Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

It’s only Tuesday and my own kids are already bored this week and so am I.

Here are some ideas to help keep kids busy for the rest of winter break. They all involve getting out of the house and spending money. There are always museums, walks and playdates if you’re looking for something free! 

• Museum of Illusions, D.C.
• Spy Museum, D.C.

You’ll want to get tickets ahead of time for both of these!

• Indoor play places: Scramble, Jolly Yolly, Launch, Flight, Hyper Kidz, and Sky Zone
• For older kids: Top Golf (half price today, Dec. 27), Dave and Buster’s (half priced on Wednesdays), Zava Zone, Summit Ropes, SkateQuest, Fairfax Ice (or plenty of outdoor ice rinks too), movie theaters (Icon at the Boro is half price today, Dec. 27), Bowlero (the Falls Church location is less glitz and glam but you can also show up and try to get a lane without a reservation for the old school bowling feel)

If you’re looking for a long adventure, what about the Baltimore Aquarium or a drive through Shenandoah?

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

I have spent hours driving around our town hunting for the best holiday lights to share with you.

There are so many really pretty homes. But while I enjoyed seeing those homes, what I’m looking for are the homes that make you pull a u-turn because you just had to see it again. The ones where you know their breakers keep popping. The ones where you know Clark Griswold would be proud.

So for those of you not on this list, please don’t be mad! It just means next year you’ll have to make your home a little extra to take it up a notch. 

This Google Map has some notes on the destinations points so if you’re hoping for blow ups or lights, or music light shows you should be able to narrow down your driving list.

Tips:

• Stay off lawns! There are countless cords and wires running through these lawns to keep these decorations up. Stay off them!
• Remember these are all residential streets. Don’t block driveways.
• Many of these displays were up by 5 p.m. if you want to hit the earlier side.
• If it’s rainy or windy many displays will be down.

Newcomers and Noteworthy:

• 602 Birch Street SW — Great for Elsa or Minions fans
• 613 Yeonas Street SW — Cute lighted archway over the sidewalk, great photo opportunity for toddlers or those young at heart
• 524 Walker Street SW — Great for Grinch fans
• 317 Patrick Street SW — Just won the Town of Vienna voting contest, impressive light display
• Hillington Court — Best use of your time, 2 for one on a cul-de-sac! Both homes are over the top beautiful 
• Ni Family Lights — Make sure you follow them on Facebook for announcements. They have 2 different playlists running right now and will change it again for Christmas.

Please let me know if I missed anything! Seems like the Tyson’s area needs someone to step up and be Clark!

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Whether you are ready to move-in now or would prefer to personalize a new home from the ground up, Brookfield Residential is here to help make owning a brand new home that fits the needs of your family a reality.

At Snowden Bridge located near Winchester, you can find beautiful single-family and townhome designs and take advantage of Brookfield Residential’s Mix and Match Savings opportunity, which provides flexible financing options that make owning a new home even more affordable.

A New Home on Your Terms

You will save big on spacious single-family homes and low-maintenance townhomes at Snowden Bridge with thousands in free* options and upgrades. Brookfield Residential’s Mix and Match Savings also lets you select an additional financing incentive that fits your unique financial needs.

The first option provides buydown financing with below-market mortgage rates. Rates start from 4.99%* in year one of your mortgage, 5.99%* in year two and 6.99%* with the ability refinance for free* in year three.

The second option lets you keep more cash on hand with paid closing cost assistance.* This reduces out-of-pocket costs at the purchase of the home, plus this option allows for free refinancing* at any time within the first three years of the loan.

No matter what you choose, you’ll save thousands when you purchase at Snowden Bridge!
*Terms and conditions apply and are subject to change without notice.

Why Buy at Snowden Bridge?

The Shenandoah Valley is one of the most beautiful areas to live in Virginia. With stunning geography framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, the Potomac River and the James River, you’ll enjoy a stunning backdrop year round. Plus with outstanding dining, drinking and shopping options, the Shenandoah truly has something for everyone.

Life at Snowden Bridge is built on beauty, style, and endless days filled with fun. Frederick County’s premier master-planned community features traditional and main-level living single-family homes from the $400’s and 3-level garage townhomes from the $300’s. Quick move-in opportunities are available. Snowden Bridge also offers exceptional amenities, including:

• A neighborhood elementary school and daycare center
• A swimming pool, dog park and picnic pavilion
• Playgrounds and scenic walking trails
• Easy access to major commuter routes
• An ideal location with downtown Winchester and the retail center Rutherford Crossing in close proximity

To learn more about Snowden Bridge and the incredible Brookfield Residential Mix and Match Savings opportunity, visit BrookfieldOffers.com.

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

We hear all the time about shopping local, shopping small, but do you know the real impact you have when you put your spending power behind a local store?

You’re helping someone live out their dream, sponsor a local team, feed their family, and create jobs. Sure, sometimes it might be $5 more than Amazon, but that money goes a long way to supporting your neighbors. I want to share some gift ideas if you’re looking for someone hard to shop for:

• Bards Alley: Books, journals, stuffed animals, candles, other small home goods
• Fern and Folly: Custom gift boxes (curated however you want — perfect for someone new to the area or leaving the area as a keepsake of their time here) or custom flower arrangements, or a flower arrangement class
• Caffe Amouri: Coffee machines and accessories, coffee or tea
• Cocoa Vienna: Chocolate or custom chocolate selection, also sugar free chocolate is available
• Holly + Clove: Custom anything! PJ’s, shirts, cups, sunglasses, koozies, onesies, ornaments, and more. If you need it by Christmas, you want to check in with her on availability though.
• The Sweet Life: Custom sugar cookie decorating kits or other custom orders
• The Freeman Store: Used books, but also a lot of Vienna centric items
• Child’s Play: Toy store, books, legos, stuffed animals, some small outdoor toys — NEW McLean location
• Mesmeralda’s Gifts: Great for mother in laws or a coworker (they don’t have a website, but you’ll just have to go in and poke around)
• Trace: So many options to encourage earth friendly or self-care items
• Terra Christa: If you’re like me, you’ve driven by this store on Church Street countless times but have never gone in. If so, here’s what they have: jewelry, stones, religious items, essential oils, and sage for the near year.
• Trousseau: Just going to leave this one here. Better than a new vacuum. 
• McLean Hardware: Tools, yard decor, grills, yard signs

Okay… next week is the big week. My annual map and list of the best light displays around Vienna. PLEASE send me your neighbors or your own home!

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

Since you’re getting your ladder out anyway for holiday decorations, let’s take a look at the reminder list for general home maintenance for the winter months.

Some easy tasks to help save you from major damage and expenses!

• Clean your gutters!
• Check downspouts to make sure none are clogged and all are extended away from your foundation. Flexible extensions are 20% off today for Cyber Monday!
• Winterize your hose bibs: Turn them OFF from the inside of your home — meaning turn the water off (if you have a flat handle, it should be a 90* angle to the off position, or a quick youtube video search can help you with this). Turn them ON from the outside — it’ll drain the line of any existing water. You can also buy hose bib covers.
• Clean your fireplace (or get the whole thing inspected) if you’re planning on burning wood this winter. Depending on how frequently you use it will determine how often it needs to be cleaned.
• Check all of your batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (if you have gas in your home).
• Now might be a good time to check out any trees hanging over your property. Remember limbs get heavy when they’re covered with snow and ice and can break and fall and damage your home. They can also be used by animals to crawl into your attic or chimney if you don’t have a chimney cap.
• Get your HVAC serviced. You should be doing this twice a year for regular maintenance. If you use a whole house humidifier, make sure you’re changing the filters to avoid mold growth.

As always, if you need a recommendation for a vendor, download my free vendor guide anytime.

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

I am wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether you’re spending it with friends, family or otherwise, I hope the day is full of reflection, gratitude and kids who eat more than a bread roll. As I usually do, I’d like to remind you of some local organizations with opportunities to volunteer your time and/or resources this holiday season.

Please check out some of the organizations and their needs at this time of year:

SHARE of McLean 

Share has a Holiday Celebration which is their biggest event of the year. They need volunteers, as well as donations. You can also sign up to host a food drive to help stock their pantry which they use to give food and gift cards to families in need. They have in person volunteer hours which may include moving furniture, sorting clothing, or restocking the shelves. If you want a more hands-on interaction, you can also greet and register the clients.

Women Giving Back (Sterling, Virginia)

WGB is an organization that supports women and children with the basics to get back on their feet. They are collecting new, unwrapped toys for their children to be donated by December 13. You can drop them off locally at First Excel Title just outside of Oakton at 3201 Jermantown Road Suite 350, Fairfax, VA 22030. The store throughout the rest of the year needs clothing, accessories, shoes and kids clothes. Learn more.

Capital Area Food Bank

Volunteers as young as 12 (with an adult) can volunteer at their D.C. location to pack and sort donations or help deliver groceries. Sign up for a shift here.

Food for Others

You can host a food drive, pack Power Packs, transport food, or volunteer at the warehouse for kids ages 12 and over. Sign up here.

You can also search more volunteer opportunities throughout Fairfax at Volunteer Fairfax.

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

There are lots of traditions around Vienna that you should know about if you’re new to town or maybe just looking to branch out after the last few years. Many of these events are really cute with little kids and I remember them fondly when my boys were smaller. They age out quickly of the little kid stuff, so buy tickets early! 

• James Madison Band: 2022 Tiny Tots Concerts — Three different shows, fun songs, characters and traditionally there’s a “snow” dump at the end so if you sit in front be prepared to be dumped on (it’s not wet!) but if you have a kid who doesn’t like to be dirty, maybe sit more in the middle of the room.
• This Sunday, November 20 is the Vienna Turkey Trot — Fun run, 5k or 10k
• Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights — Open now! About a 1 mile walk with light displays and ends with a fire pit and s’mores, cider, hot chocolate, etc.
• Vienna Church Street Stroll — Next Monday at 6 p.m. If you’re looking for something a little bigger, these were also a fun one-time event for me (some of them are far or they’re pricey, so it’s not worth it for me to make these a tradition but it was fun one time).
• Enchant at Nationals Park
• Christmas Village at Leesburg Animal Park — 2022 tickets aren’t up yet as of November 14
• Zoo Lights at the National Zoo in D.C.
• Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Leesburg — Now to January 29
• Bull Run Festival of Lights — Now open, 2.5 mile drive through light displays
• Wolftrap Sing Along — Free, December 3 at 4 p.m.
• VRE Santa Train Ride — Tickets go on sale on November 28 for the event on December 10
• Merry Mosaic — Many events from November to December, which includes both Santa visits and Menorah Lighting for Hanukkah
• The Nutcracker at Capital One Hall — Sunday, December 11

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

I’ve been getting so much positive feedback lately from people who read this column and I just want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who reads this!

It’s nice to know I’m not talking to myself, but also, please please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or ideas for content. I’m always open to suggestions!

If you’ve been around a while, maybe you’re looking for something new to do that’s not the usual jumping place, bowling alley, or movie theater. I went on the hunt for something new to me, that might be new to you too. Here’s what I found:

• George Mason University Center for the Arts: Discounted tickets to family friendly performances and a family series of shows. If you’ve got sports crazed kids like I do, the acrobats in high heels with football pads seems right up my alley! They also have a “Harold and the Purple Crayon” performance!
• Go to a Mason Athletics event for cheap! Both mens and women’s basketball starts this week. FYI for all the Cub/Girl Scout leaders, they have a “Scout Day” with discounted tickets.
• All Fairfax County libraries have “take and make” activity kits. They’re all different too.
• Join the Winter Reading Challenge and get a guest pass for several rec centers including Oak Marr and Spring Hill, or a free bucket of golf balls at Oak Marr (and several others).
• Check out the Partakes Calendar for events and classes to sign up for. They have so many options to explore your hobbies!
• Explore a show at the Kennedy Center. They do a family series if you want to make it a family affair. I hear Bluey is making his way to the stage around Thanksgiving this year.

Again, if you have other events to share, please leave a note in the comments or email me [email protected] and I’ll be happy to add it!

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

Happy Halloween!

My kids were up before the sun in anticipation of their inevitable sugar rush tonight so cheers to that. I was reminded last night just how small town Vienna really feels when we took my kids to do the Halloween things our community creates. I want to make sure everyone who wants to see or know about these things, gets the opportunity.

So here are my final tips for Halloween:

• The kind souls who own 305 Patrick Street SW, Vienna have created a Haunted House in their driveway. Basically they built a hallway you walk through. If you want to be scared, you’ll get it. If you don’t, just tell the kind woman and she’ll leave the lights on so you don’t get scared. Super kid friendly. Open from 6-9 p.m.
• The Ni Family Lights (the famous house for the holiday music light show) also create one for Halloween but don’t advertise it. That runs until 9:30 p.m. tonight. Tune your radio to 90.3 to hear the music.

Now, not to be a downer, but I just recently threw away the remains of my kids candy stash from last year. Thank goodness we didn’t get ants! If you’re looking to get some of the candy out of your house this week, consider one of these options:

• Dr Ghaffari (Ghaffari Orthodontics on Church Street) has a candy buy back program. They’ll pay you $1 for each pound of candy and mail it to the troops.
• Drop off your treats for the troops to a donation center: Valo Park, 7950 Jones Branch Drive from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. until Wednesday, November 2.
• Operation Shoebox: mail your candy donations to this organization and they’ll create care packages for troops overseas. (8360 East Highway 25, Belleview, FL 34420)

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com

This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.

Research has shown that older adults who engage with the arts in a group setting — anything from dancing to a poetry group to singing in a choir — enjoy tangible benefits in multiple areas of health. This has to do with feelings of mastery, and with social connection. 

“This research, combined with Dr. Gene Cohen’s description of life after 50 as a time of potential and inner growth known as the Creative Age, forms a foundation for using creativity to support personal wellness,” says Caroline Edasis, director of community engagement for Mather. Mather is the organization that’s bringing The Mather, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better, to Tysons, Virginia, in 2024. 

Susan Fine agrees. An artist with a studio and gallery in Washington, D.C., she plans to move to The Mather. She explains that, after a successful career in health care, “I went to Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Art Houston when I was 60. And I so enjoyed the experience! You can be more creative the older you get — child-rearing responsibilities and traditional work may recede, and you open up to other things. There are so many directions you can go in art; I focus on painting and mixed media.”

Midge Scelzo, who is also planning to move to The Mather, has a similar story: “I worked in banking for 25 years, then as CFO for tech startups. In 2009, we moved to Florida and I started a new CFO job… but I realized I wanted to get back to art. I wanted to challenge myself.” She joined a group of artists and started painting. “I’m loving it. It uses a different part of my brain. I’m still that finance person — detail-oriented and organized — but art relaxes me, and I can tune out the world.”

 Creativity as Wellness

Mather encourages residents in their existing communities — not just those who are established artists — to try creating new art forms in Open Art Studios. These studios, which position arts engagement as a vehicle for wellness, not just recreation, inviting both lifelong and new artists to explore their own Creative Age in a welcoming group setting. 

“While working in diverse media including ceramics and mixed media/painting, participants often realize alongside their peers that they have an untapped expressive ability, a new love for a specific media, or a personal project to pursue,” says Caroline. “One of our master’s-level facilitators, trained in art and psychology, is present to support each individual’s creative journey, and that person helps transform the group into an uplifting community in which residents learn more about each other and themselves.”

Inquiry-Based Art Viewing

Mather also has a signature approach to art appreciation — one that mirrors how contemporary museum practices are evolving. Rather than teaching or encouraging art appreciation with lectures from an expert such as a docent, they focus on inclusive, inquiry-based art-viewing techniques. 

“Did you know that the average person spends 17 seconds looking at a work of art in a museum?” asks Caroline. “In our visual literacy programs, we often spend a full hour describing an image, sharing stories conjured by the work of art, or even creating group poems in response to the work. These techniques focus on the interests, experiences, and curiosity of viewers to deliver intellectually stimulating content while challenging us to bring culture down from the pedestal and into our lives.” 

“This method is a great way to improve people’s cognition, and their interest and engagement with life,” says Eileen Mandell, who plans to move to The Mather when it opens. Eileen, who is currently the community relations director at 1st Stage theater in Tysons, has been immersed in the world of theater as well as studied and practiced various art media. “I’m looking forward the creative arts programming that The Mather will offer,” she says. “I’m a creative person in general, and I want to act as an art maven there.” 

The Mather has already formed relationships with local arts organizations, and plans to offer inquiry-based art experiences for residents on-site in museums, theaters, galleries, and more.

Mather recognizes that creativity is about much more than visual art. They encourage everyone to recognize aging as a time of great creative potential, whether through music, poetry, storytelling, dance and movement, or even gardening — the sky is truly the limit.

The Mather, projected to open in Tysons, VA, in 2024 for those 62 and better, is a forward-thinking Life Plan Community that defies expectations of what senior living is supposed to be.

The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com