The People You Meet in Old Town

Let Go of Aunt Sue's Chair: Patina's Amanda Mertins on Designing a Home You Love

Amanda Mertins, co-owner of Patina Polished Living, Old Town Alexandria’s beloved home goods and interior design shop,  joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to talk about a life spent making spaces feel like home. From setting the table at elementary school dinner parties and rearranging furniture in her tiny bedroom, to building a thriving retail and design business alongside her partner Kim, Amanda shares how passion, persistence, and a head for economics turned a lifelong instinct into a 14-year-old business. Amanda breaks down her signature approach to editing a home, how she walks through every room before touching a thing, spots the hidden gem gathering dust in a guest room, and gives clients permission to finally let go of Aunt Sue’s chair. She shares her philosophy on mixing vintage and new, high and low (in both interiors and fashion), the two things you should always spend money on, why you should never buy a sofa online, and the design rules she loves to break. She also talks about the reality of running a retail store in Old Town: the joy of installation day, the grief of broken deliveries, and the partnership that has kept Patina thriving for over a decade. TIMING: 00:00 What Makes Home 01:32 Amanda’s Design Origins 04:42 Launching Patina 06:38 Retail Reality Check 08:21 Editing Homes Superpower 13:29 Inside the Storehouse 16:48 Paint Color Shortcuts 18:53 Retail Joy and Client Reveals 23:52 Installation Day Magic 27:44 Client Reactions and Referrals 28:22 Sourcing Trips and Vintage Finds 29:41 Estate Sales and Market Hustle 30:26 Retail Grunt Work Realities 33:00 Designing for Family and Heirlooms 34:42 When Husbands Drive Design 37:09 Investing in Quality Furniture 38:07 Old Town Lightning Round 41:55 Personal Style Over Trends 44:14 Designing Semi Permanent Choices 46:59 Podcast Praise and Farewell   AROUND OLD TOWN AND BEYOND: Patina Polished Living: 111 S Columbus St [https://www.google.com/maps/search/111+S+Columbus+St?entry=gmail&source=g] | patinapolishedliving.com [http://patinapolishedliving.com] | IG: @patinapolishedliving Indochen: 1615 King St [https://www.google.com/maps/search/1615+King+St?entry=gmail&source=g] | indochen.com [http://indochen.com] | IG: @indochenva Monogram Logistics: monogramlogistics.com [http://monogramlogistics.com] | IG: @monogramlogistics   LET’S STAY IN TOUCH Email us at podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com [podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. THE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

She Was Supposed to Be a Doctor. Now She Conducts at Carnegie Hall

Marie Bucoy-Calavan, the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her remarkable journey from a Filipino immigrant household to the conductor's podium at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Marie recounts how parental pressure to pursue medicine or law gave way to a deep love of music, and how a mentor's belief in her at age 21 set her on the path to earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Marie explains why Washington, D.C. is a "choral mecca" — home to a thriving ecosystem of choral ensembles — and highlights the incredible venues across the region where live choral performances come to life. She also speaks passionately about musical education for young children, the Mozart effect, the Suzuki method, and hidden classical music gems in beloved children's shows like Bluey and Danny Go. And she shares what it means to lead the Choral Arts Society to Carnegie Hall for the concert, From Darkness to Light.   Timing: 00:00 A Baton and Harmony 00:59 Meet Marie Bucoy-Calavan 01:03 How We Met in Old Town 01:32 Finding the Conductor Path 04:11 Arts Career Doubts 05:37 From Piano to Many Instruments 08:53 Empathy for the Orchestra 09:57 Doctorate and Training 11:10 DC as Choral Mecca 12:33 Best Venues and Joining Choirs 14:45 Carnegie Hall and New Programs 15:59 Kids and Early Music Exposure 19:39 Singing Toys to Choirs 20:05 Kids Chorus Options 21:42 Danny Go Movement Songs 23:24 Bluey Classical Easter Eggs 27:07 Taylor Swift Parallels 29:11 Live Performance Stamina 30:33 Handling Mistakes Onstage 32:00 Old Town Lightning Round 33:27 Closing Thanks and Culture   Around Old Town and beyond: •       Maman: 500 King St | mamannyc.com [http://mamannyc.com] | IG: @mamancafe •       Café du Soleil: 1723 Connecticut Ave NW | IG: @cafedusoleildc •       Le Refuge: 127 N Washington St, Alexandria | IG: @lerefugealexandria •       Orangetheory Fitness Alexandria: 1101 King St | orangetheory.com [http://orangetheory.com] | IG: @orangetheoryfitness •       Choral Arts Society of Washington: choralarts.org [http://choralarts.org] | IG: @choralarts •       Levine Music: levinemusic.org [http://levinemusic.org] | IG: @levinemusic •       Children's Chorus of Washington: childrenschorusofwashington.org [http://childrenschorusofwashington.org] | IG: @childrenschorusdc •       The Strathmore: 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda | strathmore.org [http://strathmore.org] | IG: @strathmore •       The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St NW, Washington DC | kennedy-center.org [http://kennedy-center.org] | IG: @kennedycenter

On the Right Track: Railroads, Aging in Place & Dr. Seuss

Ever wondered what's actually on that two-mile-long train rolling through town? Chriss Nielsen has spent 30 years as a freight rail economist and she ended up there entirely by accident. In this episode, she breaks down how goods move across America, why your Amazon package probably crossed three states by rail, and what AI might mean for driverless trains. Then Chriss shares her other passion: At Home in Alexandria, a village-style nonprofit helping neighbors age in place, including the 92-year-old she drives to the gym every Wednesday. Oh, and she grew up trick-or-treating at Dr. Seuss's house.    00:00 Welcome to Old Town 00:56 Book Club Beginnings 03:39 From Temp to Rail 05:52 Rate Cases Explained 07:49 Rail vs Trucks 10:40 Deregulation Debate 13:05 Big Railroads Today 14:59 Future of Freight 16:53 AI and Driverless Trains 19:46 Amtrak vs Freight 21:04 Amtrak vs Freight Priority 22:46 Why US Rail Lags Europe 23:41 High Speed Rail Reality 25:38 Best Rail Systems Today 26:32 Transit Subsidies Debate 27:23 At Home in Alexandria 28:14 Village Services Explained 31:40 Volunteer Story at the Y 32:58 Dr Seuss Connection 36:38 Lightning Round Favorites 37:42 Markets and Monopoly 38:11 Seuss Railroad Rhyme 38:40 Final Thanks and Wrap    Around Old Town - places mentioned in this episode: * Fresh Baguette: 1101 King St | freshbaguette.net [http://freshbaguette.net] | IG: @freshbaguette * Principle Gallery: 208 King St | principlegallery.com [http://principlegallery.com] | IG: @principlegallery * At Home in Alexandria (AHA): 3139 Mt. Vernon Ave | athomeinalexandria.org [http://athomeinalexandria.org] | IG: @athomeinalexandria   Email us at podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com [podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/peopleyoumeet.oldtownalx/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeopleYouMeetinOldTown], Apple podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-the-people-you-meet-in-old-town/id1883573768?i=1000753933223] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5YDFdmcAIdgYr3SjzSeLSk]. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.    The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Historic Homes and Hidden Stories: Anne Metcalf's Journey

In this episode of People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria, host Jane Khodos Beyer sits down with Anne Metcalf—lobbyist, architectural enthusiast, historic home restorer, and author of Old Town At Home. Together, they explore the rich stories behind Old Town’s iconic homes, from centuries-old construction techniques to the surprising discoveries hidden within their walls. Anne shares her personal journey—from growing up surrounded by architecture and history to restoring historic properties and advocating for cultural institutions. You’ll hear fascinating insights into what it really takes to preserve these homes, the challenges of renovation, and why protecting architectural legacy matters. They also dive into: · The untold history behind Old Town homes · Real-life restoration stories (including oyster shell fireproofing!) · The balance between preservation and modern living · How community, history, and architecture intersect · The inspiration behind Anne’s book and what may come next Whether you’re a homeowner, history lover, or simply curious about what lies behind those beautiful Old Town facades, this episode offers a rare look inside one of America’s most charming historic neighborhoods. 00:00 Introduction to Old Town 00:26 Meeting Anne Metcalf 02:06 Growing Up in McLean 02:44 Early History Connections 04:25 Professional Background in Lobbying 05:45 Historic Home Restoration Journey 09:09 Discovering Hidden History 13:16 The Genesis of the Book 15:41 The Book Creation Process 18:47 Uncovering Home Stories 19:10 The Chapman Home Story 21:16 Architectural Styles and Favorites 23:20 Building Community Through Book Clubs 25:16 Lobbying for Museums 28:34 Future Book Projects 30:16 Where to Buy 30:47 Closing Thoughts The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Recruiter Secrets: Forget the Algorithm, Here's How People Actually Get Hired

Host Jane Khodos Beyer sits down with Chaz Cirame, founder of Big Fish Recruiting, who specializes in placing top talent in public affairs, public policy, and communications. Chaz shares why LinkedIn applications are basically a black hole, why a handwritten thank-you note is still the ultimate power move, and how AI-generated cover letters are backfiring on candidates in ways they don't expect. You'll also hear: * Why networking beats cold applying every single time (the real numbers will surprise you) * How to negotiate an offer without pricing yourself out * What employers are doing wrong — and how it's costing them great hires * Why experience almost always trumps a graduate degree * The career pivot framework Chaz used himself to leave public affairs and build Big Fish from scratch Plus book recommendations you'll want to write down: Designing Your Life, Aware, and How to Win Friends and Influence People. Chaz also shares his favorite spots in Old Town Alexandria — from Bollywood Masala to St. Elmo's Coffee — in our lightning round. 00:00 AI Job Search Mistakes 00:15 Meet Chaz Cirame 01:24 How We Met 02:18 Career Pivot Story 04:27 Designing Your Life 07:15 Hiring Market Reality 09:01 Standing Out in Interviews 11:13 Candidate Interview Donts 13:32 Networking Beats Applying 16:12 Using LinkedIn Wisely 18:53 AI Cover Letter Pitfalls 20:07 AI Resume Pitfalls 21:26 Beating ATS Bots 22:36 Employer Hiring Mistakes 25:45 Offer Negotiation Reality 32:03 What Drives Top Pay 33:44 MBA Versus Experience 37:23 Job Search Timelines 38:35 Networking And Books 40:20 Old Town Lightning Round 41:34 Wrap Up And Contact Chaz’ favorite places around Old Town: * St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub: 529 Montgomery St | stelmoscoffeepub.com [http://stelmoscoffeepub.com] | IG: @stelmos * Southside 815: 815 S Washington St | southside815.com [http://southside815.com] | IG: @southside815 * Bollywood Masala: 219 King St | bollywoodmasalaalexandria.com [http://bollywoodmasalaalexandria.com] | IG: @bollywoodalexandria Further Reading Recommendations * Cirame recommends two pivotal books on career design and self-awareness: "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, and, * "Aware" by Les Csorba.  THE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.