Education

Rising With Purpose

How Nora Babu Turned a Personal Health Crisis Into a Mission of Advocacy, Music and Compassion Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Kathy Donohue Babu At just 17 years old, Nora Babu is already proving that grace and grit can coexist beautifully. The Maryland teen, nonprofit founder, opera vocalist and pageant titleholder is using her platform to spotlight the people she says helped save her spirit during one of the most difficult seasons of her life: nurses. In October 2024, Babu...

Local Services

The Art of the Perfect Fit

How Silhouette Bridal & Formal Founder Farah Abazary Is Helping Women Feel Their Most Beautiful Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Farahnaz Abazary Some women remember every detail of the dress they wore on one of the biggest days of their lives. Others remember something more meaningful: how they felt wearing it. For Farah Abazary, founder of Silhouette Bridal & Formal in Gaithersburg, creating that feeling has been her life's work. Whether she is fitting a bride before her walk...

Life + Culture

Confidence, Curated

LeaseTheDress is redefining luxury fashion through personalized styling, sustainability and the belief that every woman deserves to feel extraordinary. Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by LeaseTheDress When women step into LeaseTheDress, they are not greeted by endless racks of clothing or pressured into making a purchase. Instead, they begin with a conversation. Founder Mandira Curtis believes the perfect dress has less to do with trends and more to do with how someone wants to feel...

Food + Beverage

Harvest Board

A Maryland-inspired appetizer featuring roasted grapes, whipped ricotta and hot honey—perfect for crisp September evenings, wine nights and effortless entertaining. Article and Photography by Carly Mac Manus As summer gently gives way to fall, Maryland's vineyards, orchards and farmers markets begin filling with some of the season's best produce. Sweet grapes, fragrant herbs and artisan breads make the perfect foundation for an elegant appetizer that's as beautiful as it is delicious. This...