The Lyon Park Womans Club did it again! Many of us look forward to the Valentine’s Cupcake Sale all winter. To suggest that every delectable cupcake is made with LOVE is an understatement. With about 10 bakers and nearly 1,000 cupcakes, the Womans Club sold out early and made many Valentines in Lyon Park and Ashton Heights very happy—what a success! Combined with the cheese sales, they raised $2,500.
There were a number of new flavors this year, including Salted Caramel, Black Walnut, and Pineapple, Banana Smoothie baked by Shelya White, and the intriguing High Hat Chocolate Dipped cupcakes offered up by sisters Donna and Deb—delicious! Speaking of chocolate, at first glance there sure was a lot of chocolate on the list. But as it turned out, it was lovely: chocolate fudge, chocolate cream cheese, cherry chocolate chili (with a little bit of a kick), devils food chocolate with chocolate chips in the mix, the High Hats, the High Hat minis…lots of chocolate, but not boring!
It took lots of volunteers to make it all happen….bakers, organizers, cupcake guides (there were SO many choices!) and neighbors to purchase the treats. Lindy Love (so aptly named!) kept everyone on task and created the beautiful red-and-pink themed ambience in the Lyon Park Community House. A big THANK YOU to everyone who made it possible, especially Margaret Fibel who organized behind the scenes with who was baking what and how many, Elizabeth Wray and Jim Burke for managing the money, and EVERYONE who helped set and clean up. Can’t wait till next year!
Tucked away in a two-storefront shopping “center,” is a pizza place that not only serves some of the best pizza in the area, but that is also unique in several ways. You’ll notice right away the huge signs in the windows that proclaim that Troy’s Italian Kitchen offers both “Vegan & Gluten Free” menus. In fact, Neel Vaidya, who co-owns the place with his wife, Palak Patel, says that 65% of their business comes from their vegan menu (“The biggest vegan menu in the DMV!” boasts Neel). Other innovations include the specialty pizzas (more on that below) and the introduction of halal meats, starting with the pepperoni, which my 9-year old neighbor, Harrison, said was “very, very good; some of the best I’ve had, and I’ve had a lot of pepperoni in my life!”
Neel and Palak have owed Troy’s since 2019 in what was formerly the home of Z Pizza, and then Troy’s. They considered changing the name when they bought it, but “the former owner was Troy and the community knew that name,” so they kept it. Your classic, unassuming pizza place, Troy’s currently seats just six people, but plans to add more seating in the near future. Once that additional seating has been added, Neel, Palak, and their seven employees plan to host “Make your Own Pizza” kids’ parties and other community events. Most pizzas are ordered for delivery or pick-up.
While there is an extensive menu of specialty pizzas, we ordered a simple cheese pie (slices are about $5 each; might as well get a whole pie for around $16 (prices vary)). The dough and sauce is made fresh daily and the cheese is high quality. “We don’t skimp,” says Neel. And you can taste the quality ingredients in the pizza, which is thin crust, but not soggy. Says Harrison, “I enjoyed the pizza; it’s really good.”
Neel’s claim that “we’re unique because we have options for everyone” includes the specialty pizza menu, including their bestselling Vegan Elote Pizza—with fire-roasted corn, onions, poblanos, vegan chipotle mayo, and vegan parmesan cheese—and the very popular Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza, with creamy tikka masala sauce, grilled chicken, green peppers, and onions. The Big Dill Pizza was also suggested, with bacon, onions, pickles, and ranch drizzle. If none of these specialties appeals to you, you can always create your own pie.
Lyon Park’s own Paul Showalter happened to drop by while we were there. A regular patron, he said some of his favorites are the huge calzones and the Gourmet Salad with dried cranberries, walnut, feta, green apples and balsamic dressing. Troy’s also has salads, wings, calzones, sandwiches, pasta, and a refrigerator fully stocked with desserts. Truly a full Italian kitchen.
In addition to our cheese pizza, we had some pepperoni slices (quite large), garlic knots, and mozzarella sticks. The crispy mozzarella sticks got rave reviews. Harrison’s 7-year old brother, Brayden (pictured), says the “cheese can stretch far!” He and his mother gave them a “15 out of 5 stars.”
If you’re looking for a great slice of pizza in the neighborhood, and you haven’t yet discovered Troy’s, it’s well worth a visit.
Troy’s Italian Kitchen (2710 Washington Blvd): Hours of operation are 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Closed Sunday. Phone number is 703-528-2828. Order online at https://www.troysitaliankitchen.com (10% off online orders).
On February 9, two weeks after the arrival of Snowcrete in the DMV, residents in Lyon Park gathered along Washington Boulevard to observe the Walk for Peace. Anticipating the monks’ ambulatory arrival from Alexandria, Lyon Park and Ashton Heights residents shared survival stories from the recent storm and many held signs in support of peace. The 19 monks who left Fort Worth, TX on October 26, 2025 walked the 2300 miles to Washington DC, aiming to raise awareness of peace with the millions of people who followed their journey. This was an amazing opportunity to witness history in our backyard.
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara led the monks, who walked briskly in a single file, on rural roads and through urban centers, in sunny weather and through the recent snowstorms that buried the area. The cold was their biggest obstacle, forcing them at times to cover their bare feet and bare heads with warm shoes and wool caps. To get through the worst of it, they focused on their breathing. The monks believe that even in a world filled with conflict, peace can be achieved, and it begins with creating peace in the mind. “Mindfulness is the key to show people that peace is something that is possible and always begins from within,” Pannakara shared.
Their message is an important – though difficult – one for those of us who run around, always keeping busy, proud of our multi-tasking skills. Phones and overloaded schedules pull us away from mindfulness. The monks advise that every morning when you wake up, you write down on a piece of paper “today is going to be my peaceful day.” Don’t touch your phone until you’ve finished your personal morning tasks, including making your bed. Throughout your day, try to think about what actions you can take to create peace in the mind.
By Deborah Sauri, co-owner of TriVistaUSA Design + Build
When walking around our neighborhood, you will notice something: our homes have great bones. With homes dating back to the early 20th century, there’s a sense of history here, visible in the charming details, our tree-lined streets, and porches that actually get used, all of which make Lyon Park so special. My husband and I know this well. We’ve lived here for over 20 years, raised our two kids (and dog) here, and in 2005 the humble beginnings of our home remodeling business started in the basement of one of these homes. It’s been an amazing place to build our lives, and that blend of history and community is reflected in the design trends we’re seeing as we head into 2026.
One noticeable shift is color. The era of all-white is finally giving way to warmer tones! Gold and green, in particular, is having a moment as well as another trend we’re having fun with is clients getting bold with wallpaper. For those of us who remember the ‘70s, wallpaper might bring back memories of avocado and mustard patterns. But the good news is: it’s back, but in a completely different (and much more beautiful) way. Today’s wallpapers are sophisticated, artistic, and often inspired by nature.
We’re also moving towards softer shapes and curves. I am loving that our clients are choosing to keep their beautiful arched doorways that were popular in the 1940s, and selecting earthy natural materials like wood, stone, and woven textures. That connection to nature is also showing up in larger windows and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces that become true extensions of the home. Our homeowners are mindful of preserving mature trees and adding native landscaping that help keep our neighborhood cooler during hot summers, reduce air pollution, and support healthier living. Fun fact, we once designed an entire house around saving an old beautiful tree!
With focus on natural materials, technology might feel out of place, especially in Lyon Park built long before Wi-Fi was even a concept. But today we’re seeing smart home technology requested more. When planned early in a remodel, technology can be integrated with climate control, security systems and lighting to make homes more energy efficient, safer and responsive to our hectic lives.
And lastly, homeowners are thinking about the long view. We’re seeing a rise in helping clients design homes that allow them to age in place, stay in the community they love, and plan for the day their home may be passed down to their children. These trends reflect what many of us value about Lyon Park: homes with history, spaces that bring ease and joy, and a neighborhood where people truly care. Having raised our family here and worked alongside so many of you over the years, it’s a good reminder of why we’re so lucky to live here.
There’s a new sweet shop in town—just in time for Valentine’s Day! Kilwins—offering chocolate, fudge, ice cream, and other confections—opened across the street from the Clarendon Metro Station in late December and has been tantalizing taste buds ever since.
It’s so new, it doesn’t yet have an awning (permits are pending), but step inside for a delightful sensory experience—from the smell of the waffle cones to the sight of the bright blue walls, pink tablecloths, and cases of delicacies. Cases are chock full of chocolates, fudge, candy apples, ice cream cakes, and more.
Wissam is the Assistant Manager. She will welcome you kindly (and recognize you, if, like my friend who joined me, you’ve been there before) and offer tastes of fudge and ice cream. The Kilwins® Tracks is amazing (creamy vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered peanut butter truffles and swirls of fudge)—and ice cream isn’t usually my passion. The Dubai-Style chocolate fudge was being prepared on-the-spot when we arrived and is a specialty of the brand. The peanut butter fudge was tasty and the peppermint fudge tasted, my friend said, “like a melted candy cane.”
You may be familiar with the Kilwins brand already—there are over 200 franchise locations across the country (including 2 in DC and 6 others in VA, including Old Town Alexandria). Franchise owner, Omneya, says she chose Clarendon because it’s “a great neighborhood. The people are so kind. And we have a wonderful, central place in an overall walkable area. It’s awesome to be here.”
Started in 1947 in Petoskey, Michigan with a promise to “make the best possible chocolate fudge & ice cream,” each store still follows the original recipes. The Core purpose at Kilwins is “to create enjoyment and make people happy.”
A grand opening is scheduled for Sunday, March 8th at 11:00 a.m. Signage will go up soon, and there will be some outdoor seating. But don’t wait for these exterior additions. Get your taste of “Sweet in every sense since 1947” the next time you’re walking downtown. And, of course, the store has plenty of things cooking for Valentine’s Day, right around the corner.
Have a local business you’d like to see featured in a future issue? Or, would you like to join Sophie for lunch at a local spot she’ll be writing up (NOTE: each person pays their own way)? Contact soberstein@gmail.com.
If you’re like me, you forget when to prune what. So here is a reminder that February/March is the right time for some plants and not others. The rule of thumb for shrubs and trees that flower in the Spring, before the end of June, is to prune them right after their blooms have finished. These include forsythia, azalea, Virginia sweetspire, quince and rhododendron. If you prune these in winter, you risk removing their flower buds for the Spring season.
Summer flowering plants bloom after the end of June. These shrubs and trees should be pruned in the Winter or early Spring before new growth starts. Our weather, which goes up to 50 degrees for a few days every month makes it harder to find plants’ “dormant” period, but generally you want to prune the following in February/March before it warms up in Spring:
Hybrid tea and shrub roses should be pruned to 12”–18,” with cuts made just above a healthy bud at a slight angle. This encourages maximum growth and beautiful blooms.
Liriope that has turned brown can be cut back to encourage fresh growth.
Fig Trees can be pruned when dormant, if needed. I have to prune mine to keep it a reasonable size in my small yard and to keep the fruit within reach. Experts say remove branches that cross, space out the branches to allow light and air movement, remove suckers, and remember to cut back to a node or a branch (do not cut half way between nodes).
Similarly prune crape myrtles, if needed, to remove cross branches and allow space between branches to encourage 3–5 main trunks. Don’t commit “crape murder” by topping the tree!
It’s a cliché that a garden is never done, and there’s always more to learn.
Our garden began about 20 years ago as a water management project. The natural flow of water ran from the high point on the lot right through our basement on its way to a catch basin near the end of the driveway. To redirect the water flow around the house, contractors moved soil from against the house and created two berms along 1st. St. Suddenly we had a garden to plant before the weeds took over. To start, we added soil, compost and mulch to improve the clay-heavy soil. Given the southern exposure, we planted sun-loving and drought-tolerant plants, a few shrubs and a white lilac, plus hundreds of tulips and narcissus. Eventually we learned that the black walnut tree put a toxin into the soil that many plants can’t tolerate.
Twenty years later, the evolution of the garden continues. Redbuds can tolerate the juglone toxin, and now we have an aerial hedge that provides a green screen from the street. The back yard is no longer a heat island and a dozen types of birds visit the yard. Mature trees and shrubs shade some of the sun lovers, some plants are too tall for their spot and other plants need to be moved or divided. There are holes that can’t seem to grow anything. And as cute as the rabbits are…
The warm days will be here soon, and with them the reminder that there are chores to be done.
Please save the date for a community concert on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. The Lyon Park Community Center, with assistance from DC Musicians Local 161-710 and the Music Performance Trust Fund, commemorate Women’s History Month with an evening of music by women, performed by women!
Neighborhood old timers will see some familiar faces, as principal players from the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra join our neighbor Susan Robinson performing music for flute, harp, and strings. The repertoire spans the years from 17th century composer Maddalena Sirmin, to the romantic Fanny Mendelssohn, and includes the works of three living composers: Stella Sung, Libby Larsen, and Lena Auerbach. The quintet enjoyed a thrilling tour to South Africa a few years ago, and are delighted to be reuniting for this event.
This concert is free and suitable for older, concert-ready kids. It will be about 90 minutes, including a short intermission, and a post concert Q and A and reception with the artists. Tickets will become available closer to the concert date, accessible through the link on the Upcoming Events page.
Fluorescent lights buzzed and feet shuffled down the aisles as I neared the checkout counter. The cashier uttered his routine How did you find everything? as he slid my coconut water across the scanner. In this exceptionally ordinary moment, I pondered the opportunity to make both our lives a touch more interesting. As he looked up, boredom masked behind a customer-service smile, I asked, “What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen happen at this store?” An eye-widened expression turned to a grin as he launched into a story from weeks before. We giddily continued the conversation before parting ways. As I stepped out of the store, a grin spread across my face. A mundane moment transformed into a connection between two strangers.
In today’s technologically advanced world, information surrounds us like oxygen; we constantly consume it. When a thumb movement answers any question, why bother asking questions to one another? It’s pointless. Right?
Wrong. Curiosity holds a greater function than inspiring a google search; it operates as one of the most powerful human tools to foster connection, deepen relationships, and enrich our lives.
In 2023 the U.S surgeon general released an advisory on America’s epidemic of loneliness and isolation, noting that connection improves physical health, enhances mental well-being, and even lowers death rates. Yet from 2003 to 2020, social connection drastically declined while social isolation increased by 24 hours per month. Loneliness infects our nation—but our human nature can cure us. Here, interpersonal curiosity takes the spotlight.
Curiosity—the intrinsic desire to understand others, ourselves, and the world around us—functions as an essential part of human development. It drives exploration and learning. Less known is its potential to enhance social connections through interpersonal curiosity: the desire to know and ask about people. Studies show interpersonal curiosity enhances relationships by facilitating bonding between individuals. When someone asks us a question, we feel seen and cared for. Especially noteworthy, interpersonal curiosity promotes positive social interaction between strangers. Research on stranger interactions in major cities found positive stranger interactions increased well-being by making people feel seen, worthy and acknowledged. Kind interactions with strangers reminded participants that goodness existed around them. Expressing interpersonal curiosity allows us to enhance our connection to those in our community and our well-being.
To embrace interpersonal curiosity, we must allow a mindset shift. Mentally separating ourselves from others sparks fear and inhibits interaction. The less we relate to someone, the less willing we are to reach out. Nevertheless, we share more similarities than we realize; we all feel fear and uncertainty. Asking questions helps dissolve the invisible wall dividing us.
So what inhibits interpersonal curiosity expression? For one, small talk stinks. It feels awkward and sometimes fake. But redirecting a dull exchange or adding playfulness can turn a boring conversation interesting and rewarding. Anxiety also quiets interpersonal curiosity. A 2021 study on COVID-19 distancing found higher levels of anxiety discouraged social connection and suppressed interpersonal curiosity. While anxiety and fear—often created by separating ourselves physically or emotionally from others—limit our expression of interpersonal curiosity, realizing the universality of these emotions illuminates our similarities and diminishes fear.
Don’t shy away from the unconventional. Permit extraordinary questions. We’ve all heard “What’s your major?” But what about “Do you believe in reincarnation?” or “What object in nature do you most resonate with?” Intentional engagement with strangers becomes more natural with practice. Interpersonal curiosity also revitalizes existing relationships. Ask your mom about her favorite childhood pastime; I guarantee a smile. Questions communicate caring.
Some fear asking questions will seem invasive or annoying, but while time and place matters (don’t ask about someone’s hidden talent during an exam), curiosity’s overwhelmingly positive impact on connection far outweighs the small chance of irritation.
Interpersonal curiosity encourages an open mind; it replaces judgement with empathy. If we embrace it, we may discover fascination and connection with our communities and loved ones. The solution to social isolation stands a question away. Start with the convenience-store cashier.
Who knew the Arlington County Commissioner meeting would be so energizing? Over 30 people were present when President Natalie Roy welcomed guest speaker Kim Klingler, Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, along with her Deputies of Communications, Business, and Transportation. Kim’s overriding message was that her team knows they works for us, the residents of Arlington County, and they are always looking to strengthen that partnership. Her team is responsible for implementing County Board and school board policies: assessing the values of autos and business, while County Treasurer Carla de la Parva collects the money. Some might view that role as adversarial, but she recognizes where problems exist and is actively looking for solutions, especially helping residents understand county policies.
Two hot topics concerned (1) business licenses – and the taxes associated with them (due March 2), and (2) Short-term rentals, known in Arlington as Accessory Homestays. Addressing questions about the Business, Professional and Occupational Licensing (BPOL) tax, Kim explained that the method of taxing off gross receipts is a VA rule that dates back to 1812. She encouraged residents to challenge Richmond to change the law; her role is simply to enforce existing law. Her team explained that property taxes on vehicles are assessed using JDPower values for fairness. There was a lengthy discussion of the wisdom of eliminating car tax.
Another hot topic was Accessory Homestays (Airbnb, VRBO ETC). There is currently no “tip line” to report suspected violations, but Kim encourages residents to discuss that option with the permitting office. There has been discussion about getting better information from the rental companies, but currently TOT (short term rental taxes) cannot be cross-checked with business license rolls. As of July 2025, Airbnb is (FINALLY) automatically remitting taxes directly to Arlington County which is a positive revenue step. There is a concern that Arlington County is not enforcing the 180-day residency rule for Accessory Homestays, which the LPCA may delve into further.
The attendees were highly engaged throughout the discussion and the guest speakers were well informed and transparent with their responses. We look forward to having similarly open dialogue with other members of the County government in the future.
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