Live Music, Grilling, and The BallPark: My Summer Bucket List Top 5

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

Hooray for summer! The season of carefree sunlit evenings with lightning bugs, dinner on the grill, and sand between your toes. And like most things in my life, I welcome it with a plan in place and a goals list to check-off. So, join me in celebrating summer with my season’s bucket list with something old, something new, something relaxing, and two things red, white and blue!

Something Old

Wolf Trap – for some of you, this may fall into the “something new” camp. But I grew up in Vienna, Virginia, home to Wolf Trap Center and the delightful experience of an outdoor concert on the lawn. So in August, I’ll brave the humidity and mosquitos with a picnic basket in tow to watch the National Symphony Orchestra bring Back to the Future to life.

Filene Center Lawn; Credit: Carolin Harvey

Something New

Tucked at the back of my garden oasis is something so many identify with summer. It’s practically a summer icon—yet somehow, I’ve never used it. But this is the summer, friends. I’m finally firing up the grill. Send me your go-to (newbie-friendly) recipes or just cheer me on!

My garden oasis

Something Relaxing

Come spring, I’m already checking outdoor movie lineups and penciling them into my calendar. Two of my favorite summer standbys? The Reach on Fridays and Sunset Cinema at The Wharf on Thursdays. One thing I love about outdoor movies? They’re free, so you can enjoy a fun night out on a budget. 

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf

Two Things Red, White & Blue

If your summer memories aren’t full of sparklers, hometown celebrations, and 4th of July barbecues, I can’t relate. That’s the epitome of summer.  This year, the fireworks and Americana will be close to home. Join me this summer for fireworks and a hometown celebration of Alexandria’s 276th Birthday on July 12 at Oronoco Bay Park. And come cheer for the Alexandria Aces collegiate baseball team at home at Frank Mann Field within Four Mile Run Park throughout June and July!  Check out the schedule online and grab a bleacher seat!  “Take me out to the ballgame…” is the perfect addition to my summer playlist.

Alexandria Aces

That’s my summer bucket list—equal parts nostalgia, novelty, and neighborhood pride. What’s on yours?

As Stylebook’s expert wealth advisor, I’m here to help you navigate your financial picture. Feel free to email me at lobrien@xmlfg.com with any questions or to set up a call.

This communication is for informational and educational purposes only. No content or reference is intended to be a recommendation for the sale or investment in any product, strategy or service nor should it be perceived as individual advice. Please seek the advice of a financial advisor regarding your particular financial situation. Visit xmlfg.com for more information. 

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Lauren O’Brien, CFP®, RICP®, CPA

Lauren joined an XML legacy firm in 2013, creating The O’Brien Team with her father until he happily retired five years later. She specializes in retirement planning, retirement income generation, wealth transfer planning, and investment management. She maintains the credentials of a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Retired Income Certified Professional®. She demonstrated her local leadership in the field with service on the Financial Planning & Wealth Management advisory board at George Mason University.

Prior to embarking into wealth management, Lauren worked in client service as a CPA after graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame. Her motto is “life is not a dress rehearsal,” and that outlook helped motivate her to move to London in 2008, where she thrived in a global setting.

Returning to the U.S. after London, Lauren is a proud resident of Old Town. She immediately became engaged in the local community, becoming active with The Campagna Center and most recently joining the Board for the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Making further investments in her community, she served on the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee through early 2026 and founded Alexandria’s first community-focused TEDx program that held conferences in both 2019 and 2021. While previously serving on the Board of Directors for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, she chaired its Professional Women’s Network, under which she launched its now-annual Women’s Leadership Forum.

An avid traveler, Lauren has visited all continents except Antarctica and recently completed her quest to visit all 50 states! She loves to cook, attend wine tastings, and can frequently be found at events around Alexandria.

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