Happy Friday, Northern Virginia!
In today’s update:
💎 Northern Virginia’s luxury market stayed strong in 2025, with buyers paying top dollar for standout estates. From record-breaking sales in McLean to historic properties on massive acreage, these 10 homes show where high-end demand is really landing.
🍝 Gainesville’s most talked-about restaurant space just found its perfect match. A beloved Italian spot from Arlington is moving in, and it’s not your typical pasta and wine joint. Think handmade dishes, bold flavors, and the kind of place you actually want to linger.
🍸 What’s the best-selling spirit in Virginia? Hint: It’s not a surprise (but what’s bubbling up behind it might be). From Tito’s vodka dominance to tequila’s unexpected surge, Virginia’s alcohol sales tell a bigger story about changing tastes and rising local brands.
Scroll down and enjoy!
—Chris Colgan
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Best Things To Do This Weekend
in the NoVA/DC Area
Soar Together at Air and Space
Bring the whole family to this space and technology event featuring hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and local experts sharing insights into space exploration. Explore two massive hangars filled with iconic aviation and space artifacts.
📍 Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly
📅 Date: Jan 10
🎟️ Tickets: Free admission, $15 parking
MORE INFO→
Life-Size Monopoly Pop-Up
Step inside a life-sized Monopoly board inspired by Atlantic City and play as your own game piece. Roll oversized dice, complete challenges, and compete for prizes including branded merch and a grand-prize Atlantic City getaway.
📍 Location: Union Station, Washington, DC
📅 Date: Jan 10–12
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→
Shen Yun
Experience 5,000 years of Chinese history through classical dance, live orchestra, and immersive scenic effects. Lavish costumes and dynamic backdrops bring ancient legends and traditions to life in this visually stunning production.
📍 Location: The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
📅 Date: Through Jan 18
🎟️ Tickets: $85–$290
MORE INFO→
💎 NoVA’s 10 Priciest Home Sales of 2025
Despite a choppy market, Northern Virginia’s ultra-luxury segment didn’t slow down. High-end buyers continued to pay top dollar, especially in McLean and Fauquier County.
Here’s a clean breakdown of the 10 most expensive homes sold in 2025, ranked by price:
$27,508,000
6501 Bright Mountain Rd., McLean
A brand-new Langley Farms estate with more than 21,000 sq ft on 5.3 wooded acres. Highlights include soaring ceilings, floating fireplaces, a cinema, wine cellar, and a heated pool.
🔗 Listing details
$22,000,000
6431 Georgetown Pike, McLean
A French-inspired estate that resold within months at a higher price. The home offers 10 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, elegant interiors, formal entertaining spaces, and landscaped gardens with waterfalls.
🔗 Listing details
$20,000,000
7500 Ironwood Ln., Warrenton
A 250-year-old Georgian-style manor set on 1,482 acres with sweeping views of Fauquier County. The 22-bedroom estate is protected by conservation easements and listed on historic registers.
🔗 Listing details
$17,500,000
1150 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean
A New England–style home in Langley Farms rebuilt with nationally recognized design. Outdoor features include an in-ground pool, tea house, rose gardens, and koi pond.
🔗 Listing details
$14,050,000
1260 Crest Ln., McLean
A French-style estate with clear Potomac River views. Built in 1973, the home features an antique marble fireplace, sunlit solarium, and a patio overlooking the river.
🔗 Listing details
$11,200,000
1113 Langley Ln., McLean
A castle-inspired home blending historic materials with modern luxury. Features include reclaimed stone, a two-story library, indoor sports court, and media and game rooms.
🔗 Listing details
$10,750,000
2227 Penny Ln., The Plains
A 1938 estate on 435 acres with panoramic views of Bull Run and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The property includes equestrian facilities, a guest house, greenhouse, and a 60-foot pool.
🔗 Listing details
$9,300,000
1004 Dogue Hill Ln., McLean
A European-inspired home built in 2021 that sold quickly. Designed for entertaining, it offers a two-level patio, in-ground pool, built-in fireplace, and putting green.
🔗 Listing details
$9,200,000
410 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean
A light-filled modern home on McLean’s Gold Coast with 25-foot ceilings. Notable features include a Swarovski crystal chandelier, Italian cabinetry, and an infinity-edge saltwater pool.
🔗 Listing details
$8,700,000
6727 Lucy Ln., McLean
A contemporary Tudor built in 2020 with six bedrooms and extensive custom amenities, including a stacked pool house, golf simulator, theater room, professional gym, and four-car garage.
🔗 Listing details
🎥 Avoid Moving to the Wrong Area of Northern Virginia in 2026
In this video, we're taking a look at some of the best and worst areas to move to and live in Northern Virginia in 2026! Here's how you can avoid moving to the wrong area!
🍝 Goodbye Bar Louie, Hello Carbonara
Driving the news:An acclaimed Italian restaurant from Arlington, Carbonara, is opening a new location in Gainesville, taking over the high-profile space that formerly housed Bar Louie in Virginia Gateway.
Details:
Bar Louie’s exit left a major gap — and some baggage — after a shooting incident and permanent closure.
Carbonara is stepping in with house-made pastas, classic Italian-American favorites, and an elevated sit-down experience.
The new location will be significantly larger than the original, which means: easier reservations, better space for celebrations, and a livelier vibe.
Why it matters: This is the kind of restaurant locals have been asking for. Gainesville has grown quickly, but our dining scene hasn’t always reflected that. Carbonara brings credibility to the idea that chef-driven, high-quality restaurants can thrive here — not just chains or fast-casual spots.
And honestly, after years of watching the Bar Louie space sit with a cloud over it, I’m glad to see it finally get a fresh, positive new chapter centered around food, hospitality, and community.
The big picture: Northern Virginia already knows Carbonara as a go-to for long dinners and shared plates. It’s not stuffy, but it feels like a night out — with generous servings, handmade pastas, and a wine list that doesn’t just look good, but actually pairs well with the food.
What’s next: The menu hasn’t officially dropped yet, but expect the classics: chicken parm, baked pastas, silky handmade carbonara, and a serious wine list. No shortcuts — just bold flavors and real Italian comfort food.
💬 Let’s Connect: Buying, Selling, or Growing Your Brand in Northern Virginia?
Whether you’re looking to move to Fairfax, Prince William, Winchester, Alexandria, Arlington, or Reston — or want help growing your business with smart, local content I’ve got you covered.
📍 Explore homes for sale across Northern Virginia
📲 DM me on Instagram for real estate or content marketing help
💼 Visit ColganTeam.com to learn more or collaborate on your next project
🍸 Virginia’s Top Spirit? Tito’s.
But Tequila’s Closing In
Driving the news: Tito’s Handmade Vodka once again took the top spot in Virginia ABC’s fiscal 2025 sales, bringing in $75 million — holding steady for the eighth year in a row.
Details:
Hennessy VS ($32M), Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 ($27M), and Jim Beam ($22M) followed behind Tito’s.
Tequila is gaining fast: Patrón Silver earned $20M, while six of the 10 fastest-growing brands were tequilas.
Teremana Reposado jumped from $9.2M to $14M in sales.
Crown Royal Blackberry led Canadian whiskey growth, up $4.4M.
Newer products like BuzzBallz ($2.4M) and Fireball Blazin’ Apple ($1.2M) showed strong launches.
Why it matters: Alcohol sales are a key revenue stream for Virginia. Profits from ABC store sales go directly to the state’s general fund, helping fund public services.
Rising interest in tequila, local distilleries, and ready-to-drink cocktails also reflects shifting consumer preferences, creating opportunities for Virginia-based brands to grow.
The big picture: Vodka still dominates Virginia’s shelves, with 1.6 million cases sold, but tequila isn’t far behind at 1.1 million. Ready-to-drink cocktails grew 9.5% in volume, showing strong consumer demand for convenience and variety.
By the numbers:
Bowman Brothers: $2.4M
John J. Bowman: $1.8M
Cirrus Vodka: $1.7M
Isaac Bowman Port Whiskey: $787K
Waterman Spirits Perfect Crush: $606K
Buffalo Trace: +$1.4M from last year
Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked: $500K
Between the lines: While Tito’s remains the top seller, even it saw a slight dip of $236K. Hennessy VS dropped $6M, and Patrón Silver fell $5.4M — signs that customer loyalty may be shifting with the rise of newer brands.
What’s next: Expect Virginia ABC to continue expanding offerings of in-demand products. Its recent effort to increase shelf availability of brands like Buffalo Trace has already driven notable sales gains.
Our Current Local Market Numbers
Washington, DC’s housing market remains somewhat competitive. Homes are selling in about 54 days with roughly two offers on average. The median sale price sits near $700K, showing modest year over year growth, even as price per square foot has softened slightly. Sales volume is down compared to last year, signaling a slower but more balanced pace.
For buyers: You’re seeing more breathing room. Homes are taking longer to sell, inventory is less frantic, and there’s more leverage to negotiate price, inspections, or concessions, especially on listings that linger.
For sellers: Pricing strategy matters more than ever. Well prepared, correctly priced homes are still moving, but overpricing can stall momentum fast. Presentation and timing are key in this market.
In Other News…
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And don’t forget to tell me which one was your favorite. See ya!