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

This week marks the beginning of the true Holiday season: Halloween, Thanksgiving, then bring on December!

There are always so many things going on at this time of year between kids events, friendsgiving, Diwali, field trips and regular every day life, it’s hard to keep up with things! Here are some highlights of great events during the month of November:

Trick or Treating on Thursday — Rainy Day Ideas

In case it’s raining on Thursday and you want a back up plan, Tyson’s Corner Mall has “Malloween” from 3-5 p.m. On the plaza, Fairfax County Police will be handing out candy, American Scream will be providing spooky entertainment, face painters will be available and then you can take your kids trick-or-treating inside the mall to 50+ stores.

Bootique Trick or Treating Spooktacular at Mosaic: Trick or treating in the stores from 5-7 p.m. and then a showing of Monsters Inc on the green at 6:30 p.m.

November 1, 7 p.m. — Haunted Halloween Murder Mystery at Maggiano’s Tysons 

Murder mystery night with dinner, bar, and entertainment. Buy tickets online.

November 2, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. — Town of Vienna Fall Clean-Up Day 

Help the town staff pick up trash, remove invasive plants and generally clean up designated areas. Call 703-255-6336 or email John King at [email protected] to sign up.

November 8, 5:30 p.m. — Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Garden

A magical walk around the beautifully decorated botanical garden with awesome light displays. Stay at the end for smores, popcorn, hot chocolate and hot cider. Inside they usually have a photo area with props on a sleigh. Buy tickets early.

November 8, 11 a.m. — Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion Opens 

Reston Town Center transforms into an ice skating pavilion on November 8. Hours vary, check their Facebook page for more details.

November 17, 8 a.m. — McLean Rotary 5k Turkey Trot

5k Turkey Trot held at Central Park Tysons. Open to anyone who wants to run or walk!

November 18, 5 p.m — Pet Pictures with Santa at Macy’s Court in Tysons Galleria

Every Monday from November 18 to December 16 at 5 p.m., pets can take photos with Santa. Reservations available online!

November 22 — Bull Fun Festival of Lights

2.5 mile illuminated holiday light display (drive-through) with a festival at the end that includes rides, refreshments and photos with Santa Claus.

November 24, 8 a.m. — Vienna Turkey Trot 

Annual Fun Run, 5k and 10k in Vienna held at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. Register here. Walking is also welcome along with strollers.

November 24, 2 p.m. — Nutcracker Tea Party in Falls Church

Presented by Adagio Ballet, the Nutcracker Tea Party with Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara at the Marriott Fairview Park in Falls Church. There will be treats, games and activities. Buy tickets online.

Quick Preview of December:

• Vienna Church Street Stroll — Monday, December 2 at 6 p.m.
• Tiny Tots Holiday Concert at Madison High School, December 5 at 7 p.m.
• Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long — Saturday, December 7 at 4 p.m.

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

The Ni Family does it again!

A fantastic light show during Christmas time has stepped out of their regular schedule and put on a fantastic Halloween light show! The show is located at 2528 Drexel Street, Vienna. Make sure you drive by over the next 2 weeks to see the show

When: Now through October 31

• Sunday-Thursday: 6:45-9:30 p.m.
• Friday & Saturday: 6:45-10 p.m.

What: 2019 Halloween Light Show — the show runs 30:32 in total length.

• This is Halloween from Nightmare Before Christmas (4:07)
• Spooky Scary Skeletons (1:01)
• Thunderstruck by ACDC (3:23)
• Mix — Ghostbusters/Fun House/Baby Shark (4:06)
• Know What You Did in the Dark by Fall Out Boy (3:06)
• Beetlejuice Theme Song (2:26)
• Calling All the Monsters by China Anne McClain (3:26)
• Monster Mash (3:19)
• Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell (3:36)
• Stranger Things — Never Ending Story (2:06)

How: When you pull up to the house, tune your FM radio to 90.3 if you don’t to get out of your car.

Reminders:

• Don’t block any driveways
• Turn your headlights off
• Don’t make the music too loud
• Park close to the curb

To find out when their holiday light show is up, including times and playlist, make sure you follow their Facebook Page.

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

Here is your quarterly reminder on how to care for your home this fall and prepare for the cooler temps, falling leaves and time spent indoors.

If you ever need a contractor, you can always email me for a recommendation. My rolodex is large and full of great tradesman!

• The leaves are falling, so clean your gutters, clear your downspouts and make sure all drains are clear (especially the ones at the bottom of your stairs near your basement).
• Clean your window wells, and if you don’t have a cover, consider installing one. It’ll help prevent water from coming in.
• Winterize your irrigation system and closer your pool!
• Check your roof for damage or missing shingles.
• When the weather drops to freezing temps, don’t forget to winterize your hose bibs. Before then, make sure you remove hoses and bring them inside for protection.
• Check for drafty windows or doors. You can use a strip of paper to check — if you suspect a draft, update your weather-stripping.
• If your driveway or front steps have cracks, they can expand when water gets in and freezes. Seal any cracks before that happens. You can use concrete crack sealer or higher a mason to help.
• Change your HVAC filters. Have an HVAC company perform a seasonal service (should be done twice a year — fall and spring).
• Fertilize your lawn. Those brown spots won’t fix themselves!
• Check your smoke detector, carbon monoxide and flashlight batteries.
• Get your chimney swept before use.
• Prep by buying winter supplies now. Home inspectors advise you not to use salt on your driveway, as it can erode the concrete. Use sand if you’re looking for traction, but that won’t melt the snow either.

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

This year the 73rd Annual Vienna Halloween Parade will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m.

The theme this year is “Famous Children’s Books & Fairytales Brought to Life.” The parade is about half a mile long and lasts about 1.5 hours. The parade route runs from the intersection of Branch/Maple and ends at the library at Center/Maple.

If you’ve never been, here are some tips to help you make the most of the experience!

• People set out chairs and blankets early in the day to reserve their spot. If you want a front row view, I suggest you do the same. The town asks that no one does this before noon on the day of the parade and that revelers stay clear of the sidewalk and benches during the day.
• If you have a flat bed truck, you can back into parking spaces at the shopping centers and sit high to get a better view.
• Some of the groups in the parade are very loud. If you have someone who is noise sensitive, consider bringing something to help them enjoy the parade without the noise.
• There are no food vendors except for the nearby restaurants so plan to bring food if you need it or support a local restaurant.
• Kids in costumes can walk in the parade with an adult if they want to. Participants meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot at United Bank (374 Maple Avenue E).
• Depending on what part of town you live in, you should be able to find parking to easily get out. Many people park at Vienna Elementary, the library, the Giant shopping plaza, side streets, Walgreens shopping center, or the Fresh Market parking lot.

Pro Tip: The Weichert Realtors office at 156 Maple Avenue E holds a haunted house every year from 5:45-7 p.m. They have a designated area for small kids, but they also have a scarier “Haunted Room” if you are looking for bigger thrills. They also give out candy.

The parade is one of my favorite Vienna events!

Bring extra blankets in case it’s cold. In years past, people would jump over to the old Starbucks for hot chocolate on cold nights, but now that’s gone so you’ll still have the Vienna Shopping Center for food (Panera has hot chocolate) and Caffe Amouri is open until 9 p.m. too.

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

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll actually get a fall season in October where you can breakout pants and a cozy sweater.

I spent Saturday at Cox Farms in 95 degree heat and while still fun, it didn’t quite feel like a Fall Festival! I will say though, their cider donuts are so good! I did a roundup of the September Fall Festivals last month, so rounding that out with the ones in October below! If you had a favorite from September, drop it in the comments so others can plan for next year!

Cox Farms — Centreville, VA
September 14-15, September 21-November 5
Live music, cow milking, farm chores, hayride, tunnels, slides, swings, corn maze, goats, cider, donuts and their market! This is my favorite event all year and I actually hold my client appreciation event here in the fall. You really can’t beat a day in cooler weather walking around their farm!

Great County Farms — Bluemont, VA
September 30-October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, pig races, Dino shows, Marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market. Adult pro tip: Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing are across the street and the views can NOT be beat. There’s a coupon for tickets on CertifiKid.

Fall For Fairfax-KidsFest — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kids fall festival for elementary and pre-school aged children, which includes scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, pony rides, petting zoo, model trains, rides and 75 exhibits and food vendors. This event also has a coupon on CertifiKid.

Oktoberfest — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Held on Historic Church Street by the red caboose, the event features live music, games, kids activities, German auto show, lots of food and drinks. *My company, McEnearney, has a booth at the event. Come meet me between 3-7 p.m.*

City of Fairfax Fall Festival — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The event includes over 400 vendors, children’s activities, 3 stages of music and entertainment, and carnival rides.

Halloween on the Green — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ages 2-10, family fun on the town green, which features crafts, games, storytelling, moon bounce, petting zoo, treats and decorate your own pumpkin.

Reston Farm Fall Fest — Reston, VA
Now until November 5, hours vary based on day
Weekends feature moon bounces, moon bounce slides, corn maze moon bounce, train rides, dog shows, puppet shows, face painting and food!

Town of Vienna Halloween Parade — Vienna, VA
October 23, 7 p.m.
A fabulous tradition that runs along Maple Avenue from Branch to Center Street. Read my tips on attending the parade from last year.

Amazing Farm Fun — Ticonderoga Farm, Chantilly, VA
Now until November 3, hours vary
Long list of activities includes hayrides, jumping pillows, tunnels and slides, petting farm, tire play, cowtrain, firepits and s’mores, and more.

Jack’s Pumpkin Glow — Reston, VA
Now until October 27, hours vary
A 1/3 mile train filled with over 5,000 hand carved jack o’lanterns into amazing structures. Buy tickets ahead of time. Tickets can be pricey, so check out the 20% off coupon on Certifikid.

Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival — Germantown, MD
Weekends until November 3
Admission is $12/person and includes hayrides, jump pad, corn maze, giant slides and more. There’s also food available like cider, donuts, kettle corn and more. You can pick your own pumpkins, do a pumpkin cannon, face painting and pony rides.

Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park — Leesburg, VA
Open everyday, hours vary
Festival activities include wagon rides, giant slides, zip line, moon bounce, corn bin, hay maze, pony rides, animals, moon bounce pillow and more.

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

Our real estate market can be pretty intense most of the year, especially on the buyer side in recent years.

We see multiple offers and bidding wars as a common practice, along with people waiving inspections and contingencies in the contract to “win.” You do what you gotta do, right? Well here’s what I see as the problem with that.

Once you “win,” people often forget some of the basics they should be doing now that they’ve bought a house either because you’re so excited (which I totally understand!), or because nobody was there to tell you to do some of these things. Besides a basic home inspection, here are some common issues we see all the time in our area that homeowners should be aware of.

Termites

Northern Virginia is home to many subterranean termites. They lives in the soil beneath and around homes and enter through wood that touches the ground. They can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage if left undetected. Our real estate contract has the opportunity to conduct a wood destroying insect (termites, carpenter bees, beetles, etc) inspection.

But here’s where people go wrong: just because none were found at that time, doesn’t mean you’ll never have them! I highly encourage people to make sure they specify a termite contract with an insect company. Most of them only do pests — spiders, ants, crickets — but you have to ask for termites as well. In my own personal home, we’ve never had termites, but I did a preventative treatment on my house so I wouldn’t have to worry or even think about it. Treatments are good for 5 years. Termites can be found in single family homes, townhomes and condos under the 4th floor (per lender guidelines).

Radon

Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless natural element that emits from the ground. It can cause lung cancer. Virginia as a state has high levels of radon naturally occurring. If you see this EPA map, Fairfax County as a whole, falls between highest and moderate potential for radon levels around the EPA safe limit of 4 pC/L. Just like termites, just because you test it once, doesn’t mean you won’t have high levels of radon.

It’s a naturally occurring element and can change day to day. The way to test for radon is through a 48 hour air sample. They take on average over 2 days to see where your levels fall. If the reading is above 4.0 pC/L, they recommend installing a radon abatement system, which is basically a fan system to pull the air out and dispense it above the roofline. The approximate cost for this system runs about $1,000 depending on your personal home and where it’ll go. Many times, with remediation, you can get below 1 pC/L.

Level 2 Chimney Inspections

Older homes in our area have masonry chimneys and if left unkept, can deteriorate over time. The masonry inside can crack and break down, water can get in the chimneys and flues can leak smoke through the chamber.

I highly recommend a level 2 chimney inspection, where a chimney company actually sends a camera with a light into the chimney. The fix recommended lately is a stainless steel chimney liner, which costs about $3,000 depending on the height of the flue. They usually come with a lifetime warranty.

These are common issues I’ve been finding lately that people don’t think about because they’re not easily visible or everyday issues.

It’s hard to see past a leaking toilet, but it’s very easy to never see these 3 issues.

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

It’s poll time!

I need to know, what’s the best bacon you’ve found around town? I have a few vote getters, but now I need your input.

When you’re in the mood for bacon, where do you go?

An honorable mention from Fava Pot added. The Basterma isn’t pork, it’s beef but it’s salty, spicy and a good bacon alternative!

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

So this fall schedule of back to school, fall sports and oh yeah, the fall real estate market, has begun to really mess with my ability to plan for dinner!

I don’t own an instant pot, and I barely use our crockpot, so I’ve been looking for other ways to feed my boys (well, okay, one of them survives on air somehow but the other kid actually eats). I’ve put together some deals around town that offer a “kids eat free” option or a cheap incentive to bring you in. As always, if I have left something off the list, please drop it in the comments to share with other readers!

Falls Church

• Pizzeria Orso, Falls Church — Kids eat free Tuesday for lunch and dinner kids 10 and under get one free item from the children’s menu for each traditional or house specialty pizza ordered. Dine in only.
• Chevy’s Fresh Mex, Falls Church — Kids eat free all day Tuesday. Two free kids meals per regular priced adult entrée. Dine in only.
• Pizzeria Uno, Falls Church — Kids eat free on Tuesday.
• Liberty BBQ, Falls Church — Kids 3 and under free at Bottomless Brunch on the weekends AND on Monday nights, kids 12 and under eat free (Pulled Pork Sandwich, Pulled Chicken Sandwich, or a Hot Dog with a side of fries, fruit or tomato soup).
• Jason’s Deli, Falls Church — Kids eat free on Tuesday from 5-10 p.m. Dine in only, 1 kid’s meal per each adult entrée for kids 12 and under.

Vienna/Oakton

• IHOP — Kids eat free from the children’s menu everyday, 4-9 p.m. with the purchase of 1 adult entrée.
• Anita’s Mexican Grill, Vienna — Kids under 10 eat free all day on Tuesdays.
• Foster’s Grille, Vienna — Kid’s meals for 10 and under are 1/3 off the regular price with the purchase of an adult entrée. Dine in only.
• Ledo’s Pizza, Vienna — Kids eat free on Thursdays with 1 adult entrée.
• Dickey’s BBQ, Vienna — Sundays, kids eat free 12 and under if an adult spends at least $10.
• California Tortilla, Oakton — Free kid’s meal with adult entrée purchase.

McLean

• Lebanese Taverna, McLean — Kids age 12 and under eat free off the kid’s menu with adult entrée purchase on Thursdays 11 a.m. to close.
• Silver Diner, McLean — Kids eat free on Tuesday.
• Rocco’s Italian Restaurant, McLean — Kids eat free (1 per adult entrée), or 1 free kid’s meal with a medium pizza, or 2 kid’s meal with a large pizza over 25. Dine in only. Mondays and Tuesdays.

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

Pumpkin Spice is back, so that officially makes it fall, right? I know, I rolled my eyes too.

Despite the pumpkin spice craze, September does mean the beginning of my favorite time of year — Fall Festivals Around Northern Virginia. Whether you’re a family with children or a group of friends going out for some fun, you’ll find a little bit of everything.

Here’s a list of some favorites during the month of September. More to follow in October!

Cox Farms — Centreville, VA
September 14-15, September 21-November 5
Live music, cow milking, farm chores, hayride, tunnels, slides, swings, corn maze, goats, cider, donuts and their market! This is my favorite event all year and I actually hold my client appreciation event here in the fall. You really can’t beat a day in cooler weather walking around their farm!

Great County Farms — Bluemont, VA
September 30-October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, pig races, Dino shows, Marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market. Adult pro tip: Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing are across the street and the views can NOT be beat.

Falls Church Festival — Falls Church, VA
September 14
Held rain or shine from 10-4 p.m., this is also the “Taste of Falls Church” with a beer garden, live entertainment, pony rides, child amusements, local crafters and sales.

Merrifield Fall Festival — Fairfax, VA
September 28
Held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., the event combines a farmers market, beer garden, live music, kids activities and more at Mosaic. This event also includes an appearance by the Vienna Singing Princesses!

Vienna Cops and Kids Fun Run — Vienna, VA
September 22
A kids fun run with the local town police. The event runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and includes many fun things after the race. Usually a police helicopter will land on the field next to Vienna Elementary, there’s a dunk-a-cop dunk tank, face painting, bounce house, music, obstacle course, food, police motorcycles and car tours.

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

The majority of the original Vienna homes were built during the 1950s-1960s. The same is true for McLean.

Most of those original homes were red brick ramblers or split levels. Although some have gotten torn down in the recent years, many still remain. If you’re looking to spruce up your home, increase curb appeal and maybe even do some DIY projects, here are some ideas to update your home:

Paint! You won’t believe what a little paint can do. Obviously interior walls are the most obvious place to paint, but I have a few more tricks up my sleeve.

• For instant curb appeal paint your front door a pop of color. Try yellow, red, or even a slick coat of black. Same with shutters if you have them.
• If you’re tired of the red brick look, make sure all the brick is tuckpointed and paint the entire exterior. It’s an immediate way to get a brand new look. I personally love white, blue, or even gray. White houses with colorful front doors and sharp shutters — instant pop!
• Another trick: if you still have a bathroom with the old pink, green, blue, or yellow tile — did you know you can paint that tile? Oh yes! There’s an epoxy they can do to essentially paint the tiles and make it look brand new. Mostly I’ve seen white with a reglazed white tub. It’ll last for a while, but not forever, and I wouldn’t do it on the floor of the bathroom since that’ll fade quickly and might even make it slippery. This is a DIY opportunity but if you hate the way it looks, call in a pro to finish.
• Here’s an example of exterior paint before & after (they also added a garage but you can see the main house is the same).

Light fixtures! They make some really cheap light fixtures now that instantly make a new impression.

• Depending on the finish you want, you can use this $30 LED ceiling light to replace those old gold dome lights throughout your house.
• Or pick a modern dining light to make that old room look new. This one is just $34. It doesn’t have to be expensive to make a big impact. Just make sure you get one that’s big enough for the space.

Many of these ideas have come over the years from selling these homes and staging them. But truthfully if you plan on selling in the next few years, you might as well enjoy the fruits of your labor for a while. You don’t need to do it at all. Make a list of what’s most important to you and tackle it bit by bit. Over time, a little goes a long way.

Looking for more ideas? Or want an opinion on doing something for resale? Feel free to email me — I love a good before and after and don’t mind at all!