Arts + Culture

Back Stage With Juliana MacDowell

Article by By Michael Gauvreau | Photography by Michael Gauvreau, Ralph De Palma Photography, Melinda Gipson Loudoun County’s rich and active music scene continues to grow in volume. Over the last 10 years, the number of local venues has increased considerably, resulting in new stages for just about anyone who has a polished act ready to share. The unique camaraderie that exists between members of the area’s music community is welcoming, tangible and includes many seasoned players who have been...

April 2024

Health + Wellness

Women Can 'Do Better'

Dr. Kajal Roy Helps Women Get & Stay Healthy Article by Melinda Gipson | Photography by Alimond Studio At Leesburg Lifestyle, I rarely break the “third wall” between writer and reader. But, for our women’s issue in particular, I must deviate from convention because I have to say thank you, Dr. Kajal Roy, for giving me my life back. It’s not uncommon for women to end up as their family caregivers. It’s furthermore no stretch to say that we who are thrust into that role for our loved ones...

April 2024

Education

Alya Salon & Spa Sees Hair, And Women, As Artworks

Which is What Makes This a 'Hidden Gem' Article by Melinda Gipson | Photography by Natalya Johnson, Melinda Gipson Natalya Anderson named her Salon Alya after a small star – a hidden gem – in the Theta constellation, which is associated with healing and restoration. That also describes Natalya’s aspirations when she came to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2001. The salon’s mission is to be true to clients, and kind to the environment. They work with advanced products...

April 2024

Life + Culture

Loudoun County First Responders Helps Heroes Heal

Article and Photography by Melinda Gipson When a Sterling home fire killed one Loudoun firefighter and sent three others to the hospital in February, Tina Johnson was among the first civilians to find out about it. In part, that's because she heads the Loudoun First Responders Foundation (LFRF), an all-volunteer organization that helps support first responders in need. The other reason she knew was because her own son Michael is a volunteer firefighter with the Sterling station that was on call...

April 2024

Beauty

Strong And Beautiful

Second Annual Gallery Opens Soon Photography by Mary Lanaghan, MJL Studios Mary Lanaghan of MJLStudios Photographic Portraiture ( www.mjlstudios.com ), regularly contributes extraordinary photos to Leesburg Lifestyle . She also annually celebrates strong women with portrait sessions in her Leesburg Studio. The project invites 30 local women to be celebrated in a deluxe portrait session with the goal of showing each how strong and beautiful she is in the eyes of others. A common trait for all...

April 2024

Arts + Culture

Stitching the Pieces Together

How a Man, a Quilt and a Poem Cracked a 160-Year-Old Riddle Article by Melinda Gipson | Photography by Chad Hamel In 2005, Dr. Chad Hamel, veterinarian, author, The Coder School co-owner and incidentally a huge history buff, read a book about the Civil War, called “Team of Rivals,” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. He became captivated by the role of so-called border states like Maryland in securing the future of the then-fractured Union. An amateur collector, he set out to buy a period artifact to...

April 2024

Wellness

Rejuvenated From Head to Toe...

and Everything In Between Article and Photography by Melinda Gipson Nearly everyone who looks in a mirror sees something they’d like to improve. At the Institute of Facial & Oral Surgery in Leesburg you can find not one or two but three world-class experts who not only will listen to you, they’ll tell you exactly what’s possible. Given their combined 60+ years of surgical training and experience, that turns out to be quite a lot. Facial and body contours can be lifted or enhanced in...

April 2024

Arts + Culture

Tracy Hamlin: No Limits

Local Jazz Singer, Producer Brings Sweet Jazz Fest to Loudoun April 19-20 Article by Michael Gauvreau | Photography by Crystale Vail Spearman, EyeImagery Never try to limit Tracy Hamlin.  As she puts it, “In the music business, you must be a Jack of All Trades. When record companies tried to put me in a box, they couldn’t. They asked, ‘What is she trying to be?’  I’m a singer! I deliver what the song calls for. I can sing country, jazz, R&B, Pop – you can’t put me in a box. So, I started my...

March 2024

Home Services

Investing in Residential Real Estate

Tips from a Realtor® and Certified Appraiser Article and Photography by JC Silvey So, you want to invest in residential real estate? Find a property that needs some cosmetic updates and purchase it at below market value. After doing some minor renovations, rent the property to create positive cash flow. Refinance within that year and pull out the additional equity to use as the down payment for your next property. Rinse and repeat! After 20 years, you’ll have a portfolio of residential...

March 2024

Arts + Culture

Maestro Kluge

Drawing Us All into LSO’s Orbit Article by Melinda Gipson | Photography by Melinda Gipson, Teak McAfee The People’s Conductor. Pied Piper. Bridge Builder. Passionate Performer. Hollywood Composer. It takes a multitude of monikers to try to describe Kim Allen Kluge, Loudoun Symphony Orchestra Music Director. In the end, he says he’s all about community and connectedness, seeing music as the string that binds humanity together.  Born in Madison, Wisconsin, he was raised in a small town outside...

March 2024