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Best Rising Star
During a span of about 19 hours in mid-October, multisport, multiplatform broadcaster Alexa Landestoy worked the sidelines of a game between football rivals Brigham Young University and the University of Utah in Provo for Fox Sports, then made it back to Washington, D.C., to co-host live pregame and postgame shows for the Washington Capitals’ contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Monumental Sports Network. On that road trip, Landestoy, 28, had in tow husband Michael, 31—a former professional scout for baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates who is now exploring other front office opportunities in the game—and their 6-month-old daughter, Isabella.
“The fans are like, ‘Did you teleport?’ ” Landestoy says. “ ‘[Because] how did you work a night game in Utah and a day game here in D.C.?’ So yeah, it’s a bit crazy, but you know, crazy that I asked for, and that I love.”
Things have been happening fast for Landestoy, who was born and raised in Southern California, since she landed a job with NBC Sports Washington and moved to Bethesda in 2019. Landestoy was already hosting Caps coverage for NBC when Monumental acquired that regional sports network a few years later. Since then, she’s also taken on hosting for the NHL Network and, most recently, college football sideline reporting on the Fox broadcast team that includes former quarterback Robert Griffin III, who played for Washington’s football team.
“I’m just the crazy one with a 6-month-old and three jobs and a brand new house and all these things going on,” she says. Her approach to life is “just jump on every opportunity.”
Bethesda Magazine spoke with Landestoy in October in the clubhouse of the Bethesda development where she and her husband had their first house built in 2024. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
After Isabella was born, you took some time off and then went right back to work. How are you managing?
I worked up until the baby. We were covering the Ovi Chase [Alex Ovechkin’s quest to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career goals], so every time I saw Ovi, I’d be like, let’s score some more goals, right? But I was at peace if it happened when I was in the hospital or if I was covering them. But I did get to cover his passing Wayne Gretzky before I went out.
You have to have a good village and a good support system around you. We had parents, we had the in-laws. My husband is the best dad and so supportive, and then having the village around us has really allowed us to be able to do what we do. It’s super hard to leave her now with all the milestones she keeps hitting. But hopefully one day she’ll be proud of mom and everything she’s doing.
What drew you to Bethesda?
I had no family or friends that lived here on the East Coast and nobody to refer to, so I just gave it a shot and moved into Bethesda and we never left. We absolutely love it. We decided to plant our roots in Bethesda. We just love the walking trails and the family community. If I’m not working, you’ll probably catch me on the Capital Crescent Trail or doing something on Bethesda Row. A lot of the Caps’ players live in Arlington, but every time I see them, I’ll say how great Bethesda is. I joke that more Caps players are going to start living in Bethesda, too.
You quickly became a well-known part of the D.C. sports media landscape. How did you manage the transition?
I owe so much to the Capitals’ fans that are so supportive. I think when I started, though, it was a little like, ‘Who’s this girl coming in here and hosting?’ And the sweetest thing is now they’re like, ‘OK, I see why. Like, we love you.’ They’re so supportive of me, and this community really is a hockey family, a Caps family. I’m just so lucky. I’ve never left it, I’ve just added onto my plate.
You’re pretty open on social media about your life outside work, your family, your pregnancy.
I’ve always just been transparent with who I am, and also wanted people to connect with me and who I am. You could sit up there and break down a game, but they connect with you as a mom and as a wife. The same person you see in Bethesda is the same one on the broadcast. I feel that being yourself ultimately is what sets you apart.
—David Montgomery
Best Classes for Teens and Adults Not Afraid of Heights
For a new physical challenge, a novel way to enjoy nature and a throwback to childhood, consider Canopy Connection, classes offered by Montgomery Parks that teach participants how to climb trees. The three-hour classes, taught by professional parks department arborists, are an introduction to tree-climbing using equipment such as ropes, pulleys and harnesses. There’s a class for adults 55 and older and another for teens 14 to 18. After a lesson on how to use the gear and some basics on caring for trees, students ascend into the treetops. Some of the trees are 60 to 80 feet tall. The class for teens also includes a discussion on professional tree-climbing careers.
Most of the participants are first-timers curious about tree-climbing and looking for a fun physical activity, according to Michael Coppersmith, director of parks activation. And while climbing can be daunting, participants are rewarded with class camaraderie, self-confidence and a tremendous sense of accomplishment, he says. The next sessions are scheduled for April and May in Clarksburg Neighborhood Park. Registration opens Feb. 17.
montgomeryparks.org/activities/tree-climbing
Best Hometown Hero Soaring to New Heights
The Dominique Dawes Academy, a gymnastics and ninja space created by the former Olympian with Silver Spring roots, is ever-expanding. What began in Clarksburg in 2020 has since grown across the region to locations in Rockville, Columbia and Ashburn, Virginia, with no plans to stop. Over the next four to five years, the company’s aim is to open more than 40 gyms nationally, CEO Adam Zeitsiff says.
“Our goal has always been to build a positive, kind and compassionate community that uplifts the self-esteem of every child who walks through our doors,” Dawes says in an email. She mentions that it’s a contrast to her experience in gymnastics, where the setting was harsh and toxic, even from a young age. Although she no longer resides in Montgomery County, Dawes will attend the academy’s newest opening in Silver Spring in early 2026.
5626 Randolph Road Suite B, Rockville, 240-690-4138, dominiquedawesgymnasticsacademy.com
Best Way for Kids to Try Cricket
Bails, wickets, bowlers and stumps—in cricket, learning the lingo is part of the fun. Since 2023, the Youth Cricket Academy, in a partnership with Montgomery County Recreation, has given local kids the chance to try the sport. Now, the academy encompasses nearly 50 athletes ages 6 to 16. The program is free with weekly practices that include instructional development and internal scrimmages. In the spring and fall, the academy meets at Calverton-Galway Local Park, and winter practices are at the East County Community Recreation Center, both in Silver Spring. For youngsters looking to try something new, the Youth Cricket Academy is a great option, says Amanda DeFilippo, countywide programs manager for Montgomery County Recreation. “You learn the fun and fundamentals,” she says. The county provides bats, balls, wickets and more. Just bring closed-toe shoes. “Sign up at any time, come out and they’ll be welcomed with open arms,” DeFilippo says.
montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/sports/cricket.html
Best Workout for Your Social Life
To spice up your fitness routine, add some salsa. As you learn how to move your feet in sync with the lively music, chances are you’ll meet new people. Salsa with Silvia, a Latin dance studio in Bethesda, is a hive of positive energy where introductory and advanced salsa and bachata dance lessons are offered. Crank up the heat on your romantic life at Friday date nights for couples or a speed dating event; both outings include wine and beer. Speed dating starts with a group dance lesson, then transitions to paired conversations, with the men rotating among tables. Patrons write down their top three “dates.” If there’s a match, the studio will contact you. Romance aside, friendships are a common byproduct of salsa’s shared physical exertion and upbeat vibes. Clients often hang out, set up group chats, and meet at salsa events in the D.C. area.
4731 Elm St., Second Floor, Bethesda, 301-760-4423, salsawithsilvia.com
Best Way to Experience a Luxury Brand While Breaking a Sweat
Vroom-vroom, vinyasa? While unlocked Porsches may lure luxury car enthusiasts, Porsche Studio Chevy Chase aims to attract a different segment of the market with its regularly scheduled Pilates and yoga classes. Open since September 2024, the studio is an extension of the automaker’s dealership at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. Features include a configuration room with drawers of paint and leather swatches for clients to reimagine their ride, a free coffee bar, meeting areas, unlocked vehicles to peruse and Porsche merch for sale.
Once a month, most of the cars are moved aside and yoga mats are rolled out on part of the floor in the roughly 5,700-square-foot studio. Rotating guest instructors guide around 30 participants through a 30- to 60-minute yoga or Pilates class. Porsche provides the mats and goodie bags with “self-care essentials” such as grip socks or juice shots, according to Damaris Alvarez, a Porsche product specialist who manages the studio. A post-class social hour includes free refreshments and photo ops with the cars. Classes are free with registration required through Eventbrite links, which are accessible through the studio’s social media accounts. In December, Porsche offered its first class at its dealership in North Bethesda to accommodate even more attendees, though most classes will still happen at the studio. “We’re trying to target a more youthful crowd—driven women, driven youth and creative leaders as well—trying to let them know that a Porsche is also attainable for them,” Alvarez says. “They don’t have to be intimidated to walk in here, and they can ask their questions, build their curiosity and envision themselves in a Porsche.”
5471 Wisconsin Ave. (The Collection at Chevy Chase), Chevy Chase, 227-233-5100, porschestudiochevychase.com. Registration links are announced one month before each event on Facebook, X and Instagram @porschestudiochevychase.
This appears in the January/February 2026 issue of Bethesda Magazine.
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