Author Archives: mrskerin

Why 2026 Design Trends Feel Right at Home in Lyon Park

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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. 

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Neighborhood Vibes: Kilwins

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By Sophie Oberstein

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. 

Kilwins (313 Wilson Blvd): Hours of operation are 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Visit the website: https://www.kilwins.com/pages/stores-near-me-arlington-va-22201-0282 for more information. 

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. 

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What to Prune in February

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By Laureen Daly

What do you call two flowers on a date?  

A budding romance!

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!

For more Information see Fairfax County Master Gardeners, fairfaxgardening.org/prune-or-not/. 

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Garden Ruminations

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By Susan Bell

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. 

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Join us for a FREE CONCERT at the Community Center Celebrating Music by Women, Performed by Women!

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By Elizabeth sheehy

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. 

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Opinion: Why We Should Embrace Interpersonal Curiosity

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By Carolyn Newman

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. 

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Highlights from the LPCA meeting, Wednesday January 14, 2026

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By Elizabeth sheehy

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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Mandoleers Concert

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By David Newman

The sweet sounds of vibrating strings floated through the hall and over a full house, as the Mandoleers  enchanted our community with a free evening concert at the Lyon Park Community Center on Tuesday December 2.  The Mandoleers, a mandolin and guitar orchestra based in Arlington, was founded in 1923 in Takoma, Maryland, and is the longest continuously operating mandolin orchestra in the United States.  Their holiday concert included classical and semi-classical works, folk, contemporary pieces, and festive sing-alongs that had the audience joyfully joining in.  And if the music weren’t sweet enough, the dessert table, dressed with a wide selection of delectables brought by audience members, put the evening far over the top!  Nothing could better convey how much people enjoyed the concert than the thunderous applause after the encore.  We are grateful  for the Mandoleiers donating their time and talent to perform for us!  For more information about the Mandoleers visit their website at http://www.mandoleers.org.

If you are part of a music group that might be interested in performing gratis for our community at the Community Center, please send an email to David Newman at LPCCGovernors@gmail.com.  

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Lyon Park Thanksgiving Potluck

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By David Newman

Lyon Park Community Center Board of Governors Chair David Newman and his wife, Sara, hosted the Community Center’s first community Thanksgiving potluck dinner, inviting our neighbors in Lyon Park and Ashton Heights. Two dozen celebrants came together, decorating the space, bringing their favorite dishes, and filling the room with warmth, laughter, and generosity. The group included all ages, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. The hosts provided turkey, stuffing, gravy, and drinks, while guests brought a delicious array of family favorites, including some Ukrainian dishes!  With seating arranged around a large rectangle of joined tables, everyone was together.

A highlight of the evening was a lively “Would You Rather” icebreaker, with guests drawing cards featuring questions ranging from lighthearted to reflective. Bursts of laughter filled the room as people shared their questions and answers, while deeper prompts—like choosing whether they’d rather meet their great-great-grandparents/grandchildren—sparked meaningful conversations.  The evening concluded with a plentiful dessert bar and live music performed by two guitarists and a mandolin player, adding the perfect finishing touch to a night of connection and community spirit.  

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Pull up a Chair: Local Songwriters-in-the-Round on a Neighborhood Stage

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By Sarah Fridrich

I’m very excited to let neighbors know about an opportunity I’ve been given by Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (MOCA)—our museum neighbor—to present an artform not commonly found in an art museum: original songs! I, along with three other local Northern Virginia songwriters, will be presenting our songs in a uniquely vulnerable and intimate format called “in-the-round.” 

If you are a folk-music fan, or a Nashville music scene aficionado, you may already be familiar with this type of songwriter concert. (It’s a common format at the famous Bluebird Cafe, for instance!) A songwriters “in-the-round” concert usually consists of 2-4 songwriters. The performers share the stage, and take turns singing their songs. As one musician sings, the others on the stage listen. Often, one performer’s song inspires the next performer to choose a song that complements or contrasts to the previous song. 

Most audiences are familiar with the more typical concert “line-up,” for which professional musicians and songwriters craft their song list ahead of time. The “line-up” style concert is such that when one musician plays through their list of songs, they then leave the stage and the next performer follows. The “In-the-round” format is more dynamic and collaborative. All performers are on stage together, the whole time, and their song choices are not set. This allows more exciting, unscripted human interactions on the stage! 

Beyond the pleasure of beautiful voices and poignant songs and stories presented in a music “performance,” the ‘in-the-round” experience is a peek behind the curtain. It’s a glimpse into the world of musicians and songwriters. As a participant in these types of shows, I can tell you my “guard” goes down. There’s a sense of collective creation with my fellow songwriters. 

Before I started performing in this way, myself, I had the pleasure of attending “in-the-round” concerts at events such as Rocky Mountain Folk Fest and the renowned Newport Folk Festival. These “in-the-round” shows at these big music festivals were always on a ‘side-stage,’ maybe in a tent far from the center of it all, with lesser known artists featured. They were always my favorite concerts to attend! 

Rather than craning my neck in a crowd trying to get a glimpse of more famous musicians on a far-off festival stage, these “close-up” performances offered instant connection to inspiring artistry, soul-melting voices, and humorous or tear-jerking songs. Even though I had rarely heard of the artists beforehand, I was often an instant fan. And, it felt like I was making a new friend. 

If, in the cold and quiet of January, you are looking for hope, inspiration, and some in-person human connection (set to music), close to home, then please come find a seat in the beautiful Tiffany Gallery and have a listen. 

Nashville-Style Songwriters in the Round will be on Friday, January 23rd from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at MOCA, (3550 Wilson Boulevard), across from the VA Square Metro. 

The event is FREE and open to the public. However, if you have the means, and want to support the museum or express interest in seeing more of this type of programming in the future. Donations to MOCA are welcomed!

More information (and RSVP) available on the MOCA website: https://mocaarlington.org/events/2026/01/nashville-style-songwriters-in-the-round-original-music-storytelling. 

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