Local Services

Sharing a Neighborhood Closet

Dulles South Neighborhood has helped about 3,000 people secure clothing and winter coats Article by Glenye Oakford When families in Loudoun County need clothing—whether because of a financial crisis, a recent move, or an unexpected emergency—Dulles South Neighborhood Closet is there to help. For five years, the all-volunteer organization has provided coats, clothing, shoes, and accessories to thousands of local residents who need them most. The organization serves southeastern Loudoun County...

Home + Design

Homes Beyond Trends

How two friends built a thriving interior design business delivering a tailored, personal style. Article by Beth Rasin | Photography by Still Blessings Photography When Natalie Mizerak and Alyssa McCleary first met at the University of Tennessee, they didn’t picture themselves running a full-service interior design firm in Loudoun County. But more than a decade later, after career pivots, cross-country moves, and a pandemic, the two longtime friends have created a design partnership rooted in...

Style + Beauty

Reclaim Your Style and Confidence

Laura Gregory redefines style, one closet at a time Article by Beth Rasin When Laura Gregory moved from the fashion capital of New York City back to the rolling hills of Loudoun County, Virginia, she brought a mission to help people reclaim their wardrobes, rediscover their confidence, and reject the fast-fashion churn in favor of elevated, sustainable style. Now a personal stylist based in Lovettsville, Laura Gregory serves clients across the greater D.C. metro area, using her unique...

Style + Beauty

Hats Off to History and Style

Potomac Lifestyle Magazine at the Virginia Gold Cup 2025 Article by The Potomac Lifestyle Team | Photography by Provided The Virginia Gold Cup, a legendary annual steeplechasing event that now draws over 50,000 enthusiastic spectators, has humble roots steeped in Virginia’s rich history. Steeplechasing has been a cherished tradition in the region since Colonial times, when horses were indispensable for transportation, farming, and war. Figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson once...

Style + Beauty

European Charm in Leesburg

Mon Chouchou Baby & Child blends luxury children’s fashion with a boutique experience worth savoring. Article by Beth Rasin Nestled above Goosecup Coffee on Leesburg’s vibrant King Street, Mon Chouchou Baby & Child Boutique is more than an upscale children’s clothing store; it’s a love letter to childhood, community, and thoughtful design. Opened in January by Beth Bullard and Scott Rottmann, who bring backgrounds in healthcare and finance, the store has quickly become a bright spot in...

Education

Teaching With Love

Simpson Middle School's Washington Post Teacher of the Year says building relationships is the key Photography by Mary Lanaghan/MJL Studios Several decades before she was a Washington Post 2025 Teacher of the Year, J. Lupton Simpson educator Kimberly Poole was a marketing major with dreams of a corporate career. But even then, she felt tugged toward a different calling. “I was always teaching,” said Poole, a Simpson alumna herself. “I taught Sunday school, I taught swim lessons, I coached...

Life + Culture

A Pawfect Match

Canines & Kitties Rescue in Chantilly helps families find the right pet—and the right start Article and Photography by When Crystal Wood and Kim Larimer co-founded Canines & Kitties Rescue in 2022, between them they had already spent decades volunteering with other organizations. But they saw a need and an opportunity to do more.  Today, the all-volunteer nonprofit they established in Chantilly places adoptable dogs and cats with carefully matched individuals and families. One key to their...

Life + Culture

Mobile Hope Opens Doors for At-Risk Youth

Helping kids on their journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency Article by Beth Rasin | Photography by Courtesy of Mobile Hope At first glance, the new Graffiti & Silk thrift store on Mobile Hope’s Leesburg campus looks like something out of a design magazine: a chandelier made of paintbrushes, a moped staged as a beauty bar, and clothing racks created from vintage doors. But each of these pieces, designed and produced by the unhoused teens Mobile Hope serves, tells a deeper story of hope...

Life + Culture

Grow Outside!

TimberNook Loudoun County brings kids outdoors to learn life skills, build confidence, and work together. Photography by Courtesy of TimberNook Children today spend more time indoors than ever before, and the consequences are showing up in their development. Pediatric occupational therapist Rebekah Highlander says she has seen the impact firsthand in mental and physical health declines. That realization led Highlander to TimberNook, a nature-based program for children that promotes child-led...

Life + Culture

Steeplechasing, Frame by Frame

Article by Melinda Gipson In the rolling countryside of Virginia, where horse racing and hunting are a way of life, one photographer has spent decades capturing the heart and soul of steeplechase racing. Douglas Lees, a photographer and son of a former Master of Warrenton Hunt, has documented more than five decades of equestrian history, preserving moments of grace, power, and frequent drama on the racecourse. Much of the action and pageantry has centered around the Virginia Gold Cup, which...