Summertime, and the livin’ is easy… in Alexandria! Don’t miss out on some signature events coming up this summer in our town. And in this issue, don’t miss a list of festivals coming up around the Commonwealth — from the 99th Annual Pony Swim in Chincoteague to the Old Fiddler's Convention. Time for a road trip?
DINING
Everything old is new again at Royal Restaurant. Under new ownership, we recently visited to try new items on the menu.
DINING
Steak-lovers take note: Chef Josh Mitchell is new at the helm at Oak Steakhouse in Alexandria's Old Town North neighborhood. Slow and steady wins the race here.
HISTORY
Local historian Tim Rose explores the big chill — the history of the ice industry in Alexandria.
HISTORY
A Frank Lloyd Wright house in our midst that’s open for tours? If you haven’t visited the Pope-Leighey House at Woodlawn, make plans now! Local writer Glenda Booth delves into this fascinating story of how the home came to be.
TRAVEL
Spring intern and writer Grace Kenyon recently explored Wrightsville Beach, a quick flight from Alexandria. We hear all about her discovery of this beachside town.
OUT & ABOUT
Closer to home, local writer Jane Fullerton Lemons recently visited the renovated Homestead Resort, and reports back on the award-winning wines celebrated at their Epicurean Classic.
THE LAST WORD
We talk to local author John Wascowicz, who is out this summer with his latest legal thriller, “Spite House.” Happy reading!
20 OUT & ABOUT
We’ve created a handydandy ice cream crawl map for you and your family to peruse this summer. We vote for trying every ice cream shop on the map!
25 HOME & GARDEN
Local writer Linda Harvey explores the renovation of a historic 1920s bungalow in Del Ray.
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A Letter from Our Founders
Happy Summer!
We hope you are enjoying this special time of year in your backyard or planning a summer vacation near or far. We’ve got some summertime reading for you in this issue starting with our Calendar, where you’ll find plenty to keep you busy during the summer months, including Alexandria’s 275th birthday party!
Thinking about a quick summer road trip? We’ve also added a list of statewide festivals to this issue, where you’ll find everything from wild ponies to fried chicken celebrated across the Commonwealth.
Keeping cool this summer? Before modern refrigeration, people relied on natural ice harvested from frozen lakes and rivers during the winter months. This ice was often stored in ice houses or ice cellars, insulated with sawdust or straw, to preserve it for use throughout the year. Local historian Tim Rose delves into the fascinating story behind ice storage in Alexandria. Ice cream is big in Alexandria! You’re never too far from an ice cream/gelato/fro-yo/ frozen custard shop. We’ve created an Ice Cream Crawl map you can peruse to plot out your next frozen treat adventure.
Also in this issue, local writer Linda Harvey talks to Del Ray homeowners Devon Halley and Carolyn Carnahan about the renovation of their 1920s bungalow, a home that was also featured on HGTV’s “My First Place” 10 years ago.
Speaking of historic homes, local writer Glenda Booth tells us the fascinating history behind a home in our midst designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the renowned American architect known for his distinct style and innovative designs. The home came about after a local journalist wrote to him asking if he could design a modest home for him.
Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful coastal town located in New Hanover County, North Carolina. It's known for its stunning sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and vibrant beach culture. Writer Grace Kenyon, interning for the magazine this summer, tells us all
about her adventures there.
Another destination to add to your bucket list is The Homestead Resort, which local writer Jane Fullerton Lemons describes in her story after a recent visit. She also got a chance to take part in The Homestead's Epicurean Classic, where Virginia's award-winning wines were celebrated.
Back in Alexandria, Grace also contributed two dining articles to this issue — visiting Royal Restaurant, which has undergone some updates after a change of ownership, and Oak Steakhouse, which has a new chef at the helm these days.
And last but not least we talk to local author John Wasowicz, who is out with his latest Mo Katz legal mystery set in Alexandria, “Spite House.” Happy reading!
Enjoy your summer and we’ll see you back here in September!
Beth Lawton, publisher, and Mary Ann Barton, editor
PHOTO BY MATT MENDELSOHN, TAKEN AT VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN.
Mary Ann Barton and Beth Lawton Founders
Breaking 70: Golf’s Blueprint for Financial Mastery
BY JOHNNY GARTSKA
Breaking 70 in golf means completing an 18-hole round in fewer than 70 strokes, something less than 1% of golfers do consistently. Just as fewer strokes on the golf course signify mastery, efficiently achieving financial milestones allows you to reach your financial goals faster and with greater ease.
After 12 years of hard work, consistent practice, lessons from teaching professionals and playing golf regularly, I finally broke 70 on the golf course. This was a significant milestone and a testament to sticking to a process. The journey to this accomplishment is a testament to dedication, and there are some very clear parallels with the principles essential to achieving financial success.
Success Lies in Mastering the Basics
Mastering the fundamentals in golf means perfecting your grip, stance and swing mechanics. These basics are the foundation upon which all great scores are built. Similarly, in personal finance, it is crucial to master the basics:
1. budgeting and cash flow management
2. saving
3. and investing
Establishing a solid budget helps us understand where our money is going and identify areas where we can save. Saving regularly builds a financial cushion, providing security and peace of mind. Investing consistently and wisely ensures that our money grows over time, helping us reach our financial goals.
Developing a Routine is How You Win
The real work begins once the fundamentals are in place, and developing a routine is a must. For golf, this might mean a consistent pre-shot routine, regular practice sessions, and strategic planning for each round. Financially, this translates to regular
financial check-ups, automated savings and investment plans and a well-thought-out financial strategy. Sticking to a solid routine in golf and finance leads us to success.
Setting and Achieving Milestones
Breaking 70 in golf was a significant milestone for me, and it didn’t happen overnight. It took years of hard work, dedication, and small incremental improvements. Similarly, setting achievable milestones in personal finance, such as paying off debt, building an emergency fund, or reaching a specific investment target, can provide motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Each milestone reached brings us closer to our ultimate financial goals.
Continuous Improvement
Additionally, continuous improvement is essential. Financially, this means staying informed about market trends, adjusting your investment strategy as needed, and continually educating yourself about financial matters. The world of finance is ever-changing, and staying adaptable is crucial to long-term success.
Seeking Expert Guidance
Having an expert in your corner can accelerate your progress and help you avoid common pitfalls. In golf, a coach helps you identify weaknesses, improve your technique, and develop a winning mindset. In personal finance, a financial planner can provide valuable guidance, help you create a comprehensive financial plan, and offer objective advice.
If you couldn’t already guess, I love to compete and play golf, and I have learned valuable life lessons from my time on the course. The principles that led me to break 70 in golf are the same principles that lead to financial success. By mastering the basics, developing a routine, maintaining
discipline, setting and achieving milestones, continuously improving, and seeking expert guidance, you can achieve great things on the golf course and in your financial life. Just as I reached my goal of shooting in the 60s through dedication and process, you can reach your financial goals by applying the same principles.
If you’re ready to master your financial game, let’s talk! Schedule a quick chat with me about your financial goals and see if we’re a good fit: johnny@harveygroupwm.com.
Disclosure: Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services are separate from and are not offered through Commonwealth Financial Network. The Harvey Group and Alexandria Living Magazine are separate and unaffiliated entities.
Personal CFO to high performers with a growth mindset working toward financial independence. Let's build your financial plan together.
FINANCIAL PLANNER | CLEMSON TIGER | AVID GOLFER
Johnny Gartska
Our Team
Meet some of the contributors to this issue.
KATHERINE BARTON
Contributor
Kate manages advertising, social media, and event planning for Alexandria Living. She grew up in Alexandria and enjoys highlighting new creators, businesses and events on social media. Kate loves creating unique partnerships with local businesses and finding opportunities for the Alexandria Living brand to grow. If you're interested in advertising with us, email kate@alexandrialivingmagazine.com.
GLENDA BOOTH
Contributor
Glenda is a freelance writer who has lived in Northern Virginia for more than 40 years covering travel, history, people and conservation for local, state and national publications.Glenda has volunteered for Earthwatch in Botswana, Greece, France, Saskatchewan (Canada) and the Galapagos Islands. A gardener, outdoors woman and lifelong learner, she lives in Fairfax County and is the mother of two grown sons.
Contributor
Grace is a graduate student at the Missouri School of Journalism, where she specializes in magazine and investigative journalism. She is originally from Colorado and studied piano performance and pre-med at Wheaton College, 40 minutes outside of Chicago. She became interested in journalism while working at her college newspaper during the craziness of the COVID19 pandemic. As a reporting intern at Alexandria Living Magazine, Grace is thrilled to be living and working in Alexandria, where her fiancé was born and raised.
Contributor
Jane is an award-winning journalist based in Northern Virginia. A graduate of the University of Missouri, she has covered politics and policy from the White House to Capitol Hill for more than 30 years, documenting the people behind the power. She earned her master’s degree in creative nonfiction from Goucher College. A serendipitous friendship introduced her to Italy, sparking a passion that has expanded her writing repertoire.You can follow her adventures in traveling and writing on Instagram at @janefullertonlemons.
LINDA HARVEY
Contributor
Linda is a freelance writer/editor who loves living in Alexandria and enjoys its small-town feel, where there’s always a chance of six degrees of separation or less! She has called the Beverley Hills neighborhood home since 1998, raising two daughters with her husband. She enjoys volunteering with many local organizations, exploring the sites of the DMV area, and visiting her Hokie daughters. She’s still deciding if she likes pickleball more than tennis — but is game for either one.
Graphic Designer
Katie is a graphic designer based in Richmond. She is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and specializes in magazine and book design. Her passions include wildlife and animals. Her menagerie currently includes two dogs, Riggins and Maggie, and a cat, Margarita. She also enjoys traveling during her time off, having been to all seven continents!
G RACE KENYON
JANE FULLERTON LEMONS
KATIE ROY
Calendar of Events
An American Celebration at Mount Vernon
Thursday, July 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Celebrate George Washington and the birth of the United States at Mount Vernon Estate with made-for-daytime fireworks, a citizenship ceremony, food, festivities, music, military drills and tours of the historic property. All events are included with admission to the grounds (free for members).
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.
Kumihimo: Braided Bookmarks
Saturday, July 6, 2-4 p.m.
Kumihimo is the Japanese art of "gathered threads,” an ancient form of braiding with cords or ribbons. In this workshop, you'll learn to make colorful bookmarks for your summer reading. All materials are included and you'll be able to take home your kumihimo disc to continue crafting at home. RSVP in advance through madeinalx.com.
Made in ALX, 533 Montgomery St.
Junk Yard Band
Wednesday, July 10, 7:30 p.m.
The Junk Yard Band is a go-go band founded in the early 1980s by children living in the
Barry Farm government housing project in Washington, D.C. Decades later, they have toured extensively and have played at the Kennedy Center and the Apollo Theater in New York City with LL Cool J. They have also joined The Beastie Boys, Salt-NPepa, Roots, Slayer, Ice Cube and others onstage.
Franconia Rec Center Amphitheater, 6601 Telegraph Road
Second Friday
Friday, July 12, 7-10 p.m.
Every second Friday of the month this summer, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is open late. Explore the building full of artists while you enjoy music ad art “activations”
The Alexandria 275th Birthday Celebration takes place July 13 at Oronoco Bay Park with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
designed to ignite your creative spirit. These events are free.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St.
Trivia Nights at Historic Sites
Fridays, July 12, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23
Staff members at Lee-Fendall House Museum and Carlyle House Historic Park have combined their knowledge to create biweekly trivia nights in the beautiful gardens located at Lee-Fendall House. The July 12 event will focus on Alexandria history. Trivia nights are $12 a person which includes a drink ticket. Additional drinks can be bought at a cash bar. Teams may have up to six members. Registration slots are first come, first served. Register through Eventbrite — search Lee-Fendall House or call 703-5481789.
Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., and Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St.
Alexandria Birthday Celebration
Saturday, July 13, 6-9:30 p.m.
Alexandria has a birthday party 275 years in the making! On July 13, celebrate with music, fireworks, food and more. The party starts at 6 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park with music and a grand finale of fireworks at 9:30 p.m. that will be visible from multiple locations along the waterfront, including Canal Center, Waterfront Park, Jones Point Park, the George Washington Masonic Memorial and other locations. More information is available at alexandriava.gov/birthday.
The Fairfax Resolves
Friday, July 19, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
In July 1774, 25 men from Fairfax County (including Alexandria) signed the Fairfax Resolves, which rejected the British Parliament’s claim of supreme authority over the American colonies. Sign up for one of these fascinating specialty tours in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Fairfax Resolves to learn more. $8 per person. Registration is required.
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St.
Old Town Pub Crawl
Saturday, July 20, 1:30-6 p.m.
Eight Old Town Alexandria bars will welcome adults in the 11th annual Old Town Pub Crawl. Get your passport stamped at each of the eight bars and turn it in for a limited-edition pint glass. There is no registration necessary. Participating bars are: Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar; Chadwicks; Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar; The Fish Market; Union Street Public House; Virtue Feed & Grain; Vola’s Dockside Grill / The Hi-Tide Lounge and Blackwall Hitch. More information is available at portcitybrewing.com.
Best of the West
July 20, 1-5 p.m.
Best of the West is a community event showcasing West End Business Association members and restaurant tastings!
Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Ave.
‘Memphis’
July 20 through Aug. 10
The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents “Memphis. This hit musical is loosely based on the story of a Memphis disc jockey who made history breaking down race barriers in the 1950s. Enjoy soul, blues and rock ‘n roll in this energetic performance. Tickets are available now through The Little Theatre’s website at thelittletheatre.com.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St.
Beats, Bites and Brews
Saturday, July 27, 1-6 p.m.
This fun summer event combines live music performances with summer-inspired bites from local food vendors, cold beverages including craft beer and cocktails,
Paint Your Pet’s Portrait in Watercolor
July 27 | 2 - 4 p.m.
TYou’ll leave this workshop, taught by local watercolor artist Alexandra Schmeling, with a completed portrait of your best animal friend! The artist will create a light pencil outline of your pet, and then guide you in painting the drawing with watercolor. These portraits make a great keepsake or a touching gift. RSVP by July 18 through madeinalx.com.
Made in ALX, 533 Montgomery St.
and artisans and vendors, too! Bring family and friends for a fun-filled day in Alexandria.
John Carlyle Park, 300 John Carlyle St.
August
Kelvin Dukes From America's Got Talent
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
On "America's Got Talent," Simon Cowell gave this performer a standing ovation!
George Mason
Kelvin Dukes has been singing since he was 3 years old and has a range that can span classics from decades ago to modern times. Find more details at: https://www.facebook. com/kelvin.siings/.
Franconia Rec Center, 6601 Telegraph Road
Del Ray Bands, Brews and Bar Crawls
Saturday, Aug. 17, 12:30-6 p.m.
Advance tickets are available now! For just $15 ($25 at the door), you’ll be able to enjoy specials on cocktails, beer and food at each of the 20-plus participating restaurants, live music at every venue, trolley transportation, 50/50 raffles, a photo booth and more fun giveaways. You must be 21 or older to participate in the crawl, but children and families are welcome at family-friendly establishments and at the main stage at Pat Miller Square. Learn more and register through the Del Ray Business Association website at visitdelray.com.
First Day of School
Monday, Aug. 19
It’s the day parents have been waiting for all summer! The first day of school for both Alexandria and Fairfax County Public Schools is Monday, Aug. 19.
Family Game Nights
Aug. 23 and 30, 6:30-8 p.m.
This ultimate game night showdown for families who think they have what it takes to compete in several rounds of the ultimate table games, trivia, ping pong, air hockey, foosball and basketball. Come out and show your family’s skills! RSVP through alexandriava.gov/shop.
Aug. 23: Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave. Aug. 30: Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
Around the World Cultural Festival
Saturday, Aug. 24, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
This “Ethnic Gastronomy Extravaganza” will include a wide variety of foods from all over the world — in addition to cultural performances, music and a global marketplace. This event is free and is pet-friendly! Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St.
Alexandria Restaurant Week
August 16-25
For 10 days and two weekends, dozens of restaurants in Alexandria will offer a $27.50, $35 or $45 in-person dinner for one during Alexandria Restaurant Week. The special $27.50 offer is a playful nod to Alexandria's 275th anniversary. In early August, a digital flip-book of menus at participating restaurants will be available at AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com.
Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays this summer, enjoy an hour-long yoga class on the Carlyle House’s beautiful Magnolia Terrace, surrounded by nature in a relaxing oasis. The gentle yoga class will focus on balance, deep stretching and relaxation. Please bring water, a towel and yoga mat. Dates, times and sign-up information is available through Eventbrite — search Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace.
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St.
Fort Hunt Park Summer Concert Series
All are welcome for free concerts held at Fort Hunt Park every Sunday evening through August. Concerts are held at Pavilion A and start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. There are picnic tables in the pavilion, but bringing your own chair or blanket is recommended as seating is limited.
JULY 7
Sticky G
JULY 14
Mount Vernon Community Band
JULY 21
Silver Tones Swing Band (7:30 p.m.)
JULY 28
Blue Book Value Band
AUGUST 4
Starlight Orchestra
AUGUST 11
Blue Breeze Band
AUGUST 18
Hot Lanes
AUGUST 25
Alte Kameraden
Fort Hunt Park, Pavilion A, 8999 Fort Hunt Road
A dish from Kismet
Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, August 10
Throughout Old Town and Del Ray, one of the longest-running seasonal summer shopping events, the Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale, returns throughout Old Town and Del Ray. The event features dozens of Alexandria boutiques stepping out of their storefronts and offering deeply discounted summer merchandise. Learn more at VisitAlexandria.com/SidewalkSale.
Concerts at The Birchmere
Check out some of the performances scheduled for July and August. Check the website for the latest information and full list, some shows may be sold out. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary.
JULY 3
Three Dog Night
J ULY 5
Magical Mystery Doors
J ULY 7
J. Holiday
J ULY 10
Los Lobos 50th anniversary with Chad Hollister & Primo
JULY 12 AND 13
Patty Griffin with Lucy Wainwright Roche
J ULY 16 AND 17
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
JULY 19 AND 20
The Bacon Brothers Freestanding Tour with Cindy Alexander
J ULY 21
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
JULY 25
Lyfe Jennings
JULY 28
Peter White
JULY 30
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
AUG. 2-4
Michael Franks
AUG. 6-8
Robert Earl Keen
AUG. 9
White Ford Bronco
AUG. 10
1964: The Tribute
AUG. 11
Trevor Hall
AUG. 15
Keke Wyatt
AUG. 16 AND 17
Jon B.
AUG. 18
The Secret Sisters with Jon Muq
AUG. 23
Marcus Miller
AUG. 24
Kim Waters
AUG. 25
andi Patty
Festivals Spotlight Virginia’s Rich Diversity
BY
Whether it’s fried chicken, peanut-butter sculpture, Harry Potter wizardry or bluegrass music, Virginia celebrates the state’s rich diversity year-round at festivals all over the state. Here are a few coming up:
99th Annual Pony Swim, Chincoteague
July 24
Every July, the Saltwater Cowboys round up and corral around 250 adult wild ponies and 70 foals and swim them from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island to come ashore. After the ponies rest, they “parade” down Main Street to the Fireman’s Carnival for the foals’ auction.
Chincoteague’s ponies and the swim gained fame with Marguerite Henry's novel, “Misty of Chincoteague” and the film will show at the Island Theater for free during the festival. The Firemen’s Carnival, held July 22-27, is a fund-raiser for volunteer firefighters. It features rides, raffles, games, corn dogs and cotton candy. www.chincoteague.com/pony_swim_guide.html
88th Old Fiddlers Convention, Galax
August 5-10
Virginia boasts the oldest and largest fiddlers’ convention in the world in Galax, where since 1935 Moose Lodge 733 has staged three days of non-stop pickin’ and singin’ and whoopin’ fans.
On an outdoor tented stage, several hundred musicians compete for cash prizes in old-time fiddle, bluegrass fiddle, dobro, mandolin, dulcimer, bluegrass banjo, clawhammer banjo, autoharp, guitar, folk singing and flatfoot dancing.
Bands with names like Greasy Creek String Band and Wayfaring Whistle Pigs rip off tunes into the night and musicians jam and bond around the campground into the wee hours. Vendors offer handmade instru-
ments and crafts, alongside greasy Polish sausages, funnel cakes and deep-fried onion “blossoms.”
http://www.oldfiddlersconvention.com/
50th Virginia Scottish Games, The Plains
Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Piping, drumming, fiddling, highland dances, sheepherding, haggis, bridies, Gaelic lessons, kilts and tartans are front and center at the Scottish Games as clansmen and clanswomen gather in their traditional Highland attire. Musicians of all skill levels compete for prizes in Scottish fiddling. The British car show is always popular. www.vascottishgames.org/
Neptune Boardwalk Weekend, Virginia Beach
Sept. 27-29
Beach sand may be gritty, but artists turn it into sculpture at the International Sandsculpting Championship, the highlight of Virginia Beach’s annual Neptune Boardwalk Weekend, where artists from all over the world make elaborate sand creations up to 10 feet tall. The festival also has 20 music performances on two stages, a parade and 33 boardwalk blocks of food, arts and crafts. www.neptunefestival.com
Queen
City Mischief and Magic
Sept. 28-29
For a bit of the mystical and magical, venture south to Staunton, a town that
becomes an enchanted village at a Harry Potter-themed festival now in its ninth year. Adventurers of all ages can meet Hagrid’s feathered bestie, Malfoy’s nemesis and Buckbeak, the Hippograff, who can detect evil deeds from miles away.
Witchcraft and wizardry devotees can practice magic lessons with Hogwarts School professors and meet costumed actors. If you’re really into it, come in costume, sponsors urge. It's “more than a muggle can manage,” touts the website.
20th Tri-State Antique Truck Show, Clear Brook
Sept. 26-28
Chapters of the American Truck Historical Society show off up to 300 antique trucks, from pickups to early 20th-century firetrucks to early tractors at the Frederick County fairgrounds. Sydnee Ponn is a regular. “I have been involved with Tristate and ATHS with my pawpaw since I was about two years old,” he says on the website. “R Model Macks (red) are my favorite.”
Visitors can amble around for hours and learn all the particulars about trucks from their owners, many of whom are collectors. www.tri-state-antiquetruckshow.com
47th Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival, Clear Brook
Sept. 21-22
Be it Red Delicious, Rome, Stayman, Granny Smith or Winesap apples, Virginia growers produce five to six billion apples a year and harvest them from July to Novem-
GLENDA BOOTH
ber. In the fall, signs offering cider, apple butter, apple pies and all things apple pop up along roadsides.
At this event near Winchester, contestants compete in an apple pie-baking contest. The rules: (1) fresh apples only; (2) a homemade pie crust.
www.winchesterappleharvest.com/
55th Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, Syria
Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20
Slurpy, orangey pulp gurgles and spurts at a low boil in a 25-gallon copper kettle over a gentle wood fire while attentive tenders stir and stir and stir some more with a long wooded ladle for up to 15 hours. This is a time-worn cooking ritual at the Graves Mountain Lodge Apple Harvest Festival, where the soupy mixture turns from light orange to a dark russet color – perfection. This is old-timey apple butter-making in Virginia, the way Grandma did it and her grandma before that. The festival also features hayrides, a hay maze, music, hard cider, funnel cakes, pork rinds and homemade ice cream. Tickets required; attendance limited. www.gravesmountain.com
Gordonsville Fried Chicken Festival
Oct. 5
Gordonsville is the self-anointed, “Fried Chicken Capital of the World.” Every year, festival-goers honor the African-American women who from the 1850s to the 1930s sold fried chicken, pies and other foods to passengers through the trains’ windows as the trains passed through town. Today, fifth-generation women use their ancestors’ original recipes. Festivities include a 5K chicken run, fried chicken and pie cook-offs, arts, crafts and live music. www.townofgordonsville.org/events/fried_chicken_ festival.php
37th Taste of Brunswick Festival, Lawrenceville
Oct. 12
A Southern stew-cooking competition attracts thousands of ravenous appetites every October, where seasoned and very fussy stew-masters cook up more than 4,000 quarts of Brunswick stew, a tasty mélange born in Virginia in 1828. Serious Brunswick stew chefs insist on
the critical ingredients: squirrel meat, bacon, onions, bread, seasonings and butter.
To affirm for all time that it is special and originated in Virginia, not Georgia or some other conniving state, in 1988, the Virginia legislature declared in a resolution that Brunswick County is “the place of origin of this astonishing gastronomic miracle.” There’s even a Brunswick Stew-masters Association that trains the next generation in how to make an authentic stew. “For years our stew has created quite a stir,” promoters boast.
www.tasteofbrunswickfestival.com/
Peanut Festival, Suffolk
Oct. 10-13
Suffolk folks “shell-ebrate” the local legume every year and host the world’s only peanut butter-sculpting contest where aspirants mold creations from a five-pound block of peanut butter in 10 minutes. It’s an aromatic adventure too and can get messy when temperatures rise.
There’s a demolition derby, truck and tractor pull, motorcycle rally, horseshoe competition, cornhole beanbag tournament,
music, fireworks and the crowning of the peanut queen. http://www.suffolkpeanutfest.com/
67th Oyster Festival, Urbanna Nov. 1-2
Oyster aficionados swear they can identify a Virginia oyster’s origin from its distinctive taste and the state has several oyster regions. At Urbanna’s annual Oyster Festival, thousands honor this bumpy, gray bivalve and slurp and devour its slippery inner morsel, raw, breaded, deep fried, steamed, boiled, stewed, Rockefellered and frittered. Along the town’s streets, shoppers can pick up oyster shell lamps, jewelry and knickknacks. High school bands raise the spirits and 125 floats parade through town. The long-awaited climax is the official oyster-shucking contest of Virginia, where amateurs and professionals compete at breakneck speed to pry open oysters. It ends with a “shuck-off” between the top man and woman oyster shucker. Since 1960, officials have held the Oyster Queen and Little Miss Spat competition and crown the winners. http://www.urbannaoysterfestival.com/
99th Annual Pony Swim, Chincoteague
Bluegrass and OldTime Music Everywhere
This year is the 20th for Virginia’s Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail, honoring Southwest Virginia’s rich musical roots along 333 miles of scenic landscapes and 10 iconic venues that stage bluegrass and old-time music. In this part of the state, country and bluegrass music seems to ring out of the hills and hollers, off front porches and out of barn doors from formal and makeshift stages.
50th Anniversary of the Carter Family Fold, Hiltons Aug. 3.
The original Carter Family — A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter —are among the earliest recording artists in country music, a trio dubbed the “First Family of Country Music.” Their homeplace’s venue hosts weekly Saturday night concerts featuring some of the best regional country and bluegrass artists and will have a 50th anniversary show www.carterfamilyfold.org/
10th Anniversary of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol Sept. 13-15
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum showcases the roots and evolution of country music in Southwest Virginia, like the historic 1927 Bristol Sessions, when the Carter family and Jimmie Rodgers and several others recorded for the first time. The Rhythm and Roots Reunion music festival will unite artists from various genres. www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/museum/
40th Anniversary of the Floyd Country Store’s Friday Night Jamboree, Floyd
They do a lot of pickin’ and singin’ every Friday night at the Floyd Country Store jamboree which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It’s often a rowdy night of entertainment with crowds spilling out into the streets. www.floydcountrystore.com
20th Anniversary of the Ralph Stanley Museum, Clintwood
The pioneer of traditional, Appalachian, oldtime music, Ralph Stanley, is honored at the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center which is celebrating the museum’s 20 years this year. Visitors can see some of his vintage instruments and awards. Hearing recordings of Ralph’s distinctive, plaintive sound pulls on the heartstrings.
Over 50 recipes from Alexandria’s best restaurants.
Come along for a kitchen journey that spans centuries, offers plenty of delicious trivia, and aims to define Alexandria Cuisine.
A Refreshed Royal Restaurant
Under new management, new Royal Restaurant favorites pack a flavorful punch
BY GRACE KENYON
For many years, Royal Restaurant was known for their breakfast and lunch. Now under the management of Alexandria Restaurant Partners and Sloan Hospitality, the team at Royal Restaurant hopes to make a splash with a new happy hour and dinner menu. We’d say they’re doing just that.
Inspired in part by the concept of Dove’s Luncheonette in Chicago, much of the dinner menu brings a Tex-Mex flair. Served alongside margaritas and other cocktails, the menu is the kind of food that’s perfect to enjoy on their spacious patio.
We started our recent visit with some happy hour appetizers. First was the roasted green chili pimento cheese, served with warm, golden toast and escabeche vegetables. The tart vinegar in the vegetables is a nice compliment to the rich spice of the pimento cheese.
Next was the fried red bean “hummus,” which is served with salsa macha, puffed quinoa, crispy epazote and crispy torn tortillas speckled with chili lime salt. If you’re a fan of hummus or bean dip, this was a tasty mix between the two.
Another crowd favorite from the dinner appetizer menu is the grilled chicken skewers al pastor. The marinade, slightly sweet from the characteristic pineapple juice, was so tasty we almost forgot to try it with the accompanying dip. We can confirm it
is well worth the hype.
For dinner, we tried the skirt steak, which was served with perfectly crispy potatoes. It was hard to choose from the list of desserts, but we went with the ancho chili chocolate mousse. The mousse (which does have a kick) was artfully served with pieces of espresso lace and red wine braised cherries. We’ll have to come back sometime to try the banana cream pie and roasted apple chimichangas.
If you come between 4-7 p.m., be sure to treat yourself to a cocktail or two. There are beers, wines, margaritas and other cocktails. The Royal Old Fashioned has a fruity twist, and we were a fan of the Crown Jewels, which is a perfect summer drink with a hint of guava.
The entrance to the restaurant features a painting of the original Royal Cafe location and a black and white photograph of Royal’s longtime owner, Charlie Euripides, who passed away in 2022. The decor is a salute to the restaurant’s long history in Alexandria. They still serve original brunch and lunch favorites, but if you’re in a mood for a new adventure, there’s plenty to try.
The Royal Treatment
Sunday - Thursday 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Brunch Daily: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Happy Hour Daily: 4 - 7 p.m.
730 N. Saint Asaph St.
Introducing Chef Josh
Josh Mitchell brings a well-rounded restaurant career to Alexandria’s Oak Steakhouse
BY GRACE KENYON
Josh Mitchell came to Alexandria for the first time to help with a dinner that Oak Steakhouse was hosting for the board of directors for the Culinary Institute of America. He was only in the city for a week, but it made an impression on him, and he made an impression on Oak Steakhouse. A week later, he was called by the previous executive chef asking if he would be willing to relocate.
Mitchell had already worked as both sous chef and most recently, executive chef at a sister property in Nashville. He ended up moving to Alexandria in July
2021, as the restaurant industry was still bound by pandemic restrictions. Like the rest of the city, Mitchell and his team weathered the storm by abiding by social distancing requirements, opening a patio seating area and doing a lot of take-out orders.
Having worked his way from line cook to sous chef under celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan at her restaurants Chauhan Ale and Masala House in Nashville, and after spending some time as a server at Oak, Mitchell has an appreciation for every role that makes a restaurant run. He tries to
resist what he calls the “old school” restaurant environment, where chefs create a structured, almost militaristic environment. There is “back and forth communication of how everybody perceives their work,” Mitchell says, describing the environment he tries to foster. “It’s not so much of a dictatorship.”
Mitchell says that despite being another branch of the same restaurant, Alexandria has been a change of pace. In Nashville,
Pictured with the chef is Oak Steakhouse Alexandria General Manager Todd Hunt
the restaurant was two stories and they would often juggle two private parties while still serving dinner guests. It was at the base of two hotels and near a convention center that was three city blocks long. In contrast, the Alexandria location is slower paced and the crowd is more diverse, meaning he feels more freedom to experiment with the menu.
“I just try to grow with it instead of changing it,” Mitchell said. “I’m trying to just immerse myself and be part of the area.”
Part of what sets Oak apart is the intentional sourcing of their meat and other ingredients. All Oak locations source their meat from Purely Meat Co., a family-operated business based in Chicago. All other ingredients are sourced from ever-evolving relationships with farms and vendors.
The spirit of not fixing what isn’t broken underlies Mitchell’s approach to the menu. Many fan favorites are here to stay, including the brussels sprouts, served with fried shallots and apple cider soy caramel sauce. With the spring menu, which is the second menu change since he has been in charge, he is keeping longtime favorites. They are adapting to the season with lighter dishes (like the seared sea scallops, served with basil butter risotto, butternut squash and micro basil).
The Big Chill: Alexandria's Ice History
BY TIM ROSE
What made the tavern so popular?
One of the defining features of Gadsby's Tavern was (and still is) its massive ice well. John Gadsby, who leased the tavern from property owner John Wise, began selling ice in the 1790s for 8 cents a pound. As of May 2024, that equates to $1.90 per pound. That means 10 pounds of ice would have cost $19 in inflation adjusted dollars! This is a huge premium to the cost of ice today, when Wal-Mart sells a 10-pound bag for $2 to $3. Gadsby clearly controlled the market in the 1790s.
It is hard to believe, but the ice was harvested from the Potomac River. In January 2024, Alexandria had some cold weather and three inches of snow, but there was no deep freeze on the river. If a business was counting on ice from the Potomac for their inventory, they would have probably declared bankruptcy.
After being cut and transported from the Potomac River, the ice was packed in a deep well adjacent to Gadsby's Tavern. The ice well could hold up to 62 tons of ice. Doing a little quick math, 62 tons means that Gadsby stored about $235,000 worth of ice in the well next to the tavern. Not a bad asset on the balance sheet. Too bad it was a frozen one… Although, by summertime, it could have become liquid! The challenge must have been to get rid of the product before it all melted away.
There is no indication of how long the ice would stay in the well. It was kept below ground, densely packed together, and insulated with straw, sand and even sawdust. The ice was lowered from a hatch above the well. Chunks of ice were chipped out of the 62-ton block and pulled from the well into the basement of the tavern. In theory, the ice may have lasted through the summer. But, as a business, much of the ice would have been sold by then.
Walking west along Cameron Street, people pass City Hall on the right before approaching Gadsby's Tavern on the southwest corner of North Royal and Cameron Streets. Gadsby's Tavern was originally known as the City Tavern and Hotel. After it was built in 1792, it was the five-star, luxury hotel of its day. If anyone was looking to rub elbows with the movers and shakers in early America, Gadsby's was
where you would find them. In fact, George Washington celebrated two birthday parties there, in 1798 and 1799. Thomas Jefferson made two stops to the tavern in 1801. The roster of early American presidents who visited also included John Adams and James Madison. In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette came to Gadsby's Tavern as one stop during his grand return to the United States.
Ice Business Becomes Big Business
Throughout the 19th century, competitors entered the market as the demand for ice continued. While we might think that people wanted cold cocktails, chilled beer and milkshakes, ice needs were much more practical. Ice helped preserve perishable food items at a time when there
were no refrigerators. Ice vendors served the local Alexandria community for many years. The suppliers rode in horse-drawn carriages making deliveries to customers around town.
However, the big ice business exploded after the Civil War. One of the principal drivers was the railroads, which spurred interstate commerce. Ice became an essential means by which perishable food items as well as medication could be stored in boxcars on trains and shipped across multiple states. For example, fruits and vegetables grown in Florida could be transported to New York and Boston without spoiling.
One of Alexandria's most prominent ice businesses opened in 1874. It was founded by W.M. Reardon and F.A. Reid. Their success was driven by business with a major railroad known as the Southern Railway. It was clearly a lucrative enterprise because competition soon entered the picture. A man named J.W. Hammond opened a rival business in 1880. After a decade of competition, Reardon bought out his partner Reid's share of their business. He then merged with J.W. Hammond. The two men formed the Mutual Ice Company, which was known as MICO.
By the dawn of the 20th century, Alexandria had a full-scale industrialized ice industry. Electricity was the second catalyst that powered Alexandria's ice industry. The days of simple harvesting of ice on the Potomac River were replaced by electric powered machines.
Alexandria's position along the Potomac River has always been key to industry and commerce. The ice industry was no different. Numerous creeks and tributaries flow into the river and there is an abundant supply of fresh ground water. The Mutual Ice Company used four wells, which stretched 250 feet in depth. At its peak, the Mutual Ice Company consumed one million gallons of water daily!
With an abundant water supply, electricity and railroads, Alexandria needed one more ingredient for a thriving ice industry. They needed hard-working laborers that were willing to do the tough job of manufacturing ice, storing it, and then helping to load it into hundreds of railcars each day. By all accounts, the workers were not hard to find, and the ice industry was a strong
economic driver in the city.
The ice served the citizens of Alexandria throughout seven local service stations. Two of the seven stations are visible to this day on 110 S. Lee St. and 200 Commerce St. A third location at 319 N. Alfred St. is now a private residence. Before refrigeration technology, people would buy ice and store it in ice boxes.
Beyond the local demand for ice, Alexandria continued to serve railway customers. Potomac Yard railway center was an important hub for interstate commerce. It was a geographically important location since it was located halfway along the East Coast. A historical plaque at the old Potomac Yard reads as follows:
At its peak, Mutual Ice loaded 700 tons of ice onto 500 cars each day. However, the onset of refrigerated cars in the 1950s made icing obsolete and Mutual Ice closed its doors in 1969.
It is impressive that the company stayed operational until 1969. As refrigeration technology developed, the Mutual Ice Company made several attempts to pivot their business. An article in the Gazette Packet by Michael McMorrow explains, "MICO directed its efforts to servicing
cooling equipment and even expanded into the fuel oil and burner business."
Nevertheless, these businesses were not as successful, and Mutual Ice Company finally closed its doors in 1969.
Today, ice manufacturing is not a big business in Alexandria. Nevertheless, ice continues to drive the economy in the historic port city principally in the form of Alexandria's many ice cream shops. Tourists flock to these locations up and down King Street especially in the heat of the summer.
It is possible that Alexandria has more ice cream shops concentrated in one area than any other city in the country.
While industrial ice manufacturing is no longer big business, Alexandria's ice economy is not frozen in time. The legacy continues to this day in the heart of Old Town. At Alexandria History Tours, we are excited to promote this legacy by encouraging our guests to indulge in a sweet treat after one of our professionally guided walking tours.
Check out the ice cream map in the following pages to see where you can participate in Alexandria's modern day ice cream economy. Hope you have a sweet tooth!
Gadsby's Tavern Ice Well
Alexandria Ice Cream Crawl
Frozen treats are part of summertime fun and enjoying an ice cream cone with a friend is part of the lazy, crazy days of summer. We all have our favorites, but you might want to give that new spot a try or branch out and give a new flavor a try (Goat Cheese with Cherries, anyone?). Alexandria has numerous ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato and frozen custard spots around town. Here’s a look at some of the treats you’ll find along the Alexandria Ice Cream Trail:
Potomac
Old Town Alexandria
1. Ben & Jerry’s
103 S. Union St.
Your first hint that you’re passing by Ben & Jerry’s might be the bubbles wafting in the air near the entrance, attracting children and the young at heart. In addition to a myriad variety of flavors, guests may also find non-dairy options (oat milk). Other unique items on the menu include berry and lemonade sorbets.
2. Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato
111 S. Payne St.
Argentine gelato is the star of the show at Casa Rosada, housed in a pink 1870s building in Old Town. Patrons will enjoy gelato produced on-site with natural ingredients. Owner Benjamin Umansky, a chemical
engineer by trade, took his science knowhow to make the best gelato, which he started as a hobby in 2004.
3. Cold Stone Creamery
239 Hoffman St.
Our first introduction to Cold Stone Creamery was likely before or after seeing a movie across the street. The best part was picking out the ingredients that would get folded into the ice cream - there’s a huge assortment: From brownies to peanut butter, gummy bears to pecans. Enjoy!
4. The Crazy Mason Milkshake
Bar
716 King St.
Looking for an over-the-top dessert? You’ve come to the right place! This new ice cream shop in the middle of Old Town will satisfy even the sweetest sweet tooth. We counted 28 amazing-looking options on their menu. Personally, we would try You Gotta Be Puddin’ Me and Whatever Floats Your Boat!
5. The Creamery
110 King St.
Scooping up ice cream since 1984, The
Creamery is a great after-dinner spot, where you can grab a cone and stroll down King Street. Our personal favorite is the soft-serve chocolate and vanilla twist custard. Runners up: Orange Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Lemon Custard and Banana Pudding.
6. Dolci Gelati
107 N. Fairfax St.
The Italian gelato here is … deliziosa! You’ll have a hard time choosing among all the flavors but fans love the pistachio and hazelnut gelatos and sorbets. If you’re an early bird, you’ll want to stop in for some of their locally roasted coffee and baked goods and set a spell in this cozy shop just off Market Square.
7. Goodies Frozen Custard &
Treats
200 Commerce St.
This 1950s-inspired walk-up shack dishes out Wisconsin-style gourmet frozen custard. The building at 200 Commerce Street in Old Town was originally the property of Mutual Ice Co., Alexandria's largest ice distributor. The “donutwich” is is a scoop of vanilla bean custard sandwiched between
two donuts!
8.
Jeni’s
Splendid Ice Creams
102 S. Patrick St.
Created and found by James Beard Awardwinner Jenn Britton, this ice cream emporium features unique made-from-scratch flavors such as Burnt Orange Dreamsicle and Brambleberry Crisp. We can’t wait to try the Brandied Banana Brûlée and Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks!
9. Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Creams
212 King St.
The sweet smell of fudge may lure you into this candy emporium, but you may walk out with one of Kilwin’s freshly made
waffle cones topped with its Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream. Another delight: A hot fudge sundae topped with Kilwin’s Hot Fudge Topping. Topped off with whipped cream and a cherry, of course.
10. Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream
109 King St.
Pop’s is in a great location, right next door to the Fish Market on King Street. You'll have plenty of ice cream flavors to choose from. The old-fashioned interior features a black and white checkered floor with a red ceiling.
Del Ray
11. The Dairy Godmother
2310 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Wisconsin frozen custard is the main event here, but you’ll also find sorbet, vegan ice cream, cobbler and homemade Just Fine Donuts. Check their calendar of rotating custard flavors! Presidential trivia: President Obama and his daughters visited June 9, 2009. The president grabbed some puppy pops for their dog Bo.
12. Dolce and Bean
2003A Mt. Vernon Ave.
Gelato is on the menu at this family-owned dessert emporium that opened in 2017. It’s where you will also find specialty coffees, imported chocolates, macarons and pastries. The rotating menu of gelato flavors includes Amaretto, Dark Chocolate, Red Velvet and more.
West End
13. Baskin Robbins
1701 Centre Plaza
If your child goes to school near Baskin Robbins, you’ve likely spent many an afternoon stopping into this ice cream shop and perusing the 31 flavors (OK we haven’t counted, but that’s what they’re known for). We love the no-sugar added Caramel Turtle Truffle ice cream!
14. Dairy Queen
1470 N. Beauregard St.
Who doesn’t love a retro treat from Dairy Queen? If you or your kids have never experienced Dairy Queen, check out the plain vanilla soft-serve cone or a Dilly Bar (vanilla ice cream coated with an outer shell). Dilly Bar shell flavors come in chocolate, cherry, Heath bar and Butterscotch.
Fairfax County
15. Custard Shack at the Haven
1401 Belle Haven Road
You’ll find Wisconsin-style frozen custard at this spot that’s great for a summer night after pizza next door at The Haven. In addition to chocolate and vanilla, you’ll also find rotating flavors that may include pumpkin pie to fruity pebbles. Bring your furry best friend — puppy pops are available here too!
16. Rita’s Italian ice & Frozen Custard
7592 Telegraph Road
The frozen custard here will melt in your mouth and there are always many, many flavors to choose from. Our personal favorite is the chocolate and vanilla custard twist in a cup. Delicious! We hear the Italian ice is great too, made with real fruit.
17. SweetFrog
5926 Kingstowne Center
This is a great spot for those who need to watch their sugar intake. There are several options - no sugar added, Dole soft serve (Pineapple) and dairy-free options. Plus there are plenty of sprinkle options including almonds, peanuts and sometimes no-sugar added chocolate syrup.
18.
Yogurt City
7615 Fordson Road
This spot prepares its frozen yogurt in the store with fresh milk using their special recipe. The signature fro-yo is Tart, based on taro yogurt. The frozen treat also offers a no-sugar added cake batter frozen yogurt.
A Bold, Modern Transformation for a Del Ray Bungalow
Dark saturated colors, clean lines and A-frame roof define this renovated home
by Linda Harvey
Life runs more smoothly now for the Halley/Carnahan family since the renovation on their Del Ray home was completed one year ago. Looking back, homeowners Devon Halley and Carolyn Carnahan remember powering through the pandemic in their small 1920s bungalow and realizing they needed more space and more privacy as their daughter entered kindergarten.
Despite not having enough closet space and using their dining room table as a dumping ground, the main driving factor was that this family of three needed another bathroom. Their one-story home had only one bathroom and not even a halfbath. Carnahan recalls thinking, “If nothing else, please, we need a second bath!”
Halley and Carnahan bought their home 10 years ago when they were featured
on HGTV’s “My First Place,” a show that focused on first-time homebuyers. The couple fell in love with the Del Ray neighborhood and moved fast to purchase the bungalow there. It was a good fit for them at the time.
Now with a young daughter and feeling cramped, it was time to transform their starter home into one they could live in for years.
“We are detailed-oriented people to a fault,” says Halley. “We thought carefully on what we wanted done for this home and spent time visualizing each room.”
They took their design inspirations to Four Brothers Design + Build — a company that was in sync with what they envisioned, and who also provided unique solutions to turn this traditional home into one that was bold and modern. From the initial meeting with Four Brothers, Halley says he “liked their vibe and was impressed with their portfolio.”
By working with them, this family got much more than a second bath and even got to use some of their “grandest ambitions" when it came to remodeling. They doubled their 1,150-square-foot home to one that is now 2,445 square feet by adding on a usable second story and reconfiguring the downstairs layout.
Seamless Design and Build
Four Brothers Design + Build was started in 2006 by the Johnson brothers. Based in Washington, D.C, this firm provides “architecture, design and construction services all in-house and under one umbrella,” according to its website.
Having the architect and designer on the same team makes for a seamless process from start to finish, agrees Kristen Mendoza, a project designer for
(Above) The glass half-partition wall with steel framing throughout is a bold statement piece, separating the spacious galley kitchen from the dining/living room area. The homeowners wanted an “industrialized restaurant look.” (Bottom) Dark green cabinets — Olympic Range by Sherwin Williams — contrast nicely with the white marble countertop/backsplash along with the white hand-glazed tiles that reach to the ceiling. The muted wooden floors soften the room.
Four Brothers, who worked on the Halley/ Carnahan project.
For this Del Ray home’s redesign, Four Brothers did need to bring on one of their former architects, CJ LaMora. The pandemic had overwhelmed many firms with homeowners wanting renovations, and this firm was no different when the homeowners first contacted them in 2021.
LaMora, who opened his own firm, Circle Square Cross Architecture, knew the firm’s system well, he says. He was able to work on the exterior design and the indoor layout plan, with Mendoza tweaking the interior plans. “We were able to give the clients the full service that Four Brothers is known for,” LaMora explains.
The homeowners say they appreciated the “planning transparency and communication” from the entire Four Brothers team, including the “excellent transition from design and into build.”
A Complete Remodel
The design process took some time as the first floor was reconfigured since it was going to be gutted, and the second-story attic space was a blank slate in terms of layout. Even though the home would retain its original footprint, this renovation project was a complete remodel.
Architect LaMora explains that this created an opportunity to “think holistically about this house since it [a complete remodel] opens up a whole range of possibilities.”
The homeowners were ready to overhaul much of the interior of the home since it was starting to show its age at 100 years old, including concerns with its plumbing and electrical systems. Plus, the original hardwood floors were weakened from being refinished too many times, and the untouched single-pane windows were not energy efficient.
The renovation, which took about seven months during the construction/build phase, included:
• an upstairs addition with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, office space in the vaulted room, plus a washer/dryer room off the hallway;
• a newly built stairwell from the first floor to the second floor addition;
• a reconfigured downstairs layout featuring a shifted front door opening into a new foyer, a spacious galley kitchen, bathroom and dining/living room area with a new wood-burning fireplace;
• dark gray exterior siding along with an A-frame roof, new windows, updated front porch and a balcony off the master bedroom suite.
The Halley/Carnahan renovation enabled the designers to get creative as they transformed the home into a modern refuge for the family. “The clients weren’t afraid to take risks and push the envelope with it,” explains Mendoza.
LaMora agrees that the home is “very unique and boundary-pushing,” with a design reflecting a modernized bungalow. However, he says, “We knew that this
renovated house could still fit into the fabric of that community since the neighborhood had diverse styles of homes.”
The Kitchen - a Key Renovation
The kitchen is now the hub of this home — a welcoming, spacious and usable room for the family. Its renovation was a key design requirement for the lower level since the “before” kitchen was tight and problematic.
The kitchen had limited natural light and an awkward layout, including an inconvenient jog around one corner and a bumpout space at the back that wasn’t useful. Different types of flooring made it feel like separate areas and not one cohesive kitchen.
“The upgrades to the kitchen by the previous owners about 10 years beforehand
The living room area features custom-built cabinetry and a new wood-burning fireplace with a soapstone surround. Above the fireplace is a TV screen that looks like artwork. The homeowner enjoys listening to his vinyl record collection through hidden speakers with ethernet wiring.
were more like a facelift and not an opportunity to move things around,” LaMora explains.
His design extended the kitchen into the bump-out area, which created a long, wide galley kitchen that wasn’t restrictive with its “open-flow-like” layout. The refrigerator, oven and sink are now positioned conveniently for cooking and food prep.
Mendoza gave the homeowners lots of counter space and more cabinets, including a hidden appliance “garage” with outlets — a place to store and easily use their mixer, food processor, toaster and rice maker. Carnahan loves the appliance garage and appreciates these types of details from the design team. The floating glass shelves above the coffee/cocktail bar area is another feature that “makes the space look natural and elegant at the same time,” she says.
Inspiration for the deep green color for the kitchen cabinets came from Carnahan’s garden. “I can look out the window and see evergreens in the backyard and this color [on the cabinets] could tie in the outdoors,” she explains. She wanted earth tones and “something darker and saturated but nothing crazy,” she continues.
To offset the dark green cabinets, the homeowners selected a white marble countertop and white hand-glazed tiles that reach to the ceiling. “It’s a study in contrasts,” Carnahan says. “Contrasts that play off each other, and it’s a look we thought would age well.” The muted hardwood floors that were installed also help to soften the contrasts within the space.
A Glass Statement Piece
Even though the kitchen makes a bold impression, the unique glass wall between the kitchen and dining/living area is eye-catching. Halley brought this idea to the design team at their initial meeting since he wanted “a really cool statement piece” to divide the two spaces.
The primary suite bathroom is a study in contrasts with the dark soapstone counter and light oak cabinets. Rich saturated colors on the floor tile and walls contribute to this room’s bold design.
The homeowners wanted an “industrialized restaurant look” so the designers played around with ideas and came up with the glass half-partition wall with steel framing throughout. It is something the team had never done before. This creative opportunity is another reason they enjoyed working with the homeowners, who were open to such visionary ideas, acknowledges Mendoza.
This custom-made piece works well as a transition from the kitchen into the adjoining dining/living room area. The clear glass also boosts the amount of natural light that can spread throughout the lower level.
‘One Big Open Space’
The homeowners and their daughter find the lower level’s openness very suitable for their lifestyle. It’s now one large rectangular space, and the glass wall allows them to see each other easily from different vantage points.
“Everyone can be in this big open space together, doing their own thing and not trampling on each other,” Halley describes. He could be cooking dinner in the kitchen, his wife reading by the fireplace, and his daughter doing crafts at the dining room table. “Before, with how the home was divided, we wouldn’t see each other. Now we don’t feel alone,” he continues.
To create a more seamless look, Mendoza added wainscoting on the walls around the entire living and dining room space. But she also needed to find a way to define these two areas since each served different purposes.
She explains that building a new fireplace cemented the center of the living room area, and the built-in cabinetry flanking it on either side helped. To prevent the teak dining table from floating within the space, Mendoza positioned it off to the side in the corner. The table’s bench seating wraps along the wall, butting against the half-wall partition. This placement not only sets the dining area apart, but it also maximizes the available space.
The new foyer with a stairway to the second floor is just off the living/dining room area. By shifting the front door to the far side of the house, LaMora was able to give
the homeowners a foyer and a more usable staircase. “Part of this project was asking: How do we traverse to the second floor and where do we take out space?” he explains.
The family says the foyer keeps them organized as they come and go, especially on busy mornings when their daughter heads off to elementary school. Coats and shoes are stored in a closet located under the
television that looks like a piece of art. You can pull the television out from the wall and swing it around to watch from the dining room table. This feature, along with a sound system with ethernet wiring, was another must-have for Halley. He’s got an impressive vinyl record collection and worked with Gramophone, a home audio/ theater company in Maryland, to install 11
“It’s a study in contrasts...”
stairwell, and the bench is the perfect spot for their daughter’s backpack.
Making It Feel Connected
When it came to grand design ambitions, the wood-burning fireplace in the living room was top of the list. Even the homeowners didn’t realize the amount of work it was to build and install one from scratch.
“I love the smell and sound of a wood-burning fireplace,” Halley says, referencing his time growing up in Pennsylvania. “However, masonry for chimneys is expensive and caught us by surprise.” It was well worth the cost since they use it regularly, making the living room area feel more cozy, he confirms.
LaMora agrees that building a complete new chimney system with its flue and liner required lots of detailed oversight and time with masons. Around the fireplace and on top of the cabinets, Mendoza selected a natural soapstone with a dark black-green coloring that gives a nod to the kitchen cabinet color.
Just above the fireplace is a large-screen
-
Carolyn Carnahan
invisible speakers — two in the kitchen and nine in the dining/living area.
The fireplace, the glass wall and the sound/media system contribute to the cohesive dynamic that the family experiences when they’re in this lower level space, Halley says. “There is now a flow, a vision and a sound to the home that feels connected.”
Bonus Design Elements Upstairs
Upstairs facing the front of the house is an office space with a vaulted ceiling — the striking A-frame roof and triangular windows are seen from the outside.
The homeowners credit LaMora with this design idea for the small bonus space.
“That’s where I spend my 9 to 5,” Halley says. “Before, I worked in the basement in a windowless corner.”
Down the hall are two full bathrooms and three bedrooms, including the primary bedroom suite. One huge plus for the family is more closet space in each bedroom. Carnahan is very happy to no longer have a 1920s closet with limited room for her
clothing. Halley and his daughter no longer have to share the same closet.
Yet it’s the bonus balcony off the master bedroom that has become an unexpected delight. LaMora gets credit again for this design idea to reinforce the bumpout space below for a balcony. Carnahan now enjoys looking at her garden from up there, and the half-wall provides some privacy from neighbors.
Mendoza admits she had fun designing the main bathroom and continued the saturated color theme upstairs. The deep green-black soapstone with its unique veining can be found on the sink's countertop and in the shower. This coloring, along with the dark tiled shower and flooring, contrast nicely with the light wood cabinets — a look the homeowners love. The hardware’s mixed metals make the bathroom more playful, working well together.
LaMora also added a series of skylights in each bathroom and one at the top of
the staircase landing to increase the amount of natural light for the north side of the house, which doesn’t get direct sunlight. Another distinct feature is the “ribbon-style window placement” that wraps around the southern-facing side of the second level.
A Striking Exterior
“Bold is beautiful for the color they landed on,” LaMora recalls when describing the homeowner’s desire for a deep saturated palette for the home’s exterior. They chose an iron gray, an almost charcoal color for the siding. “From far away, it looks almost black in certain light,” LaMora says.
The A-frame roof and triangular windows add to the drama of the home’s front facade. The exposed stained wood — a contrast from the bold gray — honors the original roof of the bungalow’s porch.
“We took craftsman cues to articulate the porch,” LaMora describes. “It harkens back to what it was.”
Even though the renovated porch now features Trek decking and a modern black railing, the family loves to sit out there just like previous generations have through the years. On many afternoons, Carnahan is helping her daughter finish up her worksheets for school.
Both Carnahan and Halley feel grateful for the renovation and how their home is now more appropriate for how their family lives. No more eating dinner at the coffee table and no more stressful mornings sharing one bathroom, they emphasize.
Both of them found Four Brothers Design + Build responsive and thoughtful throughout the process, finding ways to expand on their ideas to make this bold, modern home a reality.
The Story Behind the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Alexandria
BY GLENDA C. BOOTH
Finding affordable housing in the Washington region is a challenge today, but it’s not a new challenge. The PopeLeighey House at Woodlawn, designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is a unique example of 1940s, intentionally designed affordable living.
In 1939, journalist Loren Pope, a 28-year-old copy editor at the now-defunct Washington Evening Star newspaper, was earning $50 a week and wanted to build a modest house on his Falls Church lot. Pope was fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright, an architect who was designing houses that
today would cost around $650,000, far out of Pope’s price range.
Pope and his wife Charlotte envisioned spending $5,500, equal to about $86,000 today. In 1936 Wright had written, “The house of moderate cost is not only America’s major architectural problem but the problem most difficult for her major architects.”
So Lauren sent Wright a six-page letter with an “ask”: “There are certain things a man wants during life, and, of life. Material things and things of the spirit. It is for a house created by you. I feel that you are the great creative force of our time. Will you create a
house for us? Will you?”
In 15 days, Wright responded, “Of course. I’m ready to give you a house.”
Lauren and Charlotte Pope ended up paying $7,000, including the furniture and the architect’s fee. “My last resort,”
Pope recounted later in an interview with the National Building Museum, “was the Evening Star, which financed homes for its employees. The Star offered to lend me $5,700, to be taken out of my pay at $12 a week.”
The 1,200 square foot house, built in 1940 and 1941 on their 1.3-acre lot and
The Pope-Leighey House in the evening light.
Pope-Leighey House.”
The horizontal line was Wright’s recurring architectural theme for this house: A flat, cantilevered roof, a horizontal siding pattern and windows and doors clustered in horizontal bands. Even screw heads were often “turned to be horizontal,” wrote Reiss.
From the carport, visitors take a few steps down through an entryway to an L-shaped, one-story house and into an open combined library and living room. The room has a small table for meals or games and high, clear windows between wood cutouts that fill the room with light. Light fixtures are recessed.
Wright “made the 1,000- to 2,000-squarefoot houses space-efficient by compressing bedrooms and corridors and eliminating the separate dining room in favor of large combined living and dining areas . . .,” wrote Reiss. The floors are concrete.
Since servants were not needed, the kitchen is small. Wright wanted the person working in the kitchen to be visible, available to the family. To maximize natural light, the cabinets open away from the window. Accordion doors save space and can be closed for entertaining.
There are two cozy bedrooms off a narrow hall and one bathroom. The natural, honey-colored red cypress, wood walls, inside and outside, eliminate the need for paint or plaster. Pope wrote in 1948, “There is no paint to be cleaned or to be done over every three or four years, at $500 or more per doing. There is no plaster – which means no mess, no future dust storms while that is being repaired or done over.”
now located at Woodlawn, 10 miles south of the City of Alexandria, is an example of Wright’s 100 or so Usonian houses built between 1936 and 1959. (Wright died in 1959.) It is one of only three Wrightdesigned houses in the Commonwealth. These homes were designed to be efficient, functional and affordable for middle-income people. Usonian is thought to mean “the United States of North America.”
The Usonian House
“The Usonian house was intended to provide a radically rethought, partially shop-built, inexpensive yet sublime dwelling for the middle-income American family. Wright wanted to make these houses affordable to all who owned land by maximizing the use of readily available, local building materials,” wrote Steven M. Reiss in his 2014 book, “Frank Lloyd Wright’s
To make the rooms feel bigger, Wright also designed much of the house’s furniture on a slightly smaller scale and integrated the furniture into the home’s design, to make it blend in. He designed the beds to be low and with no box springs. The unusually high doorknobs are his form of childproofing.
The furnace was in a small utility room, eliminating the need for a basement and a carport protected cars. Wright claimed he invented the term “carport.” The red concrete floor doubled as the home’s radiant heater “by virtue of the hot water pipes underneath,” Reiss wrote.
Wright felt that attics and garages encouraged materialism so the house has
Interior of the Pope-Leighey House.
minimal storage space. He believed that “Americans had too much clutter,” said Amanda Roper, Woodlawn’s senior manager of Public Programs and Interpretation.
Wright sought to integrate the Usonian houses with their natural settings. Doors with windows lead to an outside patio, connecting the indoors with the outdoors.
The Pope-Leighey house was considered to be small by many then, but its design makes it feel larger than it is. It is “deceptively complex in design,” wrote Reiss.
Moved Twice
After the Popes’ son Ned died in a tragic drowning accident, they had two more children, a boy and a girl. Needing more room for their family, they decided to sell the home and move to Loudoun County. On Nov. 7, 1946, the Popes placed an ad in the Evening Star. “FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT house of cypress, plate glass and brick: radiant heat; three bedrooms, two terraces; mostly furnished; one and one-third acres landscaped near house, rest in woods; small stream; $17,000.”
Marjorie and Robert Leighey purchased the house from the Popes in 1947.
In the early 1960s, the Virginia Department of Transportation was planning a highway known as Interstate 66 which would go straight through the house’s living room. Marjorie, a widowed teacher who was then living in the house, issued a public plea to preserve it, even meeting with thenU.S. Interior Secretary Stewart Udall and other officials on a Saturday in her home. In 1964, Leighey donated the house to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Trust moved the house that year to Woodlawn, near Mount Vernon. Woodlawn is the colonial estate of Lawrence Lewis, George Washington’s nephew.
The property was a treed lot similar to the Falls Church property for which it was designed. The house was reassembled by the same carpenter, Harold Rickert, who built the house. After returning from a fiveyear stay in Japan, Leighey returned and lived in the house until her death in 1983.
Preservationists had to dismantle and reassemble it a second time in 1996 because of unstable soils and cracks in the base so they moved it 30 feet uphill to more solid ground.
Impresses Visitors
Richard van Tiggele, an architect from the Netherlands, was awed by the house when he visited in April. “I’d never heard of this house during my studies in the Technical University in Delft, nor the years after. I had no illusions or idea what to expect, so I went there with a non-judgmental approach,” he said.
“But what I saw and heard intrigued me. The house was meant to be an example for affordable living for the average American, not a big house, though bigger than any average house in the Netherlands, but with a splendid intelligent and spatial scheme.
“A huge, low cantilever provides the entrance. Like always, in Wright’s houses, the ceiling is low to allow the visitor the feeling of height and light as they move forward in the house. In fact, the rooms are part of one continuous space, divided by walls and steps. Beautiful is the color of the wooden walls that get gray over the years and thus become in total harmony with the surrounding nature. What impressed me the most were the small eaves in combination with the huge cantilevers.”
The Pope-Leighey House today looks much as it did when the Popes lived in it. “To most observers, it appears frozen in time, back to those first days in March 1941 when Charlotte, Loren and Ned first moved in,” wrote Reiss.
When Loren Pope passed away in 2008 at age 98, his memorial service was held at the Pope-Leighey House. An apartment building in Falls Church, Loren, takes its name from him.
“Every home should be as unique as the people living in it,” Wright maintained. This one is.
The Pope-Leighey House is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Virginia, Washington, D. C., and Maryland open to the public. Visit www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org
Events
WRIGHT AT TWILIGHT HOUSE TOURS July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m./$25 per person
FAIRY HOUSE FESTIVAL Oct. 5 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FALL OPEN HOUSE Nov. 2
WINTER HOLIDAYS
In December, evening tours will be scheduled to see the home decorated for a mid-century holiday.
For more information, visit: https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey. org/upcomingevents
Exterior of the Pope-Leighey House.
Trip My First Solo
Discovering Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
BY GRACE KENYON
When you love someone, you start to love the things they love. My fiancé, a native Alexandrian, grew up going to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I, however, grew up in the land-locked state of Colorado and spent precious little time at the beach. A recent solo trip to Wilmington, North Carolina was only my second visit to coastal North Carolina.
I crossed into Wrightsville Beach early on a Sunday afternoon, a six-hour drive. Another option is to fly into Wilmington International Airport (American Airlines from DCA or seasonal Avelo Airlines flights from BWI).
When I arrived, it was drizzly and cold. I decided to forgo a planned bike ride
along the island’s two-and-a-half-mile loop (fittingly named “The Loop”), for a sunnier day. The Shed, which is a short walk from where I stayed at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort, is a one-stop-shop for a cup of coffee and rental equipment from bikes to beach chairs.
Slow down and wander
I’m not a coffee person, per se, but I am a coffee shop person, so I appreciated the number of restaurants and coffee shops that were within walking distance (or short drive, if that’s more your style) of the resort. After checking into my room, I walked to Tower 7 Baja Mex, a Baja-inspired restaurant about a 10-minute walk from the Blockade Runner.
That evening, I was scheduled to go on a sunset cruise with Wrightsville Beach
Scenic Tours. The rain and cloud cover caused the tour to be canceled, so instead I stood at the dock and marveled at the gray sky and water. It turns out inclement weather doesn’t dampen my Midwestern awe for the open ocean. I showed up early for my dinner reservation at the South Beach Grill in the mood for something warm and comforting, so the rich She Crab soup was an obvious choice. I sat in a corner booth and watched the first night in Wilmington come early.
The next day, I ordered a lox bagel breakfast from room service and set off to Wilmington for the first item of the day, a stroll around Airlie Gardens. The gardens are situated on land that was once owned and shaped into a sprawling estate by Sarah and Pembroke Jones in the late 1880s. The Jones fortune originated
from his business, the Carolina Rice Mills Factory. In 1901, The New York Times reported Sarah allocated $300,000 each summer for entertaining guests (equivalent to about $11 million today).
I decided to pocket my map and instead wander the estate, choosing a pathway based on whatever direction looked most like a setting out of a fairytale. This approach took me through winding paths between canopies of Spanish moss and a romantic pergola on the edge of the lake. For anyone like me who is a fan of period dramas and wandering in pretty places, it is well worth the $10 admission.
In downtown Wilmington, I wandered to the Riverwalk and then stopped by Seabird for dinner. I was seated in the bar, a cozy section partitioned off from the rest of the restaurant by tall bookshelves. The entire meal was luxurious, from the cornbread muffins drizzled in honey and flaky sea salt, to the pork ribs coated in a sweet and spicy sauce and thin slices of apple and delicate, lilac-colored flowers. Seabird definitely wins top marks for presentation and taste.
Reflect on where you stand
Not unlike Alexandria, the buildings around downtown Wilmington are marked with plaques indicating something about the age and importance of various buildings. Where I’m from in Colorado, this is
a much less common occurrence. I don’t know exactly why that is. Our history is newer, I guess, the layers more shallow and less distinct. Our lots have less accumulated history, or at least we weren’t so good at writing it down.
I took some time away from my downtown Wilmington itinerary to go back over the bridge and join Joe Abbate on a boat tour of Masonboro island. Abbate or “Captain Joe,” is a bird biologist by trade with a background in forestry. He has been in Wilmington for almost 30 years and has focused much of that time on environmental tourism and education. Captain Joe is full of trivia, from the seven shorebirds that nest in the area to stories of pirates who once hid in the inlets and creeks around Wilmington.
We disembarked in the shallow waters next to Masonboro island, an island that is somewhat of an ecological “canary in the coal mine” for the North Carolina barrier islands. We wandered through the dunes and shrubs to the ocean, for once hearing no sound other than the crashing waves. All too soon, it was time to head back to civilization. Joe told us about the longleaf pine forests whose resin earned North Carolina its association with tar and produced the naval stores that once sustained Wilmington’s economy.
The next day, I left early to make it to
Carolina and Kure beach, stopping only for a coffee and bagel at The Vault Coffee and Pour House. I was the only one to sign up for a tour at that time, so it was just me and my guide on the water. We saw lots of birds — snowy egrets, pelicans, cormorants, and others I didn’t know. We meandered through the salt marsh and stopped for a breath on Zeke’s Island, an uninhabited reserve.
After the tour, I said goodbye to my guide and lingered for a while at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, which includes 6 miles of protected shoreline. It wasn’t hot yet, but the sun was strong and the first beachgoers were gathering in the soft, white sand. The one-mile basin trail leads to a World War II bunker.
Following a long day in the sun, I was ready for a quick nap at the Blockade Runner. I dipped into the hot tub (and if the weather was warmer, would have definitely lingered longer in the large indoor-outdoor pool). I finished the day at the resort restaurant, East Oceanfront Dining. I tried the hibiscus margarita and calamari fries (which were served with a jalapeno gremolata, a fresh take on fried calamari). The dinner came with piping hot ciabatta rolls and I decided to try the linguini and clams, served with multicolored cherry tomatoes that gave the dish a bright spring flavor.
As I finished my dinner, I watched a couple in black and white take either wedding or engagement photos (I’m not sure which). They took off in an exaggerated run down the boardwalk, their photographer moving at a parallel in the shrubs. The sky
Airlie Gardens.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Shoreline.
turned a blue lilac and the moon hung orange and low in the sky. I decided that if I ever come back, I want to bring my fiancé. The only thing better than trying new things is sharing them.
The story continues
Four days is not really enough to get to know a place. You mostly have time to hit the highlights, of which there are plenty in Wilmington. My last day in Wilmington allowed me to witness a small piece of the history of the place, which felt like a meaningful, and fitting end to the trip.
The very last stop on my itinerary was
the Cameron Art Museum (CAM). Daniel Jones, the museum’s cultural curator, walked me through their exhibits — a highlight for me was “The Work of Their Hands,” an exhibit of quilts. The anchor work of the exhibit is a vibrant tulip quilt made by an unknown enslaved woman in North Carolina. The exhibit also features a set of quilts from Gee’s Bend, an isolated community in Alabama whose asymmetrical, “imperfectly perfect” quilts have become renowned in the folk art world.
Perhaps the highlight of the trip to CAM, however, was their only permanent installation. A short distance from the museum, on a path padded by pine needles and sandy soil, is a sculpture that depicts tight rows of soldiers marching through the forest. The public sculpture, Boundless, depicts members of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) on their way to Wilmington, a battle that represented the Union’s last victory over the last Confederate port city.
Instead of placing a monument in the center of the city, the museum and its partners decided to place it in the exact spot where the troops would have passed through the forest, which happened to be on land owned by the museum. They wanted it to be more than a beautification
project, but a story that continues. Created by North Carolina-based artist Stephen Hayes, the soldiers are life casts of descendents, reenactors and veterans, men who lived in the Jim Crow South and whose lined faces tell stories of struggle and victory. The CAM museum, under Jones’ leadership, is spearheading an oral history project to search for the descendants and lost stories of the USCT soldiers.
Just the previous day, at Fort Fisher, I stood at the site of the last surviving Confederate base. I’m struck by the multitudes and contradictions that appear once you look long enough at a place. Four days cannot, and did not make me an expert, but I am grateful for the experience to sit beneath the pines and witness history.
And I want to return. I want to come back when it’s warm enough to swim in clear water on a pristine island, when an influx of vacationers brings the bars and beaches to life. I also want to come again in the cold and let the endless gray sea steal my breath from the shore. I want to walk back to the restaurants and ask the friendly waiters if they ever take the sea for granted. I want to hear the story of the coffee shop barista who left Atlanta when her lease was up, moved to Wilmington, and never left.
(Left) Carolina Beach. (Right) Zeke's Island kayak tour.
Address: 1 N Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach theshedwbnc.com
Seabird
1 S Front St, Wilmington seabirdnc.com
Favorite item: Serrano Pork Ribs, Seabird Martini
Stoked Restaurant
313 Canal Drive, Carolina Beach
stokedrestaurant.com
Favorite item: Fried grouper
South Beach Grill
100 S Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach southbeachgrillwb.com
Favorite item: Sweet Potato Crusted Flounder
Beat Street
348 Hutchison Lane, Wilmington
SUNday’s Café
708 B S Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach
DRINKS, DESSERTS AND MORE
The Palm Room
11 E Salisbury St., Wrightsville Beach
The Original Ice Cream Stand
3 N Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach
The Underfront Company
265 N. Front St., Wilmington
ACTIVITIES
Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Road, Wilmington airliegardens.org
Pro-tip: Check the website for events, information on tours, and even to check what flowers are in bloom each week!
Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours
(910) 200-4002
wrightsvillebeachscenictours.com
Pro-tip: Check out the website to view the tour schedule and to make reservations.
Kayak Carolina
kayakcarolina.com
Pro-tips: Tours last 2-3 hours and cost $60 per person. For calmer waters (and easier rowing) consider booking an early morning or evening tour.
Cameron Art Museum
3201 South 17th St, Wilmington cameronartmuseum.org
Pro-tip: The quilt exhibit is hanging around until October 20, 2024.
WILMINGTON BEACHES
Wrightsville, Carolina and Kure beaches have lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day, making them excellent destinations for swimming. There are also ample opportunities for other outdoor water activities, like kayaking and paddle boarding. There is ample paid parking around Wrightsville beach that is within a short walking distance of public beach access points.
VIRGINIA GETAWAY
America’s oldest resort recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation
BY JANE FULLERTON LEMONS
Nestled deep in the Allegheny Mountains, the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, has been providing warm beds and hot meals for travelers since 1766, opening its doors a decade before America declared its independence and making it the oldest resort in the United States.
Much has changed in the 258 years since then, including a recently completed $150 million renovation, and the resort offers deluxe amenities and myriad activities that go well beyond that initial room and board.
But what first drew people to the area has remained the same – the natural mineral springs that have enticed travelers for centuries. Those therapeutic waters have attracted visitors from around the world to the 2,300-acre Homestead property, including 23 U.S. presidents from Thomas Jefferson to George W. Bush.
That historic pedigree has earned the Homestead spots alongside other sites that represent American history and culture, a noteworthy feat in the Commonwealth, which prides itself on its history.
The Homestead ranks among Virginia’s
123 National Historic Landmarks, right there with Monticello and Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall in Fairfax County, and Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria. And it’s a member of Historic Hotels of America, which is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, alongside venerable venues such as Washington’s Willard Intercontinental and Richmond’s Jefferson Hotel.
The iconic hotel has changed hands several times since Captain Thomas Bullitt — Revolutionary War compatriot of George Washington — built the original 18-room structure of America’s first resort. Most recently, the hotel became part of Omni Hotels & Resorts, in 2013.
That led to a massive renovation project, completed in October 2023, that encompassed everything from the historic Warm Spring Pools to the expansive Great Hall as well as upgrades to the 483 guest rooms, 28 meeting rooms and multiple restaurants.
As Mark Spadoni, the resort’s Managing Director, explained it: “The Omni
Homestead Resort prides itself on being more than just an elegant escape; it serves as a living piece of American history.”
How to Go: Journey Through Virginia History
The Homestead is about a 3.5-hour trip from Alexandria. The drive west along Interstate 66 and then south on I-81 is a familiar route for many Northern Virginians heading out of town as Washington’s city lights fade. (You can also take a more scenic route heading down 29 South to Charlottesville and then heading west from there.)
History defines the journey south through the Shenandoah Valley. The turn off Interstate 81 leads to the Woodrow Wilson Parkway, which curves around Staunton, the birthplace of the 28th president. The rolling hills quickly give way to the Western Highlands, as the drive continues upward into the rugged western-central portion of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Allegheny Mountains.
Heading into Bath County, you’ll find
yourself on a scenic section of U.S. Route 220 known as Sam Snead Highway, named for the famed golfer widely considered one of the game’s all-time greats. Before going on to win 82 PGA Tour events –which ties him for the most wins with Tiger Woods -- he began his golf career at age 7 as a caddy on the Homestead’s Old Course.
What to Do: Embrace the Spectacular Setting
TAKE THE WATERS: No visit to the Homestead would be complete without
a soak in the same geothermal mineral springs where presidents from Thomas Jefferson to Franklin D. Roosevelt have “taken the waters.”
The Warm Springs Pools are located a few miles from the Homestead in the town of Warm Springs. The two pools, situated in side-by-side 19th-century buildings, are fed by four natural warm springs. They reopened in 2022 following a 14-month, $4 million rehabilitation.
The octagonal stone basin of the Gentlemen’s Bathhouse was constructed in 1761, making it the oldest spa structure
in the country, and was covered by a building in the mid-1820s. The Ladies’ Bathhouse was built in the mid-1870s, while the adjacent reception house was added around 1890.
The pools are open to anyone, not just Homestead guests, with a $30 fee for 50 minutes of serene soaking time. The water flows at a rate of 1.7 million gallons a day, remains at a constant body temperature range of 96 to 98 degrees, and contains 15 minerals.
With the scent of sulfur confirming the mineral content, guests float serenely in the warm, clear water. If you’re looking for a luxury experience, the Homestead has an expansive on-site spa that includes an adults-only Serenity Garden with its own mineral springs pool, infinity pool, reflexology walk, and spa services.
The resort also has a spring-fed indoor pool as well and an outdoor family-friendly water park with water slides and lazy rivers that are also fed by the natural springs.
HIT THE LINKS: Golf continues to be a top attraction for Homestead visitors. The first six holes of the Old Course were built in 1892, and it’s home to the nation’s oldest first tee in continuous use. In addition, there’s the nationally ranked Cascades Course where “Slammin’ Sammy” Snead launched his legendary career along with short-game practice facilities, driving ranges and golf instruction.
The 18-hole mountain courses offer fairways that are both historic and challenging. Among those who have teed off here are Presidents William Howard Taft, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George H. W. Bush.
Bask in Nature: Given its scenic mountain setting, the Homestead offers outdoor activities that include horseback riding, hiking and biking trails, sporting clay shooting, fly fishing and falconry. In the winter, there is skiing, ice skating, snowboarding and snow tubing.
The facilities include tennis courts, zip line, lawn games, fitness center, movie theater and plenty of porch space outfitted with rocking chairs and fire pits, perfect for reading a book, enjoying a scenic vista or sipping a glass of Virginia wine.
For more information, visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead-virginia
BY
PHOTO
JANE FULLERTON LEMONS
Warm Springs Pools in Hot Springs, Virginia.
Virginia Wine Experience Showcases a Growing Industry
In tandem with its recent renovations, the Omni Homestead Resort launched its Virginia Wine Experience that provides a taste of the state’s viticultural history as well as a look at the future of the burgeoning industry.
The Homestead’s wine experiences, which encompass several regularly occurring events, aims to showcase the history of growing grapes and making wine in Virginia – a history that dates to Jamestown, was championed by Thomas Jefferson and finally became a reality in the 1970s.
The best part is that participants can taste some of the top wines being produced in the Commonwealth and talk with the winemakers behind those vintages.
While the Homestead’s $150 million renovation project, completed in October 2023, honors the history of America’s oldest resort, Managing Director Mark Spadoni also wants to look ahead to Virginia’s future. It didn’t take long to recognize the state’s budding wine industry offered the perfect pairing.
“If we can go out and educate people on Virginia wines and where they’re going, that would be future looking,” he explained.
Annual Wine and Cuisine Event
Spadoni’s comments came in a fitting setting at the kick-off for the Homestead’s Epicurean Classic, the second edition of the annual wine event that was held May 3-4. Several dozen wine lovers gathered in the bright new Old Course Pavilion on the resort’s iconic golf course to taste this year’s crop of award-winning wines.
The exclusive tasting was a unique opportunity to sip all 12 wines in the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup Case. It was guided by Frank Morgan, who serves as director of judging for one of the most stringent wine
The Virginia Wine Experience is a combination wine shop and tasting room that features/showcases wines from across the Commonwealth. In addition, a different Virginia winery is highlighted each month with a dinner and special events.
competitions in the country.
The Epicurean Classic also included a four-course dinner featuring top wineries. Winemakers poured and discussed their own wines during the meal, including Barboursville Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyard, CANA Vineyards & Winery, DuCard Vineyards, 53rd Vineyard & Winery, King Family Vineyards, Paradise Springs Winery, Rosemont of Virginia, Michael Shaps Wineworks, 7 Lady Vineyards and Veritas.
The following morning began with a yoga and wine-pairing class, led by Quynh Cohen, the Homestead’s sommelier. That was followed by a series of master classes that focused on the history of Virginia winemaking, the cabernet franc varietal that’s popular throughout the state and chef-led instructions on pairing wine with food.
The Epicurean Classic wrapped up with a Taste of Virginia food and wine event that featured tapas-style cuisine to accompany Virginia wine and cider tastings.
Virginia Wine Experience at the Homestead
While the Epicurean Classic is an annual event, the Homestead features Virginia wines regularly with its on-site tasting room and monthly winemaker dinner series.
Guests can sample a wide variety of Virginia wines in a sunny location near the resort’s American Audubon Dining Room that’s a comfortable mix of wine shop and tasting room.
In addition, each month a different Virginia winery is showcased at the resort in events coordinated by Fred Reno, president and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Wine Company in Charlottesville. Guests can meet the winemakers, whose wines are then featured in a reception and dinner.
“Virginia is a truly remarkable wine destination,” Spadoni said, “and we are proud to have been an advocate for the industry.”
Virginia Wine on the Rise
The Homestead’s focus on Virginia wine comes as the industry continues to thrive.
“Virginia’s wine industry is vitally important to the state’s economic success as it has created more than 10,000 jobs and contributes $1.73 billion annually to the Commonwealth’s economy,” said Matthew Lohr, secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.
That growth was underscored by the increasing number of entries for the Virginia Governor’s Cup, now in its 42nd year.
In the competition for the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup, judges sampled more than 750 wines from across the state.
That resulted in 79 wineries receiving 137 gold medals. The 12 highest ranking red and white wines comprise the Governor’s Cup Case. (See complete list of top 12 winners.)
These award-winning wines represent three leading wine regions across the Commonwealth — Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Shenandoah Valley — and underscore the diversity of wine being produced. Of the top 12 winners, seven were red wines, five were white wines and one was a sparkling wine.
BY
During the Virginia Chef’s Table Reception and Dinner, winemaker Matthieu Finot of King Family Vineyards poured the 2019 Meritage that earned top honors in the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup.
PHOTO
JANE FULLERTON LEMONS
Charlottesville Named Wine Region of the Year
It’s no coincidence that several of those award-winning wines — including the Governor’s Cup winner — are located in the Charlottesville area, which was named “Wine Region of the Year” at the 2023 Wine Enthusiast 24th Annual Wine Star Awards. The Charlottesville area is home to more than 20 percent of Virginia’s vineyard plantings and more than 40 wineries.
The Charlottesville region competed for the award alongside notable wine-producing regions in Italy, France, South Africa and Australia. The recognition underscores Virginia’s rising stature in global winemaking.
Virginia Wine Featured in Paris Expo
Following on the heels of that recognition, six Virginia wineries exhibited in February at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris in the Expo Porte de Versailles in France, a leading European wine and spirits trade show. The exhibiting wineries were:
• Early Mountain Vineyards of Madison
• King Family Vineyards of Crozet
• Michael Shaps Wineworks of Charlottesville
• Paradise Springs Winery of Clifton
• Rosemont Vineyards of LaCrosse
• Williamsburg Winery of Williamsburg
Aubrey Rose serves as treasurer of the Virginia Wine Board and is co-owner of Rosemont Vineyards, one of the wineries that exhibited in Paris. She recognizes that Virginia’s wine industry has come full circle to bring its historic efforts to current fruition.
“While Virginia has a long history of wine dating back to Thomas Jefferson,” she said, “it’s the modern wine industry that is gaining a reputation for quality and innovation.”
For more information, visit www.virginiawine. org.
2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup Case Wines
King Family Vineyards of Crozet was awarded the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin for its 2019 Meritage, a red wine that is a blend of merlot, petit verdot, cabernet franc and malbec. To receive the Cup, the 2019 Meritage earned the highest average score from a panel of esteemed judges who evaluated the wines based on appearance, aroma, flavor, commercial suitability and overall quality.
Also in the top 12 were:
• Afton Mountain Vineyards of Afton … 2019 T (red wine blend of merlot, petit verdot, and cabernet sauvignon)
• Barboursville Vineyards of Barboursville … 2019 Paxxito (white wine blend of moscato and vidal blanc)
• Bluestone Vineyard of Bridgewater … 2017 Petit Verdot (100% petit verdot red wine)
• Breaux Vineyards of Purcellville … 2019 The Fog Nebbiolo Reserve (100% nebbiolo red wine)
• Cave Ridge Vineyard of Mt. Jackson … 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve (red wine blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, and petit verdot)
• CrossKeys Vineyards of Mt. Crawford … Blanc De Noir (100% pinot noir sparkling wine)
• Hark Vineyards of Earlysville … 2019 Spark (red wine blend of cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot)
• Michael Shaps Wineworks of Charlottesville … 2020 L.Scott (red wine blend of tannat, merlot, and malbec)
• Mountain and Vine Vineyards and Winery of Faber … 2022 Chardonnay (100% chardonnay white wine)
• October One Vineyard of Leesburg … 2022 Albariño (100% albarino white wine)
• Paradise Springs Winery of Clifton … 2022 Petit Manseng (100% petit manseng white wine)
Alexandria Author John Wasowicz Publishes ‘Spite House’
BY MARY ANN BARTON
Alexandria author John Wasowicz is publishing his seventh legal mystery this summer,“Spite House,” featuring attorney Mo Katz, based in Alexandria.
Why did he choose Old Town as the setting for his novels? “There’s a beauty to Alexandria, there are ghosts there from the Civil War, the Revolutionary War,” he said. “It lends itself to wanting to be captured in literature.”
“Spite House” follows his other books, Hazel Falls (2023), Gadsby’s Corner (2022), Roaches Run (2021), Slaters Lane (2020), Jones Point (2019) and Daingerfield Island (2017).
Born and raised in Chicopee, Mass., he “was never a serious reader growing up,” he said during a recent interview at Ramparts Tavern and Grill in Alexandria. He did, however, “have a fantasy of being an author.”
“It wasn’t until I was in high school that I began to appreciate literature,” he noted. He fell in love with literature as an English major at Windham College in Vermont, a tiny liberal arts college (now Landmark College), where he wrote for the college newspaper.
His mother was a stay-at-home mom and his father ran a service station, The Muffler King, where John worked on weekends. “I learned a lot of my people skills working for my dad. I did not know I was acquiring a talent and I use it to this day when I’m selling books. I’m reminded a lot of how much I learned at my dad’s shop when that world doesn’t exist anymore.”
He went on to Marquette University, where the magazine editor, Robin, later became his wife. He got a job on Capitol Hill working for Sen. Ed Brooke from his home state. Working for the senator “propelled
me to want to go to law school,” he said. He got his law degree attending night school at Catholic University and he and Robin were married.
“We buy a place in North Fairlington, we start our family, we’re off and running for 20 years. That’s a big blur.”
He became a prosecutor for Arlington County, then went into private practice. After 9/11, he went to work at the Department of Homeland Security, “and I’ve been there ever since.”
The characters in his first books come from his work experiences and he “tended to meld together many people and many cases that never receded in my mind. It
was very impressionistic. Those cases stay with me to this day. I tended to borrow those characters and meld them together so no one would be identified.”
After writing his first book, “the characters began talking to me ‘John, we have more stories to tell.’” A cancer scare in 2019 “was a stark reminder of the importance of life. The combination of the characters not leaving me alone and the limited nature of life propelled me to write the next book.”
And now with his seventh book out?
“This is just fun at this stage of life. The marketing and selling is just as joyful as the writing.”
John Wasowicz
Five people I would invite to dinner
Actress Jean Smart, actor Sean Connery, authors Anthony Horowitz, Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler.
My favorite movie is “Goldfinger”
Every morning, I read
The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post. (He and his wife Robin enjoy the print newspapers.) On Sundays, they add The New York Times
Favorite restaurant
Mamma’s Kitchen, a gyro platter there is my favorite.
My favorite way to relax is
Writing; I’ll sit outside with the iPad.
The hardest thing I’ve ever done
Pass the Virginia State Bar and becoming an Eagle Boy Scout.
I’m most proud of
My successful marriage (46 years) and our three adult sons.
The most adventurous thing I've ever done
Hitchhiked by myself at age 19 from Massachusetts to Seattle, in 1972. It gave my mother all the gray hairs she had.
My pet peeve is
That we are polarized as a society. When I came to Washington, there was something called bipartisanship, collegiality, shared goals and aspirations. I find so much of that broken today and it saddens me. I don’t subscribe to it. I believe in building bridges and finding consensus.
My dream is
To age like a bottle of good wine.
U N I Q U E I T E M S F R O M L O C A L M A K E R S + W O R K S H O P S , P A R T I E S & M O R E
5 3 3 M o n t g o m e r y S t . i n O l d T o w n N o r t h m a d e i n a l x . c o m
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