end up coming home with less “stuff” that people like to grab as the vendors give away freebies.
• Check out the Entertainment Lineup ahead of time if you’re looking for a specific performance group (Vienna Singing Princess are a fan favorite — they do face painting at this event as well).
• Parking is a nightmare! You can use one of the shuttle services provided or try to park near Vienna Elementary/Center Street. Park on the south side of Maple Avenue and walk across.
• There are plenty of port-o-potties setup for bathroom use all over Church Street/Mill Street.
• Bring cash to pay for ride tickets (get a free one here). The line is always shorter if you can pay with cash instead of credit.
• The event is held rain or shine!
• The event made the Cooking Chanel Carnival Eats Episode, highlighting the pierogis and crab dip.
• Follow ViVa Vienna on Facebook to get updated on special events (like the Caps!).

Welcome to New Homes, a monthly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes. 

First, we need to understand who the top builders and influencers are that are reshaping our communities…

Deciding to build your own custom home does not need to be scary, nor does it have to be stressful. However, it does mean you will have to make a ton of decisions from insulation type to lighting fixtures, door trim, and dozens of other areas. That is why finding the 3 “R” are critical to success and happiness when building a new home.

Right Builder, Right Time, Right Lot. Let’s continue to meet some of the top builders in NOVA with experience building quality homes for clients every year.

Meet The Builder: Matt Rzepkowski of MR Project Management.

What differentiates you from other builders? 

When you build a home with MR, you build a home with me personally. I live in the area and I visit every room of every house every day. We’ve built over one hundred homes in the Arlington, McLean and Falls Church areas, the vast majority of which were built using the same subcontractors with whom we’ve partnered with for over a decade.

Consistency, attention to detail, and personal customer service are the hallmarks of MR.

How many homes have you completed in the last 12 months? 

We built 27 spec and custom homes last year. The business has grown steadily since its inception and we attribute that to providing a great home for our clients and also providing over the top customer service. We have done limited marketing over time and almost all of our custom clients and sales come from existing customer referrals.

How long have you been building homes and how many people work on your team? 

I am a third generation home builder and both my dad and grandfather were custom homebuilders, so at some level I have been building and working in the industry my whole life. After college I worked for a national homebuilder and went through their training program for a couple years before moving over to the custom home side.

Today, the MR team consists of eight people and almost everyone on the team I have known or they have been working with me in some capacity since I started building custom homes fifteen years ago.

What counties have you built in?  

Arlington and Fairfax County, but within Fairfax we really just build in McLean and the Falls Church area. We try to keep all of our projects to about a five mile radius so that we can visit each project multiple times a day and spend most of our time onsite and with clients as opposed to in the truck driving between projects.

What is the most popular model you build?

Everything we build is custom for each individual client and site and we do not have standardized models. However, there are certain design and build concepts that carry through to all of our homes including detailed craftsman trim work, a great kitchen design, spectacular master bedrooms and spa like baths, large rec rooms in the basement and a flex room on the main floor that doubles as a home office, playroom or additional bedroom.

Here are some current homes that MR Project Management has on the market:

• 1860 Patton Terrace, Mclean — $1,999,000 — 6,049 sq. ft.

Three Stones Residential specializes in matching home owners with the right builder and lot location. If you have any questions about new homes or builders that you’d like us to highlight please email us at [email protected].

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

8399 Westpark Drive, Mclean
1 BR/1 BA
Agent: The Mayhood Company
Listed: $511,000
Open: Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

1724 Pine Valley Drive, Vienna
5 BR/2.5 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $770,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

8526 West Oak Place, Vienna
4 BR/ 3.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $859,999
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

1634 Montmorency Drive, Vienna
3 BR/3 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $870,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

7219 Hyde Road, Falls Church
5 BR/4 BA
Agent: Compass
Listed: $1,075,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

853 Shady Drive SE, Vienna
6 BR/4.5 BA
Agent: McEnearney Associates, Inc
Listed: $1,325,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].