OUR TEAM
OCTOBER 2019
WashingtonFAMILY.com • 301-230-2222
Craig Burke, Publisher
ADVERTISING Craig Burke, Director of Sales
301-230-6697 • cburke@midatlanticmedia.com
Account Executives
Kim Coates, Tamara Morris, Mary Ramsdale, Stacie Shapero, Sylvia Witaschek
100,000 sq. ft. Field House
Over 20 sports programs
4 Basketball courts
Olympic-sized pool
MedStar Health
2 NHL-sized rinks
Virtual Reality
Climbing Walls
Health Club
Restaurant Water Park
MedSpa eSports
Retail BUSINESS
Pattie-Ann Lamp, Accounting Coordinator • 410-902-2311 • plamp@midatlanticmedia.com
EDITORIAL Jessica Gregg, Lifestyle Editor • 410-902-2319 • jgregg@midatlanticmedia.com
Britni Petersen, Managing Editor • 301-230-6696 • bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com
Adranisha Stephens, Staff Writer • 410-902-2328 • astephens@midatlanticmedia.com
Contributors Michelle Blanchard Ardillo, Ann Dolin, PJ Feinstein, Dana Reinhardt, Erica Rimlinger,
Kathryn Streeter, Irene-Myers Thompson, Gina Gallucci-White
CREATIVE Lonna Koblick, Art Director
Steve Burke, Graphic Designer
Rachel Levitan, Graphic Designer
Caroline Swartz, Graphic Designer
James Meskunas, Digital Media Manager
David Stuck, Staff Photographer
MID-ATLANTIC MEDIA
Craig Burke, CEO/Publisher • cburke@midatlanticmedia.com
Liz Spikol, Editorial Director • lspikol@midatlanticmedia.com
Jennifer Perkins-Frantz, Director of Production• jperkinsfrantz@midatlanticmedia.com
Bill Sims, Director of Circulation & Audience Development • bsims@midatlanticmedia.com
Jeni Mann, Director of Marketing & Custom Media • jmann@midatlanticmedia.com
SPORTS / WELLNESS / ENTERTAINMENT
Table of
Contents Single Page
Design Calendar of
Events T H E S TJA M E S .CO M
6805 Industrial Road / Springfield, VA 22151 / 703.239.6870
© Washington Family. Washington Family is published 12 times a year by Mid-Atlantic Media, and is distributed free of charge
throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Correspondence and editorial submissions from our readers are
welcomed. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment on all editorial and advertising material submitted. We are not responsible
for the return of any unsolicited materials. The acceptance of advertising by Washington Family does not constitute an endorsement of
the products, services or information. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden
without expressed written permission.

11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 300 | Rockville, MD 20852 | 301-230-2222 or 703-318-1385 | washingtonfamily.com
6 Washington FAMILY
OCTOBER 2019



FIRST WORD
Falling for Fall
F Britni Petersen
Managing Editor
bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com Facebook
facebook.com/WashingtonFamilyMagazine Follow us on Pinterest
@familymagazine and Instagram
@washingtonfamilymag Email us
Let us know what’s on your mind.

info@thefamilymagazine.com Story Ideas
Have a story idea? We want to hear it.

Email us at
editor@thefamilymagazine.com all is in full swing. Can you feel it? The cool, crisp
air, the changing leaves, the spirited cheers from
football fans all around and, of course, the smells
of pumpkin goodness wherever you go. Perhaps I’m a
bit biased, but I do believe fall is one of the best (if not
the best) seasons, especially in the DMV.

There are pumpkin patches to visit, Starbucks
pumpkin spice lattes to sip on, All Hallows’ Eve fun to
enjoy, and the best fall festivals to attend. While we
shared some fall festivals last month, we have even
more October fall festivals to share this month in our
extended calendar on page 11.

As for pumpkin-galore, we have a great guide on
carving and designing the perfect Jack O’Lantern on
page 16. Even if you consider yourself a Jack O’Lantern
aficionado, writer Dinah Wolfe shares some special
carving and preserving hacks to keep your pumpkins
looking their best all season long.

To get into the Halloween spirit, we have a not-so-
spooky list of Halloween books for your kiddos to enjoy
before the big holiday on page 20. And before any big
football game, we have some tailgating-inspired recipes
that will score you some serious touchdown points at
your next tailgate-style gathering.

Now that we are well into the start of the new
school year, we have some essential tips for students
applying to private schools this fall from a local private
school teacher, Michelle Ardillo. Ardillo shares essay-
writing strategies and ideas that will seriously impress
the school’s admissions committee on page 22.

And, just because summer is long gone and
Christmas is still a few months away, that doesn’t
mean you can’t enjoy another family vacation. Writer
PJ Feinstein shares her promising experience with
having a family staycation in D.C. and why DMV-area
families should consider this little fall mini-vacation
as well. She also includes some particularly wonderful
family-friendly D.C. hotel options and activities on
page 22.

So fall, football, fun and pumpkins … sounds about
right for October. For even more seasonal content
and exciting things to do with your family this month,
check out washingtonfamily.com. Happy reading! ■
WashingtonFAMILY.com 7