“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 got a sneak peek at the refreshed Diablo’s Cantina—and let’s just say, this spot knows how to throw a fiesta! Picture this: salsa dance lessons, a live band setting the vibe, mouthwatering Mexican bites, and cocktails that looked almost too pretty to drink. The venue itself is a total vibe—spacious, beautifully designed, and with outdoor seating that makes everything better. There’s just something about sipping a cocktail in the fresh air while grooving to music that makes you feel like you’ve escaped to a tropical getaway.

Each year, Helen Olivia teams up with some of our favorite industry partners for an over-the-top celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. We’ve written about the bash—titled Erin Go Glam, a play on “Erin Go Bragh”—before, and we couldn’t resist sharing some behind-the-scenes details of how it came to life in 2025.

Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to sprinkle some sparkle on the serious subject of staying fabulous when surrounded by folks who are, shall we say, less than dazzling. Think of it as your personal guide to looking like a million bucks even when the shade is being thrown your way!  

“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.’”

The only way to lure me to watch the NFL Draft is to tell me about all the fashion.  Extremely talented and fit male athletes in an array of fashion – from designer tuxes and studded crocs, to shorts and a polo shirt. It’s definitely all over the place!

This week’s new listings showcase the best of Alexandria living — from a waterfront retreat with a private dock to an updated single-level home just minutes from Old Town. Whether you're dreaming of a luxurious, resort-style escape, a private woodland haven, or a turnkey property with unbeatable convenience, these homes offer something special for every lifestyle.

At the end of a long day, parents just want time to take a deep breath. Then comes that ever so innocent, yet loaded question, “Mommy, can you play with me?” I am here to tell you that something as simple as playing catch or building a tower can help your child expand their vocabulary and develop essential social and cognitive skills.

The first Saturday in May? Pure legend in Louisville, Kentucky. With a week of events, parties, and plenty of seersucker, the Kentucky Derby draws out anyone with a flair for fascinators and a taste for mint juleps. The Kentucky Derby kicks off the three-race gauntlet of securing the elusive title – the Triple Crown. Lucky for you, there’s also a Triple Crown in investing—and this one’s actually within reach.

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. 

Martha Carucci, Executive Director of the National Breast Center Foundation, is always on the move. In the course of 24 hours, I bumped into her twice – at the Spring2ACTion kickoff event and at The Chamber ALX’s Coffee & Connections. Martha is the type of person that you can instantly open up to, and within minutes I found myself sharing how rattled I was by a friend’s recent diagnosis.

When you think of window cleaning, retro branding and curated gift bags probably aren’t the first things that come to mind. But Pink’s Window Services is on a mission to flip that script—and it’s doing so with precision, polish, and a whole lot of personality. Marcus Ivery, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, is part of a growing movement to reinvent the way blue-collar services are delivered. 

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.

Consider this: the ancient Greeks had no word for blue. Imagine the freedom of describing the sky as a cool shade of green or a muted violet rather than defaulting to "blue." Every child instinctively reaches for the blue crayon for the sky, the green for trees—associations that linger into adulthood, subtly shaping how we interpret the world.

From riverfront mornings in Old Town to cocktail hours by the pool in Fort Hunt, these four Alexandria homes each offer a distinct take on luxury living. Whether you're drawn to historic charm, modern convenience, or the perfect blend of both, there's something here to fall in love with.

Shopping should be an enjoyable experience, but for many, especially those who live in larger bodies, or bodies that don’t meet the conventional beauty standards, it can quickly turn into a stressful, frustrating ordeal. Here are 5 ways to navigate shopping with confidence.

Don’t we all sometimes feel like we are playing a bit of Whack-a-Mole in our personal lives? I take my mental health seriously, especially given how stressful my line of work is. Here are five things I do on a regular basis to de-stress a bit, and maybe these can help you, too.

“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!”

It was a packed house at ACT for Alexandria’s Kick Off Party, sponsored by Passport Auto on Wednesday evening at ALX Community Waterfront. We Alexandrians love to mingle and especially when it’s for a good cause and supporting so many. This year, there are over 190 participating organizations – and there is a cause that everyone can connect with.