By Lindsey Leake

So, you’ve finally hit 50. Maybe you’ve just sent your oldest child off to college, celebrated your 20th wedding anniversary or made an unexpected, but exciting, career change. You may have achieved some major midlife milestones, but retirement, still 15 years away, is likely the last thing on your mind. It shouldn’t be; life after work is closer than you think.

Yuri Arcurs/Shutterstock.com

Area Agencies on Aging:
A rich resource for all your questions on retirement and getting older

If you have questions related to retirement planning, Medicare, Social Security, adult housing options or any concerns related to getting older, but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. Your local Area Agency on Aging can not only answer your questions and either provide or direct you to the services you may require but also further educate you about relevant resources, events, activities and classes that are specific to the area in which you live.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were established throughout the country in 1973, under the Older Americans Act, to respond to the needs of aging citizens in local communities. Today there are over 600 AAAs in the United States and 25 in the commonwealth of Virginia, seven of which serve the heavily populated Northern Virginia region. Above all, these organizations seek to empower aging local residents and assist them in every possible way to live independent, active and healthy lives.

Don’t be put off by the words “aging” or “older adults” and make the assumption that AAAs only cater to the elderly or those who’ve already retired. Many services provided by these community agencies are geared specifically toward adults in the 50-64 age range who’ll be retiring in the coming years. AAAs may also be of great use to adults of any age with disabilities and middle-aged adults seeking guidance in caring for their elderly parents. Additionally, AAA web and print publications, like Fairfax’s popular 50+ E-News mailing list and Golden Gazette newspaper, can keep you in the know about social gatherings, sporting events, advice columns, educational classes, healthcare tips and other news specific to residents over age 50 in your community.

“We’re part of Fairfax County government and part of Adult and Aging Services, so we have a part in all the services that are available in the county for older adults,” says Sharon Lynn, director of the Fairfax AAA. “One of our primary mandates is to provide information to the public.”

All local AAAs provide a wide variety of programs and resources including health insurance counseling, recreation, transportation, in-home care services, adult protective services, caregiver support, Meals on Wheels, assisted living, adult day care and more. While many AAAs are able to directly provide these services, the ones that don’t are willing and able to connect patrons with the right person or organization that can.

Senior Savings:
Funding Your Retirement

One of the most pressing concerns you may have with respect to retirement is how you’ll manage your finances once you’ve stopped working. Perhaps your job offers a cushy retirement package, but will that be enough for the long haul? What about Social Security? And your personal savings and other assets—how will they come into play? Even if you don’t plan on retiring for another five or 10 years, is the money you’ll be supported with in your late 60s and beyond something you should worry about now?

In short, yes. Gerald Cannizzaro, president of Retirement Planning Services Inc. (RPS) in Oakton, advises working adults of all ages to be mindful of the future and calculate their retirement finances early on.

“The overriding recommendation here would be you need to assess how much money you are actually going to have in retirement as early as you can, so that you can do something about it as soon as you can,” Cannizzaro says.

Taking the time now to analyze your current cash flow, as well as your projected cash flow in retirement, can go a long way to ensuring financial security in your later years. A number of websites, like RPS’s smarterdollars.com, offer free, downloadable spreadsheets and a wealth of other educational materials that can help you anticipate your financial retirement readiness.

Another thing to keep in mind during the years prior to your retirement is how much collective debt you owe. Will you still have lingering grad school loans or credit card debt 10 years from now? Can you really take out another auto loan? Is it even possible for you to fully pay off your home’s mortgage by the time you retire?

“One of the biggest and most important things that I would emphasize … is going into retirement without any debt,” Cannizzaro says, adding that outstanding debt translates to an outflow of your financial resources during retirement. “That is absolutely number one.”

Though he recognizes that in the current economy people may have more difficulty than usual paying off their debts, Cannizzaro recommends they make it a priority to settle their debts as early as possible. He also advises taking inflation into account. “The worst enemy of anyone in retirement [are] the long-term effects of inflation,” Cannizzaro warns. He illustrates, “That is, you cannot put your money in a CD [certificate of deposit savings account] and make two percent and figure you’re going to be able to live off of that for a 20- or 30-year period of time. Inflation will eat you alive.”

While you may not be able to anticipate every possible situation that could impact your retirement savings, the bottom line is that the sooner you start thinking about financing your golden years, the better.

“People should be very concerned about their retirement and the income they’re going to have for retirement. And the earlier they become concerned about it, the better off they are … so they won’t have to try to make up for the money later on,” Cannizzarro says. “Even people in their 20s or 30s should be contributing to some sort of tax-deferred account … be saving and investing.”

Taking Charge of Your Health
What’s the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, anyway?

Once you’ve taken the first steps to managing the monetary aspects of your retirement, you’re likely left with another key concern about getting older: your health. Will Medicare cover all of your medical expenses if you become ill? Which Medicare plan should you sign up for and when? How will you be able to afford all of your prescriptions? What other healthcare options might be available to you? Fear not; the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) has got you covered.

Each of Virginia’s Area Agencies on Aging boast trained VICAP counselors who can address all your senior and disability healthcare insurance questions free of charge.

“What we do is we provide basically A to Z, everything to do with a person’s needs and understanding of the [healthcare] options that are available in the local community,” says Howard Houghton, a Fairfax VICAP counselor. “Each state has various Medicare plans and they differ, so we have to know what our state provides.”

In most other states, programs like VICAP are called State Health Insurance Programs (SHIPs), but they all provide similar services.

“We help [insurance beneficiaries] work through the maze, so to speak, because it is a little difficult, and try to get them to a place where they’re comfortable and they know what they’re supposed to get out of the benefits of the plan that they’re in,” Houghton says. “And if they’re not in a good plan, we try to get them into a better plan … the whole idea is to get them in a plan that works [well] for them.”

One common misconception about retirement healthcare is that insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid are one and the same.

Prince William AAA Director Courtney Tierney thinks of their differences in simple terms. “The way I view it, Medicaid, we aid the financially poor. Medicare, we care for those who are disabled and older. One has to do with your finances, one does not.”

“You can be both, it’s called being duly eligible,” Tierney adds, “but Medicare doesn’t have anything to do with your finances. Medicaid has everything to do with your finances.”

Medicaid eligibility for low-income Virginians is determined through the Department of Social Services at the local level. Calculations are all based on federal poverty. Half of the money provided to Virginians through Medicaid comes from the federal government, while the other half comes from the state, which must match what the federal government dispenses. It’s ultimately up to the state to determine who benefits from Medicaid support.

Alternatively, the state has nothing to do with Medicare, which is an operation of the federal government and is likely already familiar to you in the form of payroll deductions. In simplest terms, eligibility for Medicare is decided by your age, with a few exceptions. You become a Medicare beneficiary when you hit 65, unless you suffer from a disability.

“We do have some older people now that don’t [have Medicare] because they never worked and maybe weren’t ever married,” Tierney points out. “But most of the time older people have Medicare.”

Still, Medicare doesn’t cover everything. “Medicare does not pay for long-term care … what we find is people think Medicare will pay for everything when they get older, and it doesn’t.”

In cases when Medicare’s coverage isn’t enough, many are forced to turn to long-term care insurance or pay for the expenses out of pocket to make up the difference. This is an instance when having sensibly saved and planned the financial aspects of your retirement will pay off.

“That’s a challenge for folks [who] don’t plan for their long-term care needs because we all hope we won’t have any,” Tierney says. “But the reality is, something can happen to anybody at any time. Strokes happen at any age, there are diseases that occur, accidents happen; things happen.”

But on the plus side, Medicare does cover a number of preventive medical examinations, ranging from mammograms to flu shots to wellness checkups that Tierney says too many people simply don’t take advantage of.

“Medicare will pay for a whole lot of stuff, and people don’t take advantage of it,” she says. “I think there’s a feeling that people don’t do it because they’re afraid it’s going to cost them. I think they’re just afraid of what they might find out … aren’t really aware of the resources that are available.”

If you do decide to speak with your local VICAP counselor to learn more about Medicare and Medicaid and what other healthcare options are best for you and your family during retirement, rest assured that you’ll be given impartial advice.

“There’s absolutely no affiliation with any private [insurance] company,” Sharon Lynn says. “This is totally unbiased information that [older adults] receive from the VICAP or SHIP programs.”

“We’re just educating [the public] really,” Houghton says, adding that dozens of presentations on retirement health insurance options are available throughout the year. “We don’t charge, of course. It’s a free service.”

Housing Options:
Downsize, move away, remodel or community living?

By the time you’ve paid off your mortgage, stopped working and the kids have long since moved out, you’ll be left to decide where you want to reside during your retirement. Should you stay in the home you’re in now that it’s finally paid off, and if so, should you leave it as is or remodel it to fit your changing needs? Should you downsize to a smaller home in the area or move down to the Florida beach house or out to the rustic country cabin you’ve always dreamed of?

Alternatively, would you prefer enjoy the upscale amenities of a luxury active adult community?

Downsizing to a smaller home is largely dependent on your personal finances and living preferences. Some retirees elect to stay in larger, multi-story homes because they can either afford to pay them off or simply prefer being able to relax in a bigger space. For others, who either can’t afford to stay where they are currently living, prefer a one-story home for mobility purposes or feel they won’t be able to make use of the space of a larger home, downsizing is a more feasible option.

“One thing you certainly can do in retirement is you can look at your cost of living. I mean, Northern Virginia is not a cheap area to live in,” Gerald Cannizzaro says. “The issue would be, would it be better for us and would it be OK for us to relocate in a lower cost of living area? That, I think, is a consideration, and of course maybe downsizing.”

One great housing option you may want to consider whether you’d like to stay local or move elsewhere, is selling your current home and renting another at a cheaper price.

“One thing that can be done by people in retirement in terms of looking at increasing their spendable retirement income is this, which is a growing trend: You don’t have to own your house when you retire,” Cannizzaro says. “It might be better for your lifestyle and your future income if you sell your home, invest the money and rent. It has a lot of advantages … [for] people who want an active lifestyle. Why shouldn’t they?”

“Renting is an option. What it does is it allows you to have shelter, it allows you to relocate in a place that you may really like a whole lot better but can’t afford a home in and basically pay for that shelter just out of the earnings out of the invested money [from selling your home],” Cannizzaro adds.

Even if you’re active and fully mobile now, chances are in 20 years or so, when you’re well into you’re retirement, you might not be. An important thing to consider when moving, or especially if you’re remodeling your current home, is a revolutionary building movement called universal design. Keeping the idea of accessibility and safety for people of all ages in mind, universal design concepts are more frequently being used in homes, buildings and other public facilities. These design elements include things like wide doorways, ramps, ground-floor bathrooms and secure grab bars in showers and tubs.

“We want people to be able to go wherever they want or need to go,” AAA’s Courtney Tierney says, adding that more public buildings are becoming universally accessible, but homes are not always as “visitable.”

Local organizations like Project Mend-A-House in Manassas are great resources for making sure your current or future home will always be safe and accessible for you. Lastly, for those ages 55 and older who’d like to live active, social retired lives in a planned community, an active adult community may be the best housing option. A Home Owners Association manages all such communities, and many housing facilities offer amenities including clubhouses, swimming pools, fitness centers and planned activities, often with a country club feel. Premier active adult retirement communities in Northern Virginia include Regency at Dominion Valley in Haymarket, Leisure World of Virginia in Leesburg and Heritage Hunt Golf & Country Club in Gainesville, named “Best Active Adult Community in the Country” by the National Council on Senior Housing.

Oldsters Having Fun:
Who says your best years are behind you?

When thinking about how you’ll spend your free time when you’re retired, push the stereotype that you’ll be resigned to 4 p.m. dinners and bingo-filled days out of your head. Who says you should have less fun in retirement than you do now? It’s 2012, and retirees are now living more active lives than ever.

Senior centers are great for fun, social, healthy and educational activities in your local community, and Northern Virginia is home to dozens of them. They offer everything from iPad classes, book clubs and fitness facilities to acting workshops, parties, art classes and exciting trips.

“There’s lots of recreation available to folks through senior centers,” Sharon Lynn says. “There’s all kinds of help out there, and we’re sort of the resource for that … we also have a couple of programs that are really geared toward helping people stay independent in the community.”

Adventurous, travel-loving retirees should take advantage of the many tours and trips specifically designed for seniors.

“We have a tour program called the Bluebird Tour Program that’s for well and independent folks [over 55],” Tierney says. “They just have a ball. They go on day trips together; sometimes it’s a three-week tour someplace … they travel, and they enjoy each other’s company.”

Upcoming spring and summer Bluebird trips include Spring on the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Old Cape Cod in Falmouth, Mass., Parade of Ships in Baltimore, Md., and “Legally Blonde The Musical” in Winchester. Other Northern Virginia localities, like Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation, also offer myriad local and out-of-town senior trips.

You’ll finally have plenty of time for yourself during retirement, which is why many retirees also have the time, and desire, to donate their time to helping others. There are endless, engaging volunteer opportunities throughout NoVA. Programs like Volunteer Loudoun and Fairfax County’s Volunteer Solutions can help you find ways to give back that suit your preferences.

Provided your physical health is in check, why not consider joining a senior sports team during retirement? You’re never too old to enjoy the rush of competition and camaraderie among your teammates. Home to Northern Virginia Senior Softball, United States Tennis Association senior leagues and a number of Masters swim teams, the region is a haven for aging sports enthusiasts.

In the end, retirement is your time—your time to savor relationships with family and friends, engage in your existing passions and discover new ones, and finish that life’s to-do list you made when you were a teenager.

It may not be time for you to retire just yet, but that time may be just around the corner. And with careful thought and preparation, it’s likely to be a healthy, financially secure and thoroughly enjoyable chapter of your life.

Area Agencies on Aging

Alexandria Office of Aging & Adult Services
Serves City of Alexandria
2525 Mount Vernon Ave., Unit 5, Alexandria, VA 22301; 703-746-5999

Arlington Agency on Aging
Serves Arlington County
2100 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor, Arlington, VA 22204; 703-228-1700

Fairfax Area Agency on Aging
Serves Fairfax County and Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708, Fairfax, VA 22035; 703-324-7948

Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging
Serves Loudoun County
215 Depot Court SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, VA 20175; 703-777-0257

Prince William Area Agency on Aging
Serves Prince William County and Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park
5 County Complex, Suite 240, Woodbridge, VA 22192; 703-792-6374

Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging Inc.
Serves Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties and the City of Fredericksburg
171 Warrenton Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22405; 540-371-3375

Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services Board and Area Agency on Aging
Serves Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock Counties
15361 Bradford Road, P.O. Box 1568, Culpeper, VA 22701; 540-825-3100

(May 2012)

Go for a dip. / Photo credit: Shutterstock/ Stacie Stauff Smith Photography

For a former Floridian who moved up to the great state of Virginia and read a sign in her apartment that says, “Pools close: Labor Day,” let’s talk about how confusing that was. And still is. No water in The Sunshine State ever shuts down or is covered. Ever. (Proof: I went to/hosted several pool birthday parties in December throughout my childhood. True story.)

But finally! The day we’ve been waiting for all spring is right around the corner: Pool Opening Day.

If this is your first time (like me!) navigating through the maze of community waters, here are a few good tips I’ve picked up along the way:

-Grab a pool pass sooner, rather than later. As in, you should have signed up for and paid for that priceless paper I.D. as you’re reading this. Most community centers are already issuing passes and taking renewal requests. And y’all know it will be extremely crowded this weekend.

-Know what you need. Make sure to bring the necessary docs (signed copy of lease or rental agreement, picture I.D.) and cash or check. There’s nothing worse than getting to the office and finding out you need to run back home to get a form.

-Ask about guest* passes. While some communities have strict head counts (only two guests and you must sign in), there are a few more gracious watering holes in NoVA where guest passes are rained down at no cost to you. This is the time to find out how many people can join you poolside.

Check out this link for a complete guide to NoVA’s public pools and even more details about locations, times of operation and more.

*And speaking of guests, what if there isn’t a watery oasis in your apartment complex/neighborhood? That’s when the following step comes in handy:

-Seek out and find friends-with-pool-passes. When the humidity rises and the summer sun starts blazing, you’ll be glad you did. Casually ask coworkers/friends/book club members/ teammates you think may have guest passes. Just a simple, “Man, it’s hot today. I wish there was a nearby pool we could jump in” will suffice. From there, cross your fingers and hope some other pool-seeking acquaintances didn’t already beat you to them.

Check back here daily for more things to do + events to hit up this week/end. For tons more Memorial Day coverage, go to our guide here. 

–Lorin Drinkard

Iakov Kalinin/Shutterstock

$10M Affluent Avenue

Georgetown Pike

$4M Millionaire’s Passage

Dulles Greenway

$1.5M Blocking the Box Blvd.

Rt. 123 through Tysons

$675,000 Sitting Still Straightaway

I-95 Fredericksburg to Potomac Mills

$550,000 Road Rage PARK way

I-66 Manassas to Beltway

$400,000 Cruisin’ to Boozin’ Blvd.

Wilson Blvd. Ballston to Court House

$300,000 Dum Wood Drag

Rt. 1 through Dumfries and Woodbridge

$200,000 Retail Therapy Thoroughfare

King St. Old Town Alexandria

$150,000 Reston Peace

Reston Parkway

How we determined price: Major roadways call for higher prices, and we gave points for creativity and geography.

Discounts on fab accessories plus free sushi and sweets? Much better than lemonade. (Photo: Shutterstock.com/AlexAnnaButs)

When life hands a man lemons, he may make lemonade, but ladies handed lemons head to Lou Lou. When life hands Kate Julian lemons, however, she pays it forward, writing a blog called Then, Life Gave Me Lemons and gearing up with Lou Lou to sweeten the pot for everyone.

Thursday, May 31, from 6-8 p.m., join Julian — whose beauty expertise will soon be shared in our mag monthly — for an exclusive one-night-only 10-percent discount at Lou Lou Alexandria (132 King St.) along with free sushi from Flying Fish and bite-sized decadent desserts from Treats by Erica.

It doesn’t get much sweeter than that! Register for the free event now.

Then again, did you hear about the fashionable, SWAG-filled event we’re sponsoring at The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City this Thursday?

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

Monday, May 21, 2012 

Area high schools among nation’s best 

NBC WASHINGTON

Virginia Railway Express considering wifi service on trains

WTOP

Dulles Rail board spends nearly $1 million studying itself

Washington Examiner

FCPS educators call for 4 percent salary boost 

Fairfax County Times

Arlington OKs $1.5 million dog park improvements

Washington Examiner

Fairfax County social services agency facing cuts

Washington Post

Wolftrap Elementary alum donates $800,000 in honor of beloved teacher

Washington Post

(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Neil Shapiro)

By Joey Hernandez

Slide those dogs off the grill, and make room for these globally daring cuts at your next cookout.

BUTCHER	ORDER	GRILL	ENJOY
Plaza Latina Market 2190-N Pimmit Drive, Falls Church; 703-748-1500	Morcilla Argentinan blood sausage	Pre-seasoned, grill until crispy	+ Chimichurri sauce + Grilled tomatoes and green peppers + Baguette
European Foods 2700 Pershing Drive, Arlington; 703-524-6800	Picanha Brazilian tri-tip steak, also popular in Portugal	Skewer, grill until desired temperature	+ Black beans + Farofa (flour toasted with smoked meat) + Mixed greens salad
WOW fresh MEAT 14215 Centreville Square, Centreville; 703-266-6328	LA Galbi Korean beef short ribs, cut laterally	Marinate in galbi sauce, grill until well-done	+ Lettuce wrap + White rice + Ssamjang (Korean paste) + Thinly sliced green onions
The Organic Butcher 6712 Old Dominion Drive, McLean; 703-790-8300	Wild Boar Burgers Texan wild boar, ground and seasoned	Grill three to four minutes per side on high heat	+ Toasted burger bun + Strong mustard + Grilled asparagus

(May 2012)

"A clean space promotes a clear mind," says Houlihan. (Photo courtesy: organizedbydesignbymichelle.com)

Q: What inspired you to start your organizing business, Organized by Design?

A: I’ve always been very organized and very systematic in the way that I keep my home and my closets. My business really started in the summer of 2010 after I spent a few months with my sister in California. She was moving from California to Oregon with her family. She has three kids and we had so much to do! It required a very organized process. While I was helping her through that, she said to me, “You need to be doing this for a living.”

Q: In what ways do you believe an unorganized environment can affect one’s lifestyle? 

A: I feel very strongly that a disorganized life leads to feeling more unsettled or insecure in your environment because you have that anxiety of not knowing where things are. You may feel stressed or run late more often because you’re unable to get to your things quickly. You may forget things because they aren’t where they need to be to make your life easier. You’re home should be the most relaxing place for you and if it’s filled with clutter and piles of stuff everywhere, it just doesn’t create a comforting atmosphere.

Q: Why do you think closets become cluttered in the first place and how do you recommend minimizing an over-packed wardrobe?

A: I think the first step is always to just go through your things and really be honest about what you truly need. This process will create a closet that reflects your lifestyle. A lot of people keep clothes that they think someday they’ll need, or they think someday might come back in style, or might fit eventually. If you really can’t let those things go, at least store them in a separate place and if someday you do want them, that’s fine, you’ll have them. I won’t force anyone to throw things away or give things away. But it’s important for your closet to be a functional display of what you need for work, what you need for the weekends and what you really do like and wear. Once you start pulling out those extras, then you can have an opportunity to see how much room you really need, how hangers can make a difference and how some racks on the inside of the door may help display items.

Photo courtesy: organizedbydesignbymichelle.com

Q: What is your favorite organizing tip?

 A: I’m a big fan of having things seen. Not in drawers and not in baskets even, but so that you see what you have because you probably won’t wear it unless it is out where you can actually see what you have. With accessories like necklaces, belts and scarves, if they’re in a big box somewhere you’re going to end up wearing the same necklace every day. But if everything is out you’re going to have a better sense of what you have and can create outfits with ease and confidence!

Q: What do you suggest for people who have smaller spaces to spread out in?

A: Most of us don’t have space to have everything that we own out. It’s very hard to find certain garments if you’re shoving your winter clothes and summer clothes into the same space. So it’s important to clear out everything that’s not in season. Doing so creates a much bigger and much simpler space to stretch things out in. That’s the first thing I suggest, if you don’t have a huge space to occupy. The best thing about ridding your closet of the unworn and unwanted, is that you can display the beautiful things that you own and have them accessible and ready for any occasion!

-Hilary Adleberg

According to their website, the EP represents the journey the band members faced during their college years. The band’s goal is to release music with themes that tie into “meaningful everyday concepts.”

The group originally started out as an acoustic band, but over time has grown to become a seven piece band. The current lineup features a cello, violin and piano. On the bands website, the group refers to their sound as both “power pop” and “indie-pop progression.”

The band is working to increase fans exposure to their msuic through online marketing, as well as a kickstarter campaign to help fund their 2012 Summer tour.

Our Vintage Film will take the Jammin Java stage Tuesday along with openers Bonaventure, The Offset and Money Can’t Be Eaten. Tickets are $10 prior to the show and $13 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.

IriskinoFoto/Shutterstock

Hot weather and picnics are on this weekend’s hit list. Round up the family, pack some grub and enjoy the summer weather at one of these perfect picnic spots:

Bluemont Park, Arlington
Nestled in Arlington, this beautiful 70-acre park offers everything from frisbee golf to paved trails and natural streams. A picnic shelter is available for rent and picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Entrance fee: n/a

Great Falls Park, McLean
A pet-friendly national park with staggering views of the Potomac River with falls and nature at its best. Picnic tables and grills are available on a first-come, first serve basis (no reservations accepted). Entrance fee: $5 pp

Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville
Spacious fields with scenic woodland trails a picturesque stream are hard to beat. The large outdoor pool will open Memorial Day weekend. Picnic shelters available for reservations. Entrance fee: $7 per vehicle

Lake Accotink Park, Springfield
The parks 493 acres features a 55-acre lake with activities ranging from boating and hiking to a carousel and miniature golf. The picnic area has 3 picnic areas available for reservations and 3 picnic shelters available for reservations. Entrance fee: n/a

Leesylvania State Park, Woodbridge
Perfect for the outdoor lover, this park features four large picnic shelters and Lee’s Landing, an open area, available for rent. Entrance fee: $5 pp

[tips for the food desk]

By Stefanie Gans

Smoothie illustration by Ashleigh Carter; Colour/shutterstock.com (molded fruit)

Gwyneth Paltrow looks great. Of course. She works hard for her body (she’s recently admitted to spending hours at the gym and, no, she does not consist of magical genes), but she also makes her body work hard for her.

Her e-newsletter, Goop, publishes resources, suggestions and examples of cleanses. Eat a little. Drink weird stuff. Look like Gwynie.

But a two-week, stay-close-to-the-house commitment is not the only way to promote healthy sipping.

Probiotics, naturally occurring in yogurt with live cultures, works to balance organisms in the gut. Gas and cramping due to antibiotics can be helped with lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacillus acidophilu, which can be found in yogurt.

But don’t just take a spoon to that tub of Chobani Greek yogurt, turn it into a drinkable smoothie instead.

“You’re drinking something that’s going to make your feel better,” says Alexei Safronov, of his certified yogurt. For Yolly Molly Cafe, the Fairfax store owned by Safronov and his dad Vadim Safronov, a third party regularly inspects the yogurt to ensure the presence of live and active cultures.

“We’re not making anything in the back,” says Safronov, noting many frozen yogurt shops cheat by mixing powders. Yolly Molly doesn’t use fruit syrups or purees either, instead cutting fresh fruit daily.

While there are set smoothies to order, you can also create your own. Mixing peanut butter with strawberry or pomegranate yogurt (plus a few walnuts or fresh strawberries) turns classic PB&J flavors into a breadless lunch.

Amir Mostafvi tries to keep up with the health food trends sparking from Southern California. And what’s happening is green. “The hot thing right now are the green smoothies, made with raw kale,” says Mostafvi. It’s been catching on, as about one-third of all smoothies now sold at his Arlington shop, South Block Smoothie & Wrap Co., are of the leafy green variety.

Blended with pineapple juice, bananas, mangoes and kale, the drink combines the sweetness of fruit with the nutritional benefits of greens.

While fro-yo shops now find a home at most strip malls, Mostafvi keeps his store modern with the latest trends in health foods.

Acai (pronounced ahh-sigh-ee) grows in the Brazilian rainforest and ships to this continent in frozen pulp form. Mostafvi explains the sugar content is so low that the exotic fruit—which contains more antioxidants than any other fruit—would rot before it hit grocery store shelves. From palm trees, acai tastes of blueberries with a hint of chocolate, says Mostafvi, and combined with banana, blueberries, peanut butter and soymilk, tastes of that same childhood staple.

To make an acai shake a full meal replacement, Mostafvi suggests balancing out carbohydrates with some extra protein by adding 20 grams of whey or soy protein.

These days, drinking to your health can feel more natural than Ms. Paltrow’s British accent.

Yolly Molly Cafe
12164 Fairfax Towne Center, Fairfax; 703-272-7007; yollymolly.com

South Block Smoothie & Wrap Co.
3011 11th St. N, Arlington; 703-741-0266; southblocksmoothie.com

(May 2012)