Photo courtesy of Children’s House Montessori
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Congressional School
Full Circle Montessori School
Saint Charles Early Childhood Education Center
Trinity Presbyterian Preschool
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Photo courtesy of Congressional Camp
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Brooksfield Summer Camp
Children’s House Montessori School Camp
EverWonder Camps
Knights of Columbus Camp
The Langley School Summer Studio
YMCA Arlington
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Photo by Darko Zagar
The client wanted a powder room with the steam-punk aesthetic of a Victorian ship in the 1800s. TriVistaUSA co-owner Michael Sauri responded with three porthole-shaped mirrors, exposed Edison-bulb light fixtures and a custom-designed welded copper faucet, which the plumber made to his specifications. That level of creativity, combined with trust and dependability, is what keeps clients coming back to the small Arlington-based design-build firm that Sauri and his wife, Deborah, founded in 2005. (One family recently hired TriVista for the eighth time.) “We routinely ask ourselves, What would we be doing if this was my parents’ house or my brother’s house?” Sauri says. “What’s the right way? It’s finding and fixing stuff before they even know to ask about it. Remodeling is stressful enough. To be able to trust the people who are doing it is important.”
–Jenny Sullivan
Other top vote-getters:
Bowers Design Build
Case Architects & Remodelers
Firebelly Renovations
Kitchen & Bath Factory
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Website: https://www.trivistausa.com/
Photo by Getty Images
If you’ve been wanting to fill that bare spot in your yard with a new dogwood, river birch or red maple, you may be in luck. Every year the Arlington Dept. of Parks and Recreation gives away 400-500 native trees to local residents as part of an ongoing effort to enhance the county’s tree canopy. The young saplings (called “whips”) come in 1-2 gallon containers, says program administrator Patrick Wegeng, and the species vary from one year to the next. “We tend to offer a lot of understory trees because a high percentage of lots in Arlington already have mature trees,” he says. Registration for the next tree giveaway opens online the day after Labor Day.
–Jenny Sullivan
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Website: https://environment.arlingtonva.us/register-for-your-free-tree/
Photo by Thom Goertel
Not sure how to combat the aphids that have infested your hydrangeas, or why those newly planted azaleas are already turning yellow? Ask one of the experts of Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV), a volunteer organization that partners with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to promote environmentally responsible gardening practices. To receive the Master Gardener designation, volunteers must complete more than 60 hours of classroom and field training, plus another 60-hour internship, so rest assured they know their subject and won’t steer you wrong. MGNV maintains six local demonstration gardens, and its plant whisperers offer a help desk (703-228-6414) and various horticultural clinics at local libraries and farmers markets.
–Jenny Sullivan
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Website: https://mgnv.org/
Photo courtesy of Andy’s Lawn & Landscape
For Andy Shelton, it all started during Arlington’s sweaty summers. “When I was a kid, I always pushed the mower and did lawns,” says the entrepreneur, who grew up in Dominion Hills and made his eponymous landscaping business official right after his 1997 graduation from Yorktown High School. Twenty-one years later, the company is still beautifying local yards, doing 90 percent of its business in Arlington. It also maintains some of the county’s athletic fields, parks and famed monument grounds on a pro bono basis. Shelton is quick to share credit where he says credit is due. “We have great employees working for [me] day in and day out,” he says. “All of our success is due to the team we have. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
–Matt Blitz
Other top vote-getters:
Better Lawn Service
Ian’s Lawn Service
Paul’s Best Lawn Service
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Photo by Anice Hoachlander/Hoachlander Davis Photography
Imagine everything one could ever want in an apartment building. Ten at Clarendon may well be that fantasy, starting with its sleek lobby, which features built-in workstations and a micro market that lets residents pay for snacks with a fingerprint scan. Designed by Bonstra Haresign Architects and built by CBG Building Co., the 143-unit, LEED Platinum building, which opened in July 2017, also has a self-service pet salon, a bike storage/workshop area and a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes. Communal spaces include a first-floor party room, an al fresco dining patio and a sprawling rooftop terrace with built-in flat-screen televisions, an outdoor fireplace, grills, lounge furniture and professionally maintained vegetable and herb gardens. Residents can visit the lending room to borrow everything from top-of-the-line golf clubs to Sonos sound-system repeaters and extra place settings for parties. And the light-filled apartments (which start at $1,800 a month for a one-bedroom) are pretty swanky, too. Eight of them are live-work units housing local businesses such as a massage therapist, acupuncturist and florist.
–Jenny Sullivan
Other top vote-getters:
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Website: https://www.tenatclarendon.com/
Photo courtesy of MVB Mortgage
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Greg Mullan (George Mason Mortgage)
John Pyne (Intercoastal Mortgage Co.)
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Photo courtesy of TriVistaUSA
Other Top Vote-Getters:
BCN Homes
BOWA
Bowers Design Build
Case Architects & Remodelers
Commonwealth Renovations
Paradigm Building Group
Whitestone Custom Homes
Zimmermann Homes
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Photo by Skip Brown
If you want to know what’s so great about Stephen Mabry, just ask all the dental patients who have landed in his chair via crowdsourcing or word-of-mouth. Fans say he’s the whole package—friendly, personable, transparent, gentle, on time, excellent in his field and accommodating when it comes to figuring out insurance. Says one Yelp reviewer: “Dr. Mabry is super awesome. He even has some good jokes, which I can appreciate when talking teeth.” When he’s not in the office, you may see him around Arlington on the basketball court; walking his dog; or attending one of his daughter, Emma’s, lacrosse games with his wife, Megan.
–Jenny Sullivan
Other top vote-getters:
Danine Fresch Gray
Philip Gentry
Michael Rogers
Jeffrey Sisel
Kristen Bowling Williams
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Website: https://www.stephenmabrydds.com/
Photo courtesy of Fast Track
You’re jogging along Four Mile Run Trail when, all of sudden, something tightens and pulls. There’s pain—but more concerning is the half-marathon you’ve been training for and don’t want to miss. That’s where Fast Track comes in with its team of massage therapists, strength coaches and physical therapists. The Fairfax practice caters to athletes of all ages competing in all kinds of sports, from the high school pitcher to the over-50 Iron Man. “We are all athletes [who work here]. We understand athletes,” says owner/founder Kerri Kramer Webb, who holds a doctorate degree in physical therapy. “When you say you’re desperate to get back to your sport, we get that.”
–Matt Blitz
Other top vote-getters:
Arlington Pain & Rehab
Nirschl Orthopaedic Center
OrthoVirginia
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Website: https://www.fasttracktherapy.com/
Photo courtesy of The St. James
What doesn’t The St. James have? Occupying a mind-blowing 450,000 square feet on 22 acres, the airport-size sportsplex in Springfield opened in September, offering indoor soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, basketball, rugby, gymnastics, squash, pitching and batting cages, two NHL regulation-size ice rinks (one Olympic speed skater has already signed on to train there), a hockey skills training center, golf simulators, an Olympic-size Myrtha pool, a 6,000-square-foot indoor water park, climbing wall, health club, spa, yoga classes and a high-performance training center, where you might catch a glimpse of Washington Wizards center Dwight Howard (a regular) benching more than you. Plus (deep breath), on-site child care and a soon-to-open kids’ zone with Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses, zip lines and a video gaming theater. Did we mention that Ovie is a founding member? That’s not all. In the fall, says general manager Robert Kram, the complex is set to unveil a Spike Mendelsohn restaurant and bar, a sneaker and apparel boutique, and a MedStar center with physical therapists and sports medicine specialists on location.
–Jenny Sullivan
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Website: https://thestjames.co/home
Photo courtesy of The Jefferson
The Jefferson is a senior living community that doesn’t look like a senior living community. Yes, the luxury high-rise has all of the medical services residents might eventually need—including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehab and recovery. But it also offers modern condo units with hardwood floors, walk-in closets and plenty of natural light, plus a heated pool, fitness center, salon, on-site chef, concierge service, transportation, gardens and a well-stocked library with comfy chairs. The Jefferson’s two towers are a block from the Ballston Metro, and its resort-style amenities include organized trips to places like the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage and National Harbor. Almost makes you wanna retire.
–Jenny Sullivan
sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/
the-jefferson
Other top vote-getters:
Culpepper Garden
Goodwin House
Sunrise Senior Living
Vinson Hall
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Website: https://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/the-jefferson/overview.aspx
Photo courtesy of Virginia Vision Associates
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Arlington Eye Center
Amy Kotecha (Capital Vision)
Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry
Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates
MyEyeDr.
Jerry L. West
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Photo courtesy of Arlington Pain and Rehab
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Capitol Rehab of Arlington
Full Motion Life & Sport
Cheryl Gottesfeld
Integrative Chiropractic and Natural Medicine
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Photo courtesy of Dodini Behavioral Health
Other Top Vote-Getter:
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Photo by Tina Leu
After he lost his mom and several other close relatives to cancer, Andrew Shin’s weight ballooned to 280 pounds. He was grieving and unmotivated, and his desk job as an auditor kept him sedentary. “I had self-esteem issues and ate my feelings,” he says. “I know the body. I know what your mind can do to you.” Today, the 31-year-old is a trim 220 pounds (he’s 6-foot-5) and holds multiple fitness certifications. But his emphasis isn’t so much on helping bros get ripped as it is on overall wellness. Many of his clients are over 40, he says, recovering from illness or injury, and looking to regain range of motion after surgery. Others want to stay fit during fertility treatments and pregnancy. Shin works out of Phoenix Fitness in Ballston, but he also offers online training sessions with customized home workouts that are logged on a shared app. “With any illness, it’s important to move,” he says. “You feel weak and tired because you’re going through a tough time. If you have a coach, you’re more likely to do it. You just have to start slow. I’m very patient.”
–Jenny Sullivan
Other top vote-getters:
Sheila Cordaro
Chauncey Graham
Dan Mahoney
Scott Smith
Ginny Wright
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Website: https://www.andyshinfitness.com/
Photo by Cheryl Young
Every Thanksgiving, before the turkey and pumpkin pie hit the table, hordes of locals wake up early and strut their stuff in the annual Arlington Turkey Trot 5K. Now entering its 14th year, the foot race founded by Christ Church of Arlington has a USA Track and Field-certified course that attracts nearly 4,000 runners. And it’s not just about burning calories before the feast. Since 2006, the event has raised more than $750,000 for local charities. “It’s about giving thanks for all we have and all we have to give,” says Chief Turkey (aka race director) Mark Riley. “It’s a celebration of helping others. There’s nothing more powerful than that.”
–Matt Blitz
Other top vote-getters:
9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K
Army Ten-Miler
Clarendon Day 5K/10K
Crystal City Twilighter 5K
Marine Corps Marathon
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Website: http://arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/
Courtesy of Smitten Boutique Salon
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Casals de Spa & Salon
Hier & Haines Salon
Illusions of Shirlington
PR at Partners
Salon Joseph
Salon Virage
Urban Halo Salon
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Photo courtesy of Fast Track
Other Top Vote-Getters:
Arlington Pain & Rehab
Capitol Rehab of Arlington
Carrie Pagliano Physical Therapy
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Photo by Jonathan Timmes
What’s not to love about Matt Hill? A 2000 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, he was the chef at Range (now closed) and Charlie Palmer Steak, both in D.C., before joining The Liberty Tavern Group in 2014, where he now serves as executive chef of a growing family of treasured (and ever busy) local eateries—Lyon Hall, The Liberty Tavern, two outlets of Northside Social and Liberty Barbecue. In crafting the menu for the latter, which opened a year ago in Falls Church City, the North Carolina native relished the chance to get back to his culinary roots. His fried chicken, smoked pork, biscuits, brisket, collard greens and succotash have been drawing crowds since the day it opened, both for carryout and dining in.
–David Hagedorn
Other top vote-getters:
José Andrés (Jaleo)
Miljohn Dimaano (Green Pig Bistro)
Jeremy Magnanelli (Barley Mac)
Dejan Pilovic (Ambar, Baba)
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Website: https://www.thelibertytavern.com/
Photo by Skip Brown
Even if the Northeastern Thai cooking at Esaan Tumbar wasn’t amazing (which it is), we’d still go back for the warm, gracious service imparted by its co-owner, Tu Yutthphon, and his manager, Supannee Pipatanasuk. Guests are welcomed into the diminutive, 40-seat restaurant on Old Chain Bridge Road as if it were a private home. The hosts mix up and serve cocktails themselves, then walk you through the menu’s delights (oh, those papaya salads!) step by step. Be sure to ask about the “secret menu,” which recently included grilled squid salad and crispy pork with sticky rice and tamarind sauce.
–David Hagedorn
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Website: https://www.esaantumbar.com/
Photo by Ardent Vibe
Restaurateur Ivan Iricanin already had a hit on his hands when he opened Ambar in Clarendon. He soon scored another home run with Baba, a subterranean café and cocktail bar that opened in the basement of the same building in February 2017. Baba means “grandmother” in Serbian, and this granny is pretty hip, with libations like the Serbian Sombrero (pink peppercorn-laced tequila, orange liqueur, jalapeño, sour mix), GTF (cucumber-infused gin, elderflower tonic, rose water), Little Water Sour (vodka, pomegranate, lime, egg white) and the Balkan Caviar Martini (apple-flavored rakia, gin, vermouth and a pickle-and caviar-garnish). The artsy speakeasy has a cool mashup of retro and shabby-chic furnishings, and a deejay spinning into the wee hours on Friday and Saturday nights.
–David Hagedorn
Other top vote-getters:
Ambar Clarendon
Barley Mac
Circa at Clarendon
Lyon Hall
Wilson Hardware Kitchen & Bar
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Website: http://baba.bar/
Photo by Dixie Vereen
Full disclosure: We have an unabashed crush on Fava Pot chef and owner Dina Daniel. She found her calling treating Northern Virginians to the dishes of her native Egypt, first with a food truck and now at a brick-and-mortar restaurant in West Falls Church. One taste of her koshary (lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, rice, savory tomato sauce and fried onions), the intoxicating fava bean stew (topped with olive oil, tahini, lemon juice and red onion-parsley salad), or gollash (a phyllo and ground beef pie) and you’ll feel the love, too. To gild the lily, round out your meal with an order of kunafa, a baked, syrup-soaked pastry made with cheese and crispy shredded phyllo.
–David Hagedorn
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Website: https://www.favapot.com/
