Montgomery Magazine

2 weeks ago | montgomerymag.com | Jillian Diamond

U.S. News and World Report recently released its “Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025–2026” rankings, which highlight the 250 best American cities annually. This year, two Montgomery County cities have made the top 100: Bethesda at 21st place and Rockville at 81st place. This annual ranking looks at factors such as local job markets, value (cost of living and housing affordability) and quality of life in different cities.

2 weeks ago | montgomerymag.com | Zoe Bell

“Country roads, take me home / To the place I belong …” The next lyric is “West Virginia,” but John Denver’s first platinum single — and the state’s unofficial anthem — was inspired by a country back road in Gaithersburg. In 1970, local singer-songwriters Bill Danoff and his then-girlfriend Taffy Nivert had been driving down Clopper Road en route to a family reunion. Montgomery County was much more rural than it is today.

2 weeks ago | montgomerymag.com | Ellen Braunstein

Outdoor living spaces have evolved beyond traditional patios and decks. Today, these areas function as natural extensions of homes, blending indoor comforts with the natural beauty of the outdoors. The outdoor living space draws on the style of the inside of the home. “We want it to be seamless from inside to outside,” said Jame Toribio, a co-owner and designer at Outdoor Living Company, which serves homeowners in Montgomery County.

3 weeks ago | montgomerymag.com | Jillian Diamond

While it looks like an average house from the street, the Olney House is the cradle of the town of Olney. Before it was first established as a town, the area consisted only of the house and the acres of farmland that surrounded it. The house’s original owners named it after the town in England, as it was the hometown of their favorite poet, William Cowpers. Later, the surrounding area, which had been known as Mechanicsville up to that point, was renamed to Olney.

3 weeks ago | montgomerymag.com | Jillian Diamond

For Sean Kelley, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a design he’s worked on come to fruition. This passion led him to found Ardent Outdoor Living, a landscaping and design firm based in North Bethesda. Kelley says he always loved to create, and his mother was an artist, but his interests always lie in building more than drawing or sculpting.