How a restaurateur with heart is redefining what leadership looks like. Dan Simons shares why mental health, sustainability, and honesty belong at the center of the table—and how doing the right thing can still make good business sense.

 After building a career in tech, Angelika turned a creative family idea into one of Old Town’s most inspiring boutiques. Meet the woman behind Eliana Curated and discover how this local gem came to life—right on the corner of King and Patrick.

Jennifer’s path from international medical nutrition to personalized skin and wellness support is anything but ordinary. She’s a mom, a military spouse, a lifelong learner—and founder of Vitality-Led Health, where she helps clients uncover the root causes of autoimmune and skin conditions through functional nutrition. Get to know the woman behind the glow.

“No tickets, no gimmicks—just games, good food, and community.” Lifelong gamer and Alexandria native Allen Brooks is bringing a new kind of arcade to North Old Town. At Continues, it's not just about the consoles, it's about connection. From coffee and brunch to skeeball leagues and tabletop tournaments, this is your new neighborhood hangout.

Meet Melissa Riddy: a born-and-raised Alexandrian whose deep local roots, community service, and family-first mindset keep her grounded—whether she’s advocating for healthcare access, leading a nonprofit board, or hitting the ski slopes with her daughters.

From cross-country moves and art school rebellion to sailing adventures and soulful design—Kim of Patina shares her story of resilience, reinvention, and creating spaces filled with beauty, memory, and meaning.

From April Fool’s Day pranks to planning Reptile Day at Pippin Toy Co., Leann brings joy and spark to Old Town’s favorite toy store. This week, she shares how life led her to Alexandria, her top Disney tips, her daughter Lily’s toy evolution—and why she’ll never move farther south (unless it’s to Key West!).

“Junior League has given me a new path that I’m super passionate about—connections with other nonprofits in the area,” Erica says. “The most rewarding part is being surrounded by like-minded women, who are diverse in background and all want to help their community.” Whether she’s organizing fundraisers, exploring Virginia wineries, or reading 150+ books a year, Erica’s story is rooted in purpose, curiosity, and connection.

I have a friend who jokingly asks if she’s in my “top five” list of friends. I, of course, always change the subject—I love too many people to rank (though I can rank-order my dogs). But as I sat down to write about Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, the “top five” thing popped into my head. If I had to pick five of my favorite people who have ever walked through the doors of The Shoe Hive, she would be on that list.

“As I get older, I want to know more and learn more,” says Katie Nguyen Wells. “I didn’t appreciate my culture as much when I was younger.” She left Vietnam as a toddler with her mother and brother, spending over a year in a refugee camp before resettling in Virginia with the help of her uncles.

“I didn’t want to only be known as ‘the girl who had been kidnapped.’ I went back to teaching in a traditional classroom until the pandemic hit. And that’s when people started asking me to speak virtually because they needed someone to bolster their teams and employees. I thought ‘I can do this again.’”

When Dr. Rina Bansal, President of Inova Alexandria Hospital and SVP of Inova Health Systems, joins us, she’s a vision in blue. She exudes confidence and rocks thick, high heels with ease – but I do notice the comfy pair of Rothy’s loafers nearby. “Burnout in healthcare is a huge problem,” she shares. “We want our people working in an environment focused on their wellbeing, as well as the patients.”

When I catch up with Drew, he’s walking Honey, his one-year-old Goldendoodle. I can hear the wind whipping as he shares, “I don’t get a lot of free moments…dog walks are how I destress. Otherwise, I distract myself with work and that’s like kicking the can down the road.” So he walks and talks to get out and grab some air. Understood, because he is head-down, working, working, as an entrepreneur and new business owner of Old House Provisions in Old Town. 

When Katie Brooks first reached out to Stylebook about featuring the new jerseys ASA (Alexandria Soccer Association) was going to introduce, I thought – they must be amazing! And oh, they are! If you don’t know ASA, you’ve definitely seen their crest magnet proudly displayed on the back of many an SUV or car while stopped at a traffic light. It’s a rite of passage to play on one of their teams in this community, and it has expanded into so much more since they were founded over fifty years ago.

“I consider Alexandria home.” When I ask why she chose it, she shares, “Two reasons. I felt like Washington, D.C., had a lot of European feel…the buildings, the architecture, and I knew I wanted to live in a bigger city. And this is going to sound silly, but I was inspired by a movie that won a Grammy (for it’s soundtrack)…it was a big 80s hit with Demi Moore and Rob Lowe.” She thinks for a minute or two. “St. Elmo’s Fire!”

Pamela went viral on TikTok at the end of 2021. “I made a video of trends I had observed through the lens of an elder millennial. Overnight I gained 50,000 followers…I had celebs following me,” she shares. “This humorous approach to trends worked for an older audience,” and she kept creating “weekly Cliff notes” for two years as an organic content curator. She struck more gold with spoof reality shows on the platform. “There’s a lot more silliness and physical comedy coming back to social, people need an outlet.”

"My first cover shoot for Vogue was with Taylor Swift…she had just cut her bangs, and it was a wild experience," Lauren says with a laugh. “She was so kind and nice and made sure to make everyone feel welcome.” This was one of many unique experiences during her seven years spent at Condé Nast working with world-renowned titles: GQ, Vanity Fair, New Yorker and Bon Appétit.

Of Alexandria, Todd says, “I was immediately impressed. It’s 276 years old and it's not a city stuck in the past. It honors its past and knows its roots, while firmly looking forward. There’s so much flair in this historical place, and it’s been so interesting to learn and experience each of its neighborhoods. Old Town, The West End, Del Ray…and the arts and cultural district that’s growing in North Old Town. Potomac Yard and Virginia Tech’s new innovation campus…

Jillian is very big on community. “I know it sounds corny, but you want to go where people know your name.” And she is true to her word, growing the community at MVMNT Society, where she and her husband took over as owners last year. “It’s our first entrepreneurial journey, and there’s so much transformation that I wanted to make happen…which stemmed from teaching at studios in Miami and seeing how good it can be.“

When Renée and I walk into Eries, Jess is glancing into a mirror and debating boots and tights vs. heels. She’s rocking a skort and it’s 20 degrees outside, but we vote for heels. Elena, her business partner and close friend agrees, and together they command a striking presence – ready for a night out, and definitely for our photo shoot.