When you start your workday, do you want to walk through the doors and enter an environment where talents are nurtured, passions are pursued, and possibilities abound? In Mather’s newest venture in Tysons, Virginia, all of this is a part of an award-winning culture within their luxury community called The Mather.
The highest level of hospitality imbues The Mather’s elegant amenity spaces, thoughtfully curated food and beverage offerings, and innovative model of next-level service.
A Life Plan Community for those 62 and better, The Mather stands ready to begin welcoming residents in early 2024, and is well underway with recruiting top talent who share a passion for creating an atmosphere that transcends the ordinary. That stems from the unique values of its parent organization — inclusive, resilient, bold, and impactful — and its vision to change the way society views aging. Mather, an 80+ year-old not-for-profit organization, has a history of retaining dedicated team members for years, by helping them learn new skills, develop their careers, and eliminate barriers to personal happiness and fulfillment.
“My own job search was focused on a position where I could be exposed to different challenges as part of a forward-thinking and passionate group of professionals,” says Okyay Nalcaoglu, who joined The Mather in October 2023 as director of accounting. “I was seeking an employer with a futuristic vision that allows me to explore new initiatives and solutions. By the end of my first interview, it was clear to me that The Mather offers that autonomy and flexibility, within a strong and supportive framework.”
Raj Radke, vice president and general manager of The Mather, explains, “Our mission of creating Ways to Age Well extends to all team members. We support their personal well-being with a positive and supportive culture, valuable on-the-job perks, opportunities to learn and advance, and, of course, a competitive benefits package.” Highlights of that benefits package include:
- a generous paid time off program
- excellent medical and dental benefits
- tuition reimbursement
- and even a yearly reimbursement for self-care items and experiences
Benefits commence on the first of the month following 30 days of employment. On-site perks include complimentary use of the community’s fitness center and pool, free parking, and a free meal.
Add to those benefits the pleasure of working in a beautiful setting — The Mather has been recognized with several design awards even before opening its doors, including the 2023 Grand Aurora Award for Best On the Boards Community and Award of Merit top honors in the 2023 Gold Nugget Awards competition for Best Senior Housing Community — On the Boards, which honors architectural design and planning excellence.
Mather, with three other senior living communities in Illinois and Arizona, has a growing list of workplace and wellness awards, including being certified as a Great Place to Work, and receiving a Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness Award from the National Association for Business Resources for five years in a row, for promoting employee well-being, worksite health, and wellness.
Located on Westpark Drive near Tysons Galleria, The Mather offers luxury of a different kind. Apartment homes ranging in size up to 3,300 square feet are equipped with innovative smart-home technology; amenity-rich community spaces include a fitness center featuring an exercise studio and large indoor pool; multiple restaurants, a bar, outdoor event terraces with catering opportunities; a spa offering full services — including a Himalayan salt wall; and three acres of green space. Services include reception and concierge services, valet parking, shuttle and driver services, resident engagement and programming, housekeeping, and maintenance.
The Mather is hiring now for an array of positions to provide hospitality and exceptional service in these areas; it ultimately will have a total of more than 100 full- and part-time team members — all focused on creating unique opportunities and meaningful moments for residents, colleagues, and guests.
“We’re seeking team members from high-end hotels and resorts who share our dedication to making a difference and creating unique luxury experiences,” says Raj. “We are building a team that will push the envelope in curating elevated and enhanced engagements that embrace a vibrant culture for residents and team members alike.”
If you’re interested in joining the team at The Mather, or know someone who is, browse the open positions at themathertysons.com/jobs.
The Mather is hosting a hiring event on Wednesday, January 10 in its Information & Design Centre at 7901 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, on the Lobby Level. Interested applicants are welcome to drop in any time that day between 3-7 p.m. They are encouraged to bring a resume and be ready to interview.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Christmas is only days away and soon the clock ticks down to bid farewell to 2023.
Here are a few of our NYE top picks definitely guaranteed to make memories and set 2024 for a year of embracing where you are in life whatever that season is from family-friendly festivities to exclusive adult soirées, Live Fairfax has you covered.
Family Friendly
Shipgarten’s Kid’s Noon-Years Eve Party (Shipgarten)
Enjoy a live performance and meet Elsa, Anna, and Spider-man. Ballon drop, moon bounces, party favors, face painting, and a sparkling apple cider toast, it’s a celebration you don’t want to miss.
Children’s Science Center New Year’s Eve Around the World (Fair Oaks Mall)
The Lab with a Ball Drop at “Midnight,” a sparkling cider toast, and engaging activities like engineering Firework Pinwheels, crafting Celebration Slime, and making personalized 2024 Headbands for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve!
New Year’s Eve Bash at Dave and Buster’s (Springfield & Fairfax)
Enjoy a festive celebration on Sunday, December 31 with endless fun, food, and games, including admission with a $20 Power Card for unlimited video game play!
Falls Church NYE Watch Night (multiple locations in City of Falls Church)
Join in for a free, fun, and family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration in the City of Falls Church from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Adults Only
80’s NYE Party with the Legwarmers (State Theater)
Bidding farewell to 2023 with an exciting party! Get ready for the return of the most popular New Year’s celebration featuring Washington D.C.’s premier 80’s tribute band. Get ready to groove into the New Year!
NYE at The Winery at Bull Run (Winery at Bull Run)
Experience an after-hours NYE bash on Sunday, December 31, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the Tasting Room turns into a dance floor. Delight in our DJ’s tunes, savor exquisite wines and cider, and relish delectable food and desserts available for purchase from the Paella & Tapas Place.
Ja Rule & Ashanti New Year’s Eve (The St. James)
Experience an unforgettable New Year’s Eve concert journey through Ja Rule and Ashanti’s iconic careers.
Cocktails Around The World (Inca Social Vienna)
Enjoy a global cocktail journey with exotic drinks crafted by their talented mixologists while dancing to the hottest beats! It will be an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration!
However, you decide to welcome the New Year may it be filled with lasting memories and mark the perfect start to 2024. Embrace the changes ahead and create unforgettable moments that will stand the test of time.
Cheers to new beginnings and treasured memories!
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. 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 Holidays Vienna!
Every year I love driving around and looking for the best holiday lights to tell you about. Now we have a lot of very, very pretty white light displays and tastefully decorated homes around town… however, this isn’t what this list is about. The map I make every year is for my Clark Griswold loving neighbors who go the extra mile during the holiday season.
So please enjoy the 2023 map I’ve created for you of the best holiday light displays around Vienna.
Did I miss one?
Please email me and I’ll be happy to add it to the map so everyone can enjoy!
If you’re looking for something extra magical to add to your Christmas Eve plans, there are several streets in Vienna that line the road with luminarias like seen from Kingsley Road SE in the first image of the gallery below.
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.
Finding a creative outlet that suits you, and then devoting time and thought to that outlet, has wonderful effects on your mood, your brain, and your overall well-being. “Creativity doesn’t have to be painting or sculpting; you can be creative in starting or running a business or nonprofit,” says author Sara Fitzgerald. “For me, I spend a lot of time writing, and I find it very satisfying.”
Sara is a multitalented writer who has applied her talents to crafting everything from satirical song lyrics to nuanced biographies. A resident of northern Virginia for nearly 50 years, she is preparing to move to The Mather, a Life Plan Community for those 62 and better, in Tysons in early 2024.
Early in her career, Sara was an editor and new media developer for The Washington Post, then held positions focused on internet policy making and promoting technology in education. While she continued to write during those years (including publishing two romance novels), she says retirement offers the time and concentration she needs to devote herself to it.
“There’s something about the way writing stimulates my mind — there’s a kind of high,” says Sara. Since retirement, she’s been focused on historical fiction and biographies of little-known women. She’s in the process of publishing a biography of Emily Hale, the secret love of poet T.S. Eliot. (You can browse all her published works on her website at sarafitzgerald.com.)
However, Sara’s writing isn’t limited to books: “I enjoy rhyming lyrics — I’ve written them for the Hexagon Club’s annual satirical revue in D.C. for years,” she says.
And, after taking a brief playwriting class at the Creative Cauldron theater in Falls Church, she wrote a script for a very personal cabaret-style show, Comfort Songs, which was performed in July 2023 at the Creative Cauldron. She explains, “During the early days of the pandemic, I was inspired by Yo-Yo Ma, who put out a call for ‘songs of comfort’ and who posted videos of himself playing the cello. I began posting my own videos; I used my mobile phone to record daily videos of myself playing the piano — one song a day for nearly 90 days.” In her show, Sara described the project and the background of the songs she selected, and “some talented friends” performed about 15 of them. “I wanted it to be a healing experience; I think it worked well,” she says.
Sara is looking forward to her next chapter at The Mather. “What’s reassuring to me about my decision to move to The Mather was that nine or ten households of my friends have also decided to move there,” she says. “I then learned about friends of friends moving there — including the two neighbors on either side of my future apartment home!”
While she hopes to enjoy more time to regularly practice piano in her apartment home at The Mather as she admires the views from floor-to-ceiling windows, Sara is simultaneously excited about the community’s amenities, including an indoor pool, and looks forward to meeting new people. “I figure I’ll be able to sit down with any of my neighbors and find interesting people whom I would like to know,” she says.
The Mather, projected to open in Tysons, VA, in early 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
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. 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].
Yesterday was amazing! I was at a loss for words yesterday when I saw the amount of people who showed up and how much food was donated to Food for Others.
I told my boys last night to let this be a lesson to everyone that one person, with one idea, can impact others and your community in massive ways.
We packed 6 large SUVs with completed Power Packs, and then when we ran out of the meals, we filled the cars with all of the other food that was brought. I can’t explain to you how much food was brought and how grateful Gina, Lauren and I are for the community coming out in this way and this size.
We’ll be donating the food today (Dec.11) where they’ll weigh everything and we’ll have a final total to share.
In case you don’t know, Power Packs are bags of food that kids get in their backpacks at school on Friday so they have food to eat over the weekend. Food insecurity happens everywhere and there are several schools in Vienna and surrounding areas that benefit from this program. If you’d like to donate directly to them, please do so here.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Embarking on the holiday season demands more than just festive cheer — it calls for a dash of magic in our style survival. Join me as we meet up with sometimes referred to the “Style Therapist” by her clients, Katie with Style by Valentine at the amazing Tyson’s Corner Nordstrom.
As Katie shares insight on navigating the holiday chaos in style. As we dive into the festivities, Nordstrom emerges as our trusted companion, offering a seamless style experience with budget convenience. As women from all walks of life face the thieves of season from time constraints, packed schedules, family stress, and the inevitable lack of sleep, which could result in dark circles, frumpiness, and a general sense of discomfort that hinders us from fully enjoying the season’s moments.
Fear not, as our gift to you is a Style Survival Guide Clip — a toolkit of several practical strategies applicable to all, regardless of budget, size, age, or style preferences.
Tailored insights for moms, families, and general professionals ensure everyone can embrace the holiday spirit and look great doing so. From avoiding winging it to cleverly remixing your wardrobe with a single statement piece, strategically using color, texture, and accessories, to embracing cozy monochromes and metallics for that chic festive vibe — we’ve got you covered.
Katie definitely adds a few final tips on value, quality, and staying true to yourself, this video encourages a thoughtful and authentic approach to holiday style.
Thank you so much for tuning in to our style survival video! I hope these tips bring a touch of magic to your holiday season. As you navigate the festivities, may your days be filled with warmth, joy, and the creation of beautiful memories.
Wishing you an amazing Christmas season where every moment is wrapped in happiness. Here’s to embracing the magic of the holidays and making memories that will last a lifetime.
Merry Christmas!
Collaboration with Style By Valentine
Stylebyvalentine.com
[email protected]
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
DUI arrests are a nightmare for anyone involved. The fear of losing your license, facing possible criminal charges, and living with the stigma of a criminal record can be debilitating.
However, you can avoid the consequences of DUI arrests by not drinking and driving. But, if the worst happens and you end up with a DUI, you need to take the proper steps to minimize the situation’s impact.
This article discusses how to prevent and deal with DUI arrests.
How to Prevent a DUI
Rideshare apps, such as Uber and Lyft, have revolutionized the transport industry by making travel more convenient and affordable. With a click on your smartphone, you can book a ride and pay using cash or a credit card. Even if your town does not have an official rideshare program, you can use taxi services instead.
Another option is a designated driver. If you and your friends are going out for the night, have one person remain sober to drive everyone home safely. Ideally, your designated person should be trustworthy and have a clean driving record.
Next, we will discuss what you should do if you are pulled over under suspicion of driving under the influence.
Do Not Refuse a Breathalyzer Test
A breathalyzer test is used to identify drivers with high alcohol levels in their blood. These devices are more accurate and reliable than field sobriety tests. That is why police officers use them to gather the most crucial evidence of drunk driving.
You should cooperate with the officer and take a breathalyzer test, whether you think you are drunk or not. Conversely, refusing the test can result in harsher penalties and a suspension of your license. A license suspension can affect you in many ways, from limiting your job prospects to making it harder to get around.
Avoid Talking Your Way Out of a Ticket
Police frequently set up checkpoints around major highways to detect drunk drivers. When they pull you over for a traffic stop, you might feel tempted to explain your side of the story and deny wrongdoing.
However, the more you talk, the more opportunities you give the police to build a strong case. The officers might use your statements as evidence in court, making conviction more likely.
Instead, you should remain silent and let the officer do their investigation. Do not resort to any acts of anger because you may look like someone who has had too much to drink. Furthermore, be careful with officers trying to play mind games with you to get the necessary information.
Contact an Attorney Immediately
“Handling a DUI charge alone can be challenging, as DUI laws vary from state to state. The cases also involve filling out plenty of paperwork under tight deadlines,” says Seth Okin Attorney at Law. Fortunately, an attorney can help you navigate the process seamlessly and protect your rights.
Significantly, a DUI lawyer will start by helping you appeal the suspension of your license. They might also negotiate with the prosecutor for a plea bargain or dismissal of charges. Having your case dropped is a huge relief, as you can avoid all the severe consequences of a DUI charge.
The Bottomline
You can stay safe from DUI charges by avoiding drinking and driving. However, if you are already facing a DUI charge, try as much as possible to avoid more trouble. Cooperate with the officer to prevent further arrests that could negatively impact your DUI case.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. 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].
Did you know that the county has many resources available for residents to use — for free? I wanted to highlight some of them for you so you’re aware of these resources:
Planner of the Day
A Fairfax County planning division employee is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer calls and questions. Questions like “Can I build a garage? Can I put on an addition?”; questions about a permit application, or historic resources. The county has a person for those answers. Check out this website to find the correct phone number or email address.
- This can be especially helpful when looking at houses to buy and making sure you can do what you want. *Don’t forget if you’re in the Town of Vienna, there’s an additional layer to work through.
Animal Adoptions
Fairfax County has multiple shelters if you’re looking to adopt a dog, cat or small animal. You can learn more about these shelters here.
Car Seat Safety Checks
I hated installing/moving car seats. If you follow me on Instagram, you know how much I love the car wash and with all of the crumbs that toddlers make, I was removing the car seat regularly. If you’re unsure if you’ve installed the car seat correctly, Fairfax County Police have safety checks to ease your worry!
Neighborhood Information
If you’re looking to get into the weeds with information on neighborhoods, the county also has some great resources for data. You can check out their mapping features and community profiles.
Mental Health Assessments
This time of year is hard, for so many people and for so many different reasons. The county has a walk-in clinic at 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Parkway, Fairfax that’s open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. to help with mental health services.
Town of Vienna Resources
The town of 2 thermal cameras that attach to your phone to take thermal photos of your walls, doors and windows to see how well insulated it is.
Leaf Collection
The Town of Vienna includes leaf collection by way of vacuum if you rake or blow your leaves to the curb. There’s a map of the streets they do so you can try to time their visit.
Tree Arborist
The Town used to offer an arborist to residents to check on the health of your trees. However that staffing position is currently vacant, but we hope they fill that spot soon!
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.
For many, the holiday season includes traditions, expectations, commitments — and rising levels of stress. If you are among those who feel their stress levels rising at this time of year, try an easy solution: mindful meditation.
Myriad studies have shown that a regular meditation practice can reduce stress and physically change the brain so that you have greater capacity to continually manage stress. Learning to avoid stress saves a lot of wear and tear on your body as well as your brain.
Mindful meditation refocuses the attention, calming the mind and lowering blood pressure and heart rate. A morning meditation session of even a few minutes can help you manage stress throughout your day.
As you learn to focus, you’re training your attention and your ability to tune out the information overload and jumbled thoughts we live with constantly — and better attention means a sharper memory. Additionally, studies show that meditation can actually grow, or increase the volume of, areas of the brain responsible for:
- complex cognitive processes including planning, goal setting, decision making, attention, and short-term memory
- positive mood
- improving awareness of body, gut feeling, and empathy
- long-term memory
Types of Meditation
Meditation is simple and takes as little as a few minutes a day. But remember — if you want to enjoy the benefits above, you’ll need to meditate regularly, and ideally that means every day.
Here are a few types of meditation to consider:
Mindfulness sitting meditation is the most common form of meditation. Sit comfortably with your back, neck, and head straight but not stiff. Concentrate on your breathing and the sensations it creates. When your mind wanders or you become distracted, gently return your focus to your breath. Try this for just five minutes at first, gradually increasing the time.
Visualization meditation involves mental visualization of an image, which is usually meaningful or religious. While you meditate (as above), you try to mentally visualize your chosen image in as much detail as possible. As you do so, you may also reflect on the meaning of your image.
Walking meditation is similar to sitting meditation. Slowly and comfortably walk, focusing your attention on each step, the movement of your body, and the feel of each foot on the ground. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the movement of walking.
Loving-kindness meditation focuses on practicing compassion. As you practice cultivating feelings of loving kindness, gradually move your focus from feeling this toward yourself, then to loved ones, and then to people who are less close to you.
Look for a local meditation class, or purchase audio recordings of guided meditations. Once you’ve mastered the basics of your chosen type of meditation, it will become a matter of practicing — and enjoying the benefits that come with it.
The Mather, projected to open in Tysons, VA, in early 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
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. 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 hard to believe we’re just a month away from entering 2024.
This time of year goes by in the blink of an eye between all the times happening. If you’re trying to decide where to spend your time and energy, here’s a breakdown of happenings around town for the remainder of the year so you can pick and choose what you want to prioritize!
Tonight (Nov. 27): Church Street Stroll
The fun starts at 6 p.m. Bundle up because it’s cold today! Santa will arrive on his firetruck to light the town tree, there’s live music, he generally sits on the porch at the Freeman Store if you want photos or a meet-n-greet. There are crafts at Vienna Presbyterian Church and hot chocolate. The town will also set up firepits on each block of Church Street with free marshmallows for roasting. There’s a list of business specials from participating stores along Church Street. Find the full list here, but favorites include free warm and sweat treats along the way, plus a free social media-sized digital photo from Melody Yazdani Studios (this is a HUGE opportunity), also free pet photos with Santa at Vienna Pet Spaw.
Saturday, December 2
- Cookies with Santa at the Vienna Community Center: This event is already sold out, but there is a waitlist you can hop on. For future information, you can sign up on Webtrac next year under Special Events. Tickets are $5/person.
Letters to Santa: Drop box at the Vienna Community Center Lobby (or you can mail it to the Vienna Parks and Recreation). Letters must be received by TOMORROW November 28 to guarantee a letter back from Santa.
Saturday, December 9
- Breakfast with Santa at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department: Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to noon, with tickets being sold at the door (pre-sale tickets were available but they’re sold out now). The tip with this is that 8 a.m. is usually the least busiest time — so all of you with early risers, go take advantage! Breakfast includes pancakes, bacon, sausage, orange juice and coffee.
Santa Claus Runs with the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department
An annual tradition you should definitely take note of! Follow along as Santa visits each part of Vienna beginning on Friday December 15th. You can follow his route on Twitter at @VVFDSanta and this year the map is so much easier to decode! If you hear a loud siren and blaring music, that must mean Santa is close.
Sunday, December 10 at 11 a.m. at the Vienna Moose Lodge
Power Pack Event to benefit Food for Others. Great opportunity to get kids involved in giving back. You can bring food and help donate the weekend bags of food. Find more info here.
Thursday, December 14 at 5 p.m. at Mosaic District
Community Menorah Lighting with the JCC of Northern Virginia, between Shake Shack and West Elm. There will be candle lighting, sing along, dreidel games, and other entertainment.
James Madison High School Band Tiny Tots Concert
An interactive annual event that features music, characters and costumes, which is really fun for little kids. Many go in holiday PJS. Get tickets online. Thursday, November 30 at 10 a.m., 7 p.m., or Friday, December 1 at 10 a.m.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
