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].
Let’s be honest, where we live things can get expensive really fast. So it’s nice when businesses offer summer discounts for kids. I’ve compiled a list of the things I know about, but please add in the comments if there are other opportunities that you know of!
Movies
- The Boro at Tysons: $6.50 matinees on Tuesdays
- Summer Movie Clubhouse: $1.50 movie tickets on specific movies each Wednesday throughout the summer (Scoob!, Sing 2, Paw Patrol, Tom & Jerry, Peter Rabbit 2, Clifford).
- Regal Fairfax Summer Movie Express: $2 movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through the summer.
- Mosaic Films in the Park: Free movies every Thursday at 7 p.m. on the big screen through August 25.
- Tysons Outdoor Family Movie Nights: A 7 p.m. start time on the last Friday of each month (Cruella, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Raya and the Last Dragon).
- Starlight Cinema: Drive-in cinema with free movies on Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. in August only (Luca, Encanto, Sing 2, The Mitchells vs. The Machines).
Food
- Cocoa Vienna has $1 days for special treats: Monday Chocolate Dipped Pretzel, Tuesday Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, Wednesday “Deal of the Day”, Thursday Chocolate Dipped Frozen Banana, Friday Chocolate Dipped Oreo
Sports
- Bowling: Bowlero has a summer pass where kids can bowl 3 games everyday for 1 price (check the locations as they have different pricing, which includes shoe rental).
- Potomac Nationals Game in Fredericksburg has $2 Tuesdays plus other promotions, Fireworks Fridays, and other fun events.
- Free Baseball Games: Follow the Ripken Collegiate Baseball League games at South County High School.
- NVCL College League also has free baseball games at Madison HS, Waters Field, and Westfield HS.
Reading
- Summer Reading programs offered through Fairfax County public libraries. Once the kids collect 10 badges (explore what that means), they can collect prizes for finishing the program!
- Barnes and Noble also has a reading program where kids read 8 books and they can pick a free book on a specific list based on grade.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Headed to a potluck or party where additional dishes are welcome? Bring something healthy to help you and others age and eat well.
This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.
While we’re all likely enjoying more time at restaurants, outdoor gatherings, wedding receptions and birthday parties, we may suddenly gain some extra pounds with all of these added festivities!
This can be particularly true for those age 60 and better, who may gain weight more quickly due to natural changes in metabolism and hormones. Of course, you can try to burn off those extra calories with exercise — but it’s also good to practice moderation in the first place.
Here are some tips to help party-goers of all ages avoid the gain and still have fun:
- If you’re an evening exerciser, try moving your workouts to the mornings, that way get-togethers don’t interrupt your exercise routine.
- Don’t go to a party hungry! You’ll have more will power if you eat a healthy, filling snack before you leave. Try an apple with peanut butter, or Greek yogurt mixed with fruit.
- If you’re heading to a potluck or party where additional dishes are welcome, bring something healthy, like a veggies and dip platter. That way you’ll have at least one nutritious choice.
- When you arrive at an event, discreetly scope out the food options before you start nibbling. Choose the healthiest options and decide which treats you must have — then skip the rest.
- Have a piece of sugarless gum or a mint ready for when you’ve eaten all you think you should.
- Throw your own party where you can control what’s served. Include healthy options for drinks as well as dining.
- When drinking, stick with wine, sparkling wine, or beer. You’ll avoid high-calorie mixers in many cocktails — including soda water, tonic, and juices.
- Alternate each alcoholic beverage with a glass of still or sparkling water. This will help keep you hydrated and sober, and save calories for the goodies at the buffet!
- Be aware of how many calories (and how much alcohol) is in your glass. Depending on the generosity of your bartender, your glass of wine may hold more than a standard serving (5 ounces).
The Mather, projected to open in Tysons, VA, in 2024 for those 62 and better, is a Life Plan Community where residents will have countless culinary options at their fingertips through modern, high-end kitchens in apartment homes and multiple restaurants onsite.
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].
Sunday marked Juneteenth, but today we observe the holiday also known as Freedom Day.
As you’ve seen from previous posts, I like to celebrate every occasion with food. What better way to support a local Black-Owned Business than by dining at one? Depending on how far you’re looking to travel for food, you can always check out this great website that lists Black-Owned Businesses by state (although it hasn’t been updated since September 2021) or EatOkra.com.
Specific to the Northern Virginia area, here are some of my favorites:
- Pie Gourmet, Vienna
- Blacknerd Coffee
- Uncle Fred’s BBQ Smoke Shack, Reston
- McLean Pizza & Subs, McLean
- Makers Union, Reston
- Also check out the local farmers markets — you’ll often find smaller shops there to support
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].
The Town of Vienna has a lot to offer throughout the summer in terms of entertainment and events. I want to highlight some if you’re looking for something new to do:
Big Screen on the Green
Each month, the town hosts an outdoor movie screening at 8:30 p.m. There’s free water and popcorn while supplies last. The movie is set up on the town green. Bring your own chairs, blanket, picnic etc.
Chillin’ on Church
Vienna’s version of a block party, held on Church Street and includes food, beer, wine and family friendly activities, which starts at 6:30 p.m.
- June 17: Big Bad JuJu
- July 15: Ocho De Bastos
- Aug 19: Deja Gruv Band
- Sept 16: Texas Chainsaw Horns
Kids on the Green
Free, interactive kids programs that last about 30-45 minutes on the patio behind the Freeman store. The programs are held on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Summer on the Green Concert Series
Free summer concerts on select Fridays. Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and are about 90 minutes long. Bring your own chairs, blankets, etc.
Special Shows:
4th of July Celebrations
Don’t forget: The Town of Vienna has it’s own fireworks show! Held at Yeonas Park (where the little league fields are) on Friday, July 1 at 8 p.m. The event will have live music, games, food and drinks, and the fireworks start at dark. The United States Navy Concert Band will play before the 20 minute fireworks show. Bring blanks and lawn chairs, but remember chairs are not permitted on the baseball fields (there are bleachers and a paved path for chairs).
*Note: this event is loud if you have a sensory sensitive child.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Aging Well
This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia. You can take specific steps to improve your perceptions on aging, which in turn can bolster your health, according to Mather Institute.
How do you feel about your age?
Your response can have consequences for your health and happiness. That’s because studies have shown that our perceptions of aging can have an impact on our own current and future well-being.
“There is a large body of research that shows positive perceptions of aging — seeing later years as a time of continued growth and enjoyment — is associated with better health and stronger relationships later in life. In other words, our expectations of aging impact our behavior and our future outcomes,” says Jennifer Smith, PhD, director of research at Mather Institute. The Institute is the research arm of Mather, the parent organization of The Mather, a Life Plan Community coming to Tysons. The Institute is an award-winning resource for research and information about wellness, aging, trends in senior living and successful aging service innovations.
As part of its own research, the Institute referenced proven benefits of having a positive perception of aging:
- Longevity: In a 23-year study, older adults who reported more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with more negative self-perceptions of aging.
- Illness: In a study of 1,286 people (average age of 57), those who indicated that aging is a time of continued learning and development reported decreases (or slower increases) in physical illnesses six years later.
- Functional Health: Older adults with more positive perceptions of aging report better future functional health, such as the ability to do household chores and climb stairs, compared to those with more negative perceptions of aging.
- Brain Health: Compared to people with more positive views of aging, people who endorsed more negative age stereotypes displayed greater signs of risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease when their brains were examined decades later.
- Psychological Well-Being: Older adults with more negative perceptions of aging reported greater increases in depressive symptoms three years later, but high levels of optimism helped protect against this effect.
- Healthy Behaviors: Those with more positive perceptions of aging tend to engage in more preventive health behaviors and physical activity compared to those with more negative perceptions of aging.
Change Your Views
The good news is that, even if you’re not feeling very positive about aging, you can take steps to change your attitude and enjoy the health benefits above. All it takes is consciously focusing on appreciating positive experiences. Dr. Smith led a study in collaboration with Loyola University Chicago that revealed that people who took steps to savor their life lessons — reflecting on events in their past that led to knowledge that they wouldn’t want to give up — specifically “grew” their positive perceptions of aging.
You can try this on your own. Research has shown that practicing savoring, or increasing awareness, intensity, and duration of positive feelings, can boost your happiness and life satisfaction. Focusing this practice on positive reminiscence can affect perceptions of aging specifically.
To savor your life lessons, make time to reflect on a meaningful past experience, then write down what you learned from it. Take time to consider the wisdom you obtained, then identify how that wisdom has had a positive impact on your life. Repeat this exercise with other experiences from any time in your life. You can also tell family members or friends about some of your valuable life lessons, which is another means of savoring.
These research findings confirm that Aging Well can depend on your outlook — and luckily, each of us has the opportunity to control and change our perceptions and attitudes.
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]
If you’ve lived in Vienna for any length of time, you’ve heard about the long wait times for local pools.
Pro Tip: if you’re selling a home and you have a pool membership make sure you advertise that! It’s a huge selling feature as the buyer can buy your membership. There are 6 main pools in the area, which I’ll list below, but this list is for anyone who is looking for other options to find water: local pools, spraygrounds and splash pads.
My kids are past the splash pad age, so if I’ve missed anything new please share with the readers below!
Local Vienna Pools
Spray grounds, Splash Pads and Waterparks
- The Boro Splash Pad — 15 jet splash pad at the Boro Park. Waiting to hear if they’re on yet for the season.
- Our Special Harbor (6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia) — This Chesapeake Bay themed splash park has a water maze, dumping crab basket, spray fountains, misting flowers and interactive water tables. Aquatic shoes or sandals with a back strap are required for kids under 15. There’s also a carousel.
- The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole (400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston) — Here you’ll find a pool, slides, a lazy river, an area for kids with a smaller slide, covered picnic areas and chairs for lounging. This is a great option for day trips to a pool if you’re not a member of any of the local pools. We bought a family pass our first summer in Vienna when we weren’t members of a pool yet, and it was a great way to pass the summer. We have also done birthday parties here — so much fun!
- Ocean Dunes Waterpark (6060 Wilson Blvd, Arlington) — Explore multiple pools for different ages, large slides, a “sprayground” with a dumping bucket and many areas for lounging in the sun. It’s also adjacent to an 18-hole mini-golf course — another great way to pass a lazy day!
- Volcano Island Waterpark (20015 Volcano Drive, Sterling): — This is another great option with a pool, “sprayground,” slides and a dumping bucket.
- Atlantis Waterpark (7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville) — Keep the kids busy with waterslides, pools, a play island with smaller slides and a huge 500-gallon dumping bucket.
- Great Waves Waterpark (4001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria) — For the adventurous, this park includes speed slides, waterslides, a wave pool and a small kids’ zone for the younger crowd. There’s also a mini-golf course, batting cages, playground and cabanas.
Other Pool Options
Reston Lifetime Fitness — They have an outdoor pool, but you also get access to the rest of the gym
Sport and Health Tysons — Indoor and outdoor pools, in addition to access to the full club.
McLean and Fairfax Pools – many have openings and no wait!
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]
Doesn’t the end of the school year just fly by? Between sports, concerts, recitals, classroom parties, etc. it just FLIES.
While I am scheduling our end of season party for baseball, I wanted to share some ideas with you if you’re looking for some way to celebrate your kids.
If you’re looking for a place to gather:
If you’re looking for an option to come to you:
- Deliver pizza to your location — we used Church Street and they were on time and offered plates/napkins
- Have a food truck on call — Kona Ice, Ben and Jerry’s Truck, Rita’s
Everyone has so much going on, I’m a big fan of outsourcing these types of things — minimal effort, minimal clean up, and everyone is happy. For the parents who love creative things, you might have more creative ideas than me. Please share them in the comments!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Between 2010 and 2019, commercial auto insurance payouts have increased by a whopping $20 billion. That data is based on a report shared by the Insurance Information Institute (Triple I) in collaboration with the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS).
Even with the cost of insurance being on the rise, players in the sector continue to suffer losses. According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC) report, losses across insurance lines have continued to gain momentum at a rate that is not in tandem with economic inflation.
Factors Pushing Up the Cost of Insurance
While the focus of the Triple I and CAS report was on commercial auto insurance, it also reported similar trends in other lines of insurance such as premises liability, medical malpractice liability, and workers’ compensation. According to the report, negative public sentiment on big corporations, tort reform rollbacks, and litigation funding are the main drivers of this rise in liability costs.
Jurors also tend to be more sympathetic with the plaintiffs, which almost always influences their verdict. There is also a misconception that corporations and their insurer’s financial resources are unlimited, leading to verdicts far from realistic, with some being as high as $10 million.
Another factor playing a significant role in increasing payout and affecting the cost of insurance is litigation funding and lending. Funding a plaintiff’s case has become a big business that involves international hedge funds and other financiers. These parties fund a plaintiff’s injury claim ensuring they get the best legal assistance for a cut in the final payout.
In other words, lawyers will have to use every means of fighting for a high payout, which has caused litigation funding to evolve into a multi-billion dollar industry. Some experts estimate the litigation funding industry was worth $39 billion globally as of 2019.
International Legal Finance Association
Some states have attempted to create laws requiring full disclosure of all parties involved in litigation. However, litigation funders are fighting hard to maintain the status quo. In 2020, 13 of the world’s largest commercial litigation funders created the International Legal Finance Association (ILFA), whose aim is to champion their rights and push back on full disclosure rules.
Commercial auto insurance tops the list of the worst-hit line of insurance. According to the American Transport Research Institute, jury verdict awards grew at a rate of 33 percent every year between 2010 and 2018. During these years, inflation and health care costs grew by 1.7 percent to 2.9 percent, respectively. In a perfect world, the insurance rate should grow at the same rate as economic inflation and the cost of health care.
“Insurance providers are in the trade for the money,” says Attorney John Cooper of Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. “Insurance companies have no option but to increase their premiums to keep up with rising payouts.”
If the prevailing circumstances continue, insurance companies may stop certain types of covers. Every increment in cost passes on to the consumer causing a ripple effect on the national economy and creating conditions similar to the 80s liability crisis that saw some insurance companies facing the risk of insolvency.
Getting into an accident while driving someone else’s car can feel disastrous. Nobody wants to be in that awkward and uncomfortable situation, but it does happen. So what should you do aside from sinking in guilt and anxiety?
The concept of permissive use may be reviewed if such a situation occurs. This article will examine the permissive use rule in auto insurance and what it may mean for your situation.
What is Permissive Use in Auto Insurance?
Insurance advisor The Zebra defines permissive use as “the ability of other drivers — unlisted on your insurance policy — to drive your vehicle.” This refers to a situation where a driver who is not the vehicle owner is included and covered in a car insurance policy.
Permissive auto insurance allows a driver to use a vehicle even when they do not live with the owner or policyholder. The permissive user is granted infrequent vehicle use, often fewer than 12 times a year. While a family friend or neighbor would qualify under permissive use, an immediate family member living with the vehicle owner may be excluded and not afforded coverage.
Permissive Use in an Accident Involving Someone Else’s Car
If you get involved in an accident, no matter whose car you drive, call 911 to report the accident. You should also document the accident scene if possible. To determine if you fall under permissive use, you must first determine if the car’s owner included you in their auto insurance policy. If they did, you would automatically be covered by their insurance policy. As long as you have legal permission from the policyholder to use their car, you will have the same coverage as if it were the car owner involved in the accident. Unfortunately, if you are not included in the owner’s insurance policy and do not qualify as a permissive user, you will not be covered for liability insurance for the accident.
What Legal Options are Available?
So, after the accident, you have determined that you were included in the insurance policy of the original car owner. What legal options are available to you? Can you sue for the crash and the injuries that result from it?
“If you believe the driver who caused the accident acted negligently with no fault of your own, you could file a claim against them,” says attorney Joseph Kopfler of Kopfler & Hermann. You can file an insurance claim with their insurance company seeking compensation for damages. These damages may include:
- Past and future medical bills and expenses
- Past and future lost wages and benefits
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Mental anguish and emotional suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Diminished earning capacity
- Decrease in quality of life
On the other hand, if you are partially at fault for the accident while driving a car that is not yours, car insurance still applies. In this case, the car owner’s insurance company would take liability for any damages you caused. Depending on the gravity of your actions, your compensation may be reduced to some extent.
Also, you may be able to sue the car’s owner for the accident. This is possible when an accident or injury is caused by the original owner failing to maintain their vehicle properly. This can especially apply if the owner was aware of a fault in the car and did not warn you.
Conclusion
We have looked at whether auto insurance will protect you or not in an accident when you are not the car owner. In the end, you will be covered if you fall under permissive use in the car-owners insurance. If you do not fall under their cover, you may not get any liability insurance benefits.
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]
ViVA Vienna, the town fair, is my favorite event of the year.
Rides, games, fair food, street vendors and the entire town coming out to have fun. It’s glorious. It’s always hot, but the event takes place rain or shine (lighting is another story). If you’ve never been, please enjoy some of my favorite tips!
ViVa Vienna is made of rides for the kids — some for the smaller crew and some for the older crew who like faster/higher rides, usually games (knock down the clown, pop the balloon, fishing for a duck), vendors (arts, crafts, photos, local businesses), and fair food. Think meat on a stick, turkey legs and fried everything. It’s glorious and fun. They also have shows on the town green in the amphitheater.
You can buy tickets ahead of time (and they’re cheaper through Friday, May 27). This year you can buy an unlimited rider pass for $40 per day or a “mega pass” which is unlimited rides for all 3 days for $100 (if you buy before May 28), but the mega pass isn’t recommended for kids under 36″ tall.
This year they also have a Backstage BrewFest for the 21 and over crowd, held at the Vienna Firehouse. There will be live bands, beer, wine and food on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Here are my tips to make it as fun as possible:
- Bring water! Bring snacks if you don’t want to buy food. The kids (and adults) get hot and hungry and that’ll ruin anyone’s day.
- Saturday is the least crowded day because there are no vendors yet. It’s just food and rides/games. If you’re trying to avoid larger crowds, go on Saturday.
- Sunday/Monday is fun if you want to check out local vendors and companies. Many have fun things to check out, artwork to buy, and freebies to snag.
- Plan to use porta potties — the local businesses on Church Street shouldn’t be inundated by toilet-goers who are not patrons, but they will line the area behind Vienna Inn with bathrooms and likewise over by the Red Caboose.
- Bring cash for the games. Everyone’s going cashless these days, but these fair games still usually take cash and you can avoid the ATM fee.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
