Laura Coates is in the thick of the daily news cycle. But just like us, sometimes she needs to take a step back and enjoy the little things in life. We talked to the CNN anchor and chief legal analyst about how she decompresses, and the NoVA-area spots she loves to visit on her days off.
With news breaking so quickly these days, you must be very busy.
I am. We all are. It’s a bit of drinking water through the proverbial fire hose and trying to keep pace with the news as it’s coming in. And balancing, of course, the different perspectives that are coming in about it. And fact-checking in real time and on short-window turnarounds. It’s a very interesting time that we’re in.
What do you do to decompress?
I am with my children. I have two elementary school children. I have a sixth grader [and] I have a fifth grader, who, let me tell you — they care not about the frantic nature of news. They are very eager to have our time together. I try not to lose hobbies. I try not to lose contact with friendships. I try not to forget about the things that make me excited and interested and less anxious.
When you get some time off, what Northern Virginia spots do you like to visit?
I go to Tysons all the time, unfortunately for my credit card. I go to Wolf Trap a lot. I love the outdoor shows [where] I can actually sit in the picnic area. I often meet local friends out there, and we’ll have a good time. I look forward to that during the summer.
What are your favorite stores at Tysons?
I’m a Nordstrom girl. But I also love interior decorating. So I love going over to Arhaus and the different furniture stores and going through and buying yet another thing that I have to figure out a place to put in my house. I’m a self-care indulgent sort of person, so if there is a shop that has fragrances and beautiful soaps and lotions and skin care, I’m there.
Speaking of self-care, have you made it out to Salamander Middleburg?
Yes, I have. I’ve done a mommy-daughter weekend there before. And actually, [Market] Salamander catered my wedding [to husband Dale Gordon]. I’ve been married for 14 years. I got married at the Arena Stage in DC, and [Market Salamander] were the ones to cater. It was the first wedding there, and everyone thought I was crazy. But I’m very theatrical. And I was like, ‘No church, on stage, we’re doing this.’ It was my first foray into Salamander, and I’ve always loved it.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Feature image photo by Amanda Ghobadi
This story originally ran in our April Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
