Lifestyle Lauren O’Brien, CFP®, RICP®, CPA Lifestyle Lauren O’Brien, CFP®, RICP®, CPA

How High Earners Use a Backdoor Roth IRA—and Whether It’s Right for You

If you’ve ever wondered how high earners still manage to put money into a Roth IRA despite income limits, you’re not alone. The backdoor Roth IRA has become a popular strategy for savers who want tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement—even if their income is too high to contribute directly.

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Lifestyle Don Ripper Lifestyle Don Ripper

When the Night Claimed Me: Nocturne Paintings

I paint nocturnes, often in blue. I remember the exact moment the night claimed me. It was March in Acadia. I was walking alone along the water’s edge, the tide crashing white against inky rocks. I stood there, small and open, feeling both exposed and held. It took me two years to paint that moment. When I finally did, I understood the power of the sublime, and why the nocturne had become personal.

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Lifestyle Katelin Moomau, Esq. Lifestyle Katelin Moomau, Esq.

Domestic Partnerships vs. Marriage: Legal Differences That Matter

It’s nearly Valentine’s Day, and that always has us thinking about relationships. When it comes to making it legal, should you marry or register as domestic partners? While both options recognize your relationship, the legal differences are significant—and understanding them is crucial for protecting yourselves and your future.

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Lifestyle Amy Rutherford Lifestyle Amy Rutherford

An Ode to Kathy

How do you say goodbye to the single most important person your business has ever known? You wish you didn’t have to, but you suck it up and send her on her way so she can enjoy her first grandson on the way, all the rewards of a lifetime of hard work, traveling the world, spending time with the love of her life, and other big, huge, amazing adventures—because you love her.

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Lifestyle Alexandria Stylebook Lifestyle Alexandria Stylebook

Valentine’s + Galentine’s Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and whether you’re celebrating a special someone, your best friends, or even just treating yourself, we’ve got you covered. We asked our contributors to share their favorite gifts this season, and the results are as thoughtful as they are fun

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Lifestyle Katelin Moomau, Esq. Lifestyle Katelin Moomau, Esq.

Banding Together: The Glam Rock Galentine’s Day Celebration

Are you, like me, bored of being stuck at home surrounded by piles of concrete snow? Not really feeling Valentine’s Day this year? I’ve got a plan. On February 21, 2026, from 7:00–10:30 pm, my favorite Alexandria gala returns: Banding Together. And this year, the timing makes it the perfect excuse for a Glam Rock–inspired Galentine’s night out.

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Home & Design, Lifestyle Don Ripper Home & Design, Lifestyle Don Ripper

Protest and the Arts

Thirty-six years ago, I attended my first protest. Compared to the horrific events unfolding today, it might seem almost quaint, but as a second-year student at the Corcoran School of Art, it mattered deeply to me and my classmates. We were protesting the Corcoran Museum’s last-minute cancellation of a photography exhibition by Robert Mapplethorpe.

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Style, Lifestyle Sarah Shaw Style, Lifestyle Sarah Shaw

Street Style: Meet Kendall Rife

A lifelong Alexandrian, Kendall’s story begins at Belle View Shopping Center, where a childhood favorite—The Virginia Florist—sparked an early love of flowers. That first job grew into a lasting skill she carried alongside a career in accounting and venture capital. Now, with an entrepreneurial spirit and deep local roots, Kendall’s path is coming full circle.

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Lifestyle Katherine Kramer Joseph Lifestyle Katherine Kramer Joseph

The Teacher We All Remember

Almost everyone can name one teacher they remember. Not necessarily the one with the strictest rules or the most impressive résumé, but the one who made learning come alive. The one who saw something in us before we could see it ourselves.

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Style, Lifestyle Sarah Shaw Style, Lifestyle Sarah Shaw

Street Style: Meet Kari Ginsburg

Kari Ginsburg doesn’t blend in. She has no interest in doing so and doesn’t want you to either. In a world where conformity often feels like the default, her presence and style is bright, intentional, and refreshingly authentic. That same spirit defines her work at Uproar Coaching, where she helps others show up unapologetically as their truest self.

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Lifestyle Don Ripper Lifestyle Don Ripper

The Luxury of Boredom

Designate a nook in your home for boredom–I did. Not for productivity, not for finishing anything, but for letting your mind loosen its grip. A chair, a lamp, a stack of books—nothing fancy, just comfortable enough to linger.

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Lifestyle Alexandria Stylebook Lifestyle Alexandria Stylebook

Winter Recipes We’re Loving: Meals that Welcome & Warm

When winter settles in, our kitchens become the coziest place to be. It’s the season for simmering pots, well-loved family recipes, and dishes that feel like a warm hug at the end of the day. From comforting classics to a few creative twists we can’t stop making, we asked our contributors to share the winter recipes they return to again and again.

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